On Monday, during the first day of Climate Week Biodiversity 2026—which it is hosting—Medellín was recognized as the national winner of the One Planet City Challenge organized by the global conservation organization WWF, an event that in 2026 brought together 350 local governments from nearly 50 countries.
This initiative, which takes place twice a year, was created to promote unity in the global fight against climate change and to foster the creation of urban environments where people thrive in harmony with nature. “One piece of good news we have to share with the city during this Climate Week is that we are the national winner of the WWF’s One Planet City Challenge.”
“We have been recognized for maintaining continuity in our environmental policies, for making decisions based on data and science, and for upholding a vision for the city rooted in sustainability, well-being, and the reintegration of nature. “This is a collective effort—a recognition of good governance, civic participation, and strong relationships between the district administration, public agencies, academia, businesses, and, of course, the public,” said Environment Secretary Marcela Ruiz.
The 2026 edition featured 12 Colombian cities, and Medellín received the highest score from the international jury, surpassing Bogotá in the final review. The jury highlighted the capital of Antioquia’s comprehensive approach to climate issues, noting its focus on aspects such as the fight against inequality, inclusion, housing, coordinated governance, and risk assessment.
Another key highlight was its innovative approach, which reflects the successful implementation of its climate action plan and demonstrates its genuine commitment. In addition, the city was recognized for its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and its commitments aligned with a fair 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, which demonstrate consistency in its climate action strategies with the Paris Agreement.
“And today, on the occasion of Climate Week in Medellín and the summit of subnational governments, we have recognized three cities for what is known as the 2026 Cities Challenge. What is this challenge? It is a challenge that sets out to recognize cities capable of demonstrating climate responsibility. And this climate responsibility involves having clear action plans—plans that address energy, transportation, and waste, but also a city’s connection to nature. At the same time, these action plans must be put into practice through concrete actions that generate real impact,” said Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Global Climate and Energy Leader at WWF International.
During the awards ceremony, the cities of Hermosillo (Mexico) and Peñalolén (Chile) were also recognized as national winners. Following the announcement that Medellín had won the WWF Cities Challenge, it was revealed that the capital of Antioquia and Bogotá will participate in the “https://welovecities.org/” campaign, which will take place in November.
“We Love Cities,” another global WWF initiative, allows people around the world to express their support for sustainable urban development by voting and offering suggestions for improvement in these cities.
We Love Cities, también iniciativa global de WWF, permite a las personas de todo el mundo expresar su apoyo al desarrollo urbano sostenible por medio de votación y con sugerencias de mejora para estas ciudades.
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