"COP29 outcomes are a clear demonstration that global commitments and solidarity for climate action is one of the immediate and biggest victimsof the evolving domestic and geopolitical turbulence."
Yunus Arikan, ICLEI Director of Global Advocacy and LGMA Focal Point
LGMA at COP29
COP29: While Baku delivered bare minimum, multilevel action is vital more than ever to keep climate ambition on track
Upon the conclusion of COP29, the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency welcomes the first major climate finance deal in fifteen years. However, the deal is inadequate to ensure that communities around the world can protect themselves and represents the absolute floor of finance that is needed. With a disappointing lack of ambition in the overall COP29 outcomes, the LGMA Constituency stressed the increasing importance of multilevel action to ensure the climate fight continues at speed and scale.
Above image: LGMA at the COP29 Open Dialogue with UNFCCC Constituencies and Parties.
How did cities and regions shape the climate agenda at COP29? Watch our recap video
Wrapping up COP29, this video showcases the contributions of local and regional governments in driving the global climate agenda over two weeks in Baku. Explore highlights from the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, key moments from negotiation spaces and plenary sessions, and the outcomes of this year’s summit. Join us as we build momentum toward COP30 in Belém.
LGMA COP29 Closing plenary statement
During the last day of COP29, the LGMA Statement raised concerns over low ambition across key climate tracks but welcomed progress on urbanization, the Baku Adaptation Roadmap, and expanded High-Level Champion mandates. Despite setbacks, the LGMA reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration, ambition, and solidarity in addressing global challenges.
We look forward to seeing you at the COP29 LGMA Debrief
Hosted by Yunus Arikan, ICLEI Director of Global Advocacy and LGMA Focal Point, this webinar will offer you insights from COP29 outcomes and its implications for cities, regions and other subnationals as we look ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025. Register now!
Delivered by Marjorie Kauffman, State Secretary for Environment and Infrastructure, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and ICLEI Vice President. Reflecting on the devastating 2024 floods in her State, she underscored the need for coordinated disaster response, equitable climate finance, and support for local governments to drive impactful change. Watch her intervention here (1:03:20).
On 12 November, at the COP29 World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WLCAS), Maimunah Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; COP29 International Advisory Board Member; and advisor to the ICLEI Global Executive Committee, took the stage on behalf of local government networks, mayors, and community leaders. Watch her intervention here (30:09).
At COP29's kick-off on 11 November, cities, regions, local and subnational governments, and other non-party stakeholders held a press conference to demonstrate their indispensable role in climate action. Read the press release here.
The Pavilion's inaugural session on 12 November featured a panel of distinguished speakers who represented different levels of climate action. Co-convened by UN-Habitat and ICLEI as the LGMA Constituency focal point, the event focused on multilevel engagement to elevate climate ambition and integrate sustainable urbanization into climate emergency action.
The LGMA Constituency gathered on 13 November at a special session to respond to COP29 and the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WCAS). Building on the LGMA Joint Position, leaders reflected upon their expectations for a successful COP29 outcome to enable ambitious, multilevel climate action.
On behalf of the LGMA, political leaders and representatives delivered several interventions throughout the duration of COP29. From the COP29 Opening Plenary, the third Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change to the Closing Plenary, you can see all interventions here.
Throughout the two weeks of COP, our on-the-groud daily updates from the LGMA Constituency provided exclusive coverage of the city and region climate agenda, negotiation progress, announcements, and interviews. Explore our past issues directly from the Climate Conference.
LGMA leaders, ministers, and ICLEI and UN-Habitat representatives at the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change.
Yunus Arikan, ICLEI-LGMA, and Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku, Finland, and ICLEI First Vice President, brought bold steps to the Ministerial Meeting—literally.
LGMA crew at the COP29 Opening Plenary.
The LGMA events hosted at the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion drew great engagement from the audience.
Toby Walker, Climate Group; Goksen Sahin, ICLEI Europe; and Urszula Kasperek, C40-GCoM, at the COP29 Open Dialogue with UNFCCC Constituencies and Parties.
