UN-Habitat opens a new office in Montréal, Canada’s capital of international organizations
As a mid-point between North America and Europe, Montréal is an international hot spot that is not only the most multilingual city on the continent, but also a leader in international meetings. These are all good reasons for the UN to open its brand-new UN-Habitat office in Montréal, to address climate-related housing challenges. It’s one more feather in our cap, as home city to the most international organizations in Canada.
Montréal ranks on the continent
UN-Habitat joins around 70 other international organizations (IOs) already based in the city, including five other UN headquarters. In fact, Montréal ranks not only first in Canada, it ranks third in the Americas for the number of IOs. The city is home to IOs in leading sectors including civil aviation, sustainable development, the life sciences, education, international development and design.
A world of variety
Big players like the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocolall operate here, drawing workers from one of the world’s highest ranked educational systems. The full list of International Organizations in Montréal is something we’re proud to share.
The newest addition to Montréal
The United Nations program for human settlements and sustainable urban development — UN-Habitat — is responsible for the Global Programme on Green, Resilient Sustainable Cities and aims to leverage the latest advances in science and technology to support the sustainable development of cities.
Montréal was chosen for its leading-edge AI and urban development ecosystems, academic institutions, and its pool of international organizations. What’s more, a number of avenues for cooperation have been identified with local players, including researchers at McGill University, Concordia University, and Mila - Québec’s AI Institute (MILA). This initiative is supported by the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec, and the City of Montréal, in collaboration with Montréal International.
Some other local IO news
- The World Benchmarking Alliance, which evaluates the environmental and social impact of major companies, has also recently opened a base in Montréal.
- GE Vernova has expanded its Greater Montréal plant with a new high-voltage circuit breaker line to meet growing energy demand.
- Cohere, a Toronto-based AI company, has opened a Montréal office at Mila to develop safe AI tools for Canadian businesses.
- Merck launched a biopharma accelerator in Montréal, offering grants and mentorship to seven local startups.
- Moderna delivered its first mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from its Greater Montréal facility, aiming to boost Canada’s pharmaceutical autonomy.
- Airbus delivered an A220 aircraft to Air France from its Greater Montréal base, using 50% sustainable aviation fuel — a historic transatlantic flight.
Where the nations unite — and consult
As one of the United Nations’ eight headquarter cities (second in North America), Montréal is a highly sought-after address for the consulates of the world. With 46 consulates general and 33 consulates, 79 countries have presence here, ranging from Algeria to Yemen. The city’s well-connected Montréal-Trudeau International Airport also makes getting here and away a snap with direct service to over 150 destinations across Canada, the USA, and overseas.