Brazil’s updated climate commitment at COP29 highlights a groundbreaking integration of subnational governments, setting a precedent for multilevel collaboration in achieving ambitious emissions reductions.

Relive memorable moments from the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, negotiation spaces, and plenary sessions with our photo album.

Hear directly from LGMA leaders in exclusive interviews live from COP29.

Wrapping up COP29, our LGMA video showcases the contributions of local and regional governments in driving the global climate agenda over two weeks in Baku.

Following COP29, the LGMA Constituency welcomed the first major climate finance deal in 15 years as a minimal step toward global community protection but criticized its inadequacy, the lack of ambition in COP29 outcomes, and emphasized the urgent need for multilevel action to accelerate climate efforts.

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.

Drawing on the UCLG Positioning Paper on Loss and Damage, which emphasizes that adaptation efforts alone are insufficient, the call advocates for a holistic response that transcends borders, involves all levels of governance, and focuses on the most vulnerable populations.

Can cities and other subnationals create a new path of opportunity from a challenging first week at COP29? By Yunus Arikan, ICLEI Director of Global Advocacy and Focal Point to the LGMA COP29 delegates awoke on Sunday – the official mid-point of COP29 – to a dark, windy, shaky day, in both climatic sense outside […]

These inputs on the development of the UAE Just Transition Work Programme advocate for solid acknowledgment of a whole-of-government approach.

Leaders from the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency gathered in a special session on November 13th at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WCAS) at COP29.

In response to the global climate crisis, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Yana Garcia, Secretary for Environmental Protection at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), emphasised the critical importance of multilevel cooperation and urged local governments to take immediate action to combat climate change.

The Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, launched at COP29 in Baku by UN-Habitat and ICLEI, highlights the need for collaboration at all governance levels to address and share the climate action challenges and successes.

The Urban7 -Saitama City ‘E-KIZUNA High-Level Talks event highlighted the importance of officially recognizing local governments in the G7 process and their essential role in sustainable development and effective climate action.

The first COP29 Informal on SB61 Agenda Item 7 regarding the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme (MWP) on November 12, 2024, showcased positive momentum and underscored the significance of multilevel collaboration and urbanization initiatives.

They emphasized their essential role in achieving climate goals, highlighting the need for dedicated funding and collaboration across all government levels to drive effective local action.

A year since its launch, the CHAMP is supporting more ambitious climate action by promoting dialogue and integrated policy-making between national and subnational (city, regional and state) governments.

This webinar provides latest updates on the CHAMP initiative ahead of COP29 in Baku.

The letter addresses the COP Presidencies Troika, highlighting key developments and collaborative opportunities for advancing CHAMP and the role of subnational governments within the UNFCCC process.

The Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion will serve as the global stage for the city and subnational climate agenda at COP29 and bring into focus the challenges, needs, accomplishments and commitments of local and subnational actors on climate action.

In this Daring Cities 2024 session, Shelley Nania from Bristol City Council comments on the UK joining CHAMP.

This CHAMP High-Level Political Dialogue focused on advancing national and subnational climate action and advancing more ambitious NDCs by 2025.

Spearheaded by Turku Mayor and ICLEI First Vice President Minna Arve, the initiative aims to enhance cooperation between national, regional, and local governments in Finland and beyond.

The LGMA Constituency at COP29 calls for accelerated multilevel, gender-responsive climate action, sustainable urbanization financing, and alignment of climate and biodiversity agendas, urging national governments to include local voices in shaping and implementing ambitious climate strategies.

The guidance emphasizes the importance of including local and subnational governments in climate action, advocating for their involvement in the planning, financing, and implementation of NDCs and NAPs to ensure multilevel, gender-responsive, and cooperative action.

The guidance emphasizes the critical role of local and subnational governments in addressing interconnected crises and calls for enhanced collaboration and support from parties to foster effective, inclusive solutions.

LGMA urges Parties at COP29 to agree on new NCQGs on climate finance , include local and other subnational government action and recognize sustainable urbanization as a cross-cutting non-market approach.

This webinar deep dives into what the COP28 launched CHAMP means for cities and regions.

4 Sept 2024
10:00 & 19:00 UTC+2
Online event

The session focused on implementing COP28’s CHAMP initiative for Climate Action and the Town Hall COPs, piloted in 2023 as “local stocktakes.”

31 July 2024
16:00 UTC+2
Online event

This UNDP organized session shares insights into the unique water-based public transport systems in New York City and Venice and demonstrates how cities can innovate and adapt to provide sustainable and accessible public transport.

20 June 2024
16:00 UTC+2
Online Event

A learning session for Regions4 Biodiversity Learning Platform, RegionsAdapt and Regions4 SDGs Communities of Practice on shaping a resilient future and unleashing finance at the subnational level.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently adopted a resolution urging cities to update their climate targets and collaborate with the federal government, following the U.S.’s endorsement of CHAMP at COP28.

Denmark hosted an informal climate ministerial meeting in March, aimed at sustaining momentum for climate action.The discussion focused on the pressing need for climate financing and the significance of local efforts in the run-up to COP29.

In response to Bonn Mayor Dörner’s call during the ICLEI World Congress 2024, national associations of local governments in Germany, Brazil, and the U.S. have pledged to CHAMP, pioneering a global movement to push for stronger local involvement in national climate plans.

Mayor Katja Dörner of Bonn, Germany announced a call-to-action inviting subnational leaders to proactively approach their national governments and national associations of local governments for multilevel NDCs by 2025

Running alongside the SB60 sessions on 3-5 June, Daring Cities 2024 Bonn Dialogues included a CHAMP endorsers roundtable and the first joint public dialogue between UN High-Level Climate Champions.

Part of Daring Cities 2024, a dedicated roundtable discussed progress of CHAMP on enhancing cooperation between national and local governments, emphasizing the need to integrate local efforts into national plans and the NDCs.

A high-level guidance brief for delivering enhanced NDCs incorporating strong subnational content and robust consultation with subnational governments – in line with the principles of the CHAMP Pledge.

June 2024

LGMA Statement at SB60 Joint Opening Plenary

Delivered by Karishma Asarpota, Climate Action Officer, ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability

CHAMP creates a major opportunity for cities, towns, states and regions to secure climate investment and advance ambitious inclusive climate action on the ground.

This study explores the current multilevel framework that exists at European, national and subnational levels for climate change adaptation and analyses the roles and obligations of each level in planning and implementing adaptation actions.

Policy-Science Dialogue, part of the MAIA Project series of dialogues to connect communities, knowledge and research on climate change and to address how to strengthen the policy-science exchanges for building more robust adaptation strategies.

7 May 2024

City leaders globally urge Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to prioritize urban climate action by integrating it into their strategies and increasing financial support for city-led, resilient, low-carbon initiatives.

A new guide and workbook to apply justice principles to materials resource management, new construction, and alternatives to demolition and providea framework for centering justice in embodied carbon policies and planning.

The LGMA constituency’s recommendations for greater inclusion of subnational governments in developing indicators to measure progress on the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience are urged, and Parties are asked to consider these recommendations in their deliberations.

The City Handbook for Carbon Neutral Buildings is a collaborative effort, made possible with the support of the Laudes Foundation and Built by Nature, and equips cities worldwide with knowledge and guidance for the use of sustainable, bio-based building materials.

An analysis into the CHAMP-endorsing countries revealed that 2/3 of countries display low or moderate urban content in their NDCs. This leaves room to integrate more urban priorities in the next NDC revision cycle in 2025 at COP30 in Belém in Brazil.

Technical brief incorporating insights and guiding principles for policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders to create a future characterized by sustainable urban development and climate resilience.

Roadmap on adaptation to climate change in Europe of non-state actors gathered at the Climate Chance Europe 2024 Wallonia Summit, 8-9 February 2024 in Liège, Under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council.

This blog explains how CHAMP aims to bridge the gap between local and national climate efforts to meet the Paris Agreement targets, highlighting the involvement of various climate organizations.

The world’s cities, regions and othersubnational governments are calling on Parties to adopt multilevel collaboration to ensure that the goal of 1.5 degrees can still be met.

Using an international data source on individual power plants, this paper empirically analyze whether Transnational municipal networks (TMNs) can reduce the carbon pollution of power plants.

The Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion will serve as the global stage for the city and subnational climate agenda at COP28 and bring into focus the challenges, needs, accomplishments and commitments of local and subnational actors on climate action.

The SURGe Initiative works to enhance and accelerate local and urban climate action through multi-level governance, engagement and delivery.

The African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund) has launched by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the World Resource Institute and other partners to support access to water solutions, at COP27.

This stand alone action agenda is informed by and grounded in the knowledge derived from the findings of the SUP process, with the goal of establishing a long-term platform to co-create and scale urban solutions based in science.

This high-level event, organised by Regions4, the Edinburgh Declaration partners and the Scottish Government, will establish the links and connections between COP27 and COP15 on Biodiversity.

This Playbook is a guide that lays out the options for national, regional and local authorities from policy levers to institution-building, drawing on examples from national, regional and local level of both mitigation and adaptation.

The African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund) with the aim of channeling $5 billion towards urban water resilience solutions in 100 African cities by 2032 is launched by World Resources Institute and partners at COP27.

The CODATU Association, CETUD and the Climate Chance Association joined forces to organise the Week for Sustainable Mobility and Climate held in Dakar, Senegal.The event brought together 1,500 actors from nearly 40 different nationalities.
3-7 October 2022.

This recap of the first week of COP27 provides insight for all cities, regions and relevant stakeholders to learn everything they need to about global climate action, the challenges and positive progress, all of which indicates the importance of the LGMA COP27 motto #MultilevelActionDelivers as an essential element for global climate action.

This progress report is based on information reported by regions through the RegionsAdapt initiative. It is a key contribution from regional governments toward a common vision of progress and a global goal on adaptation.

The report highlights the urgent need for rapid, large-scale climate action to avoid catastrophic consequences, stressing that current global efforts are falling short of the targets set by the Paris Agreement. A major focus is on closing the substantial finance gap by mobilizing new, accessible funding sources for subnational governments.

Kobie Brand, Deputy Secretary of ICLEI, welcomed delegates at COP27, and urges parties to endorse the SURGe Initiative, support finance for sustainable urbanization and mobilize climate emergency finance for accelerated implementation of the Paris Agreement.

This declaration gathers the key messages that 45 regional governments from all over the world are taking to the negotiation table at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

This report emphasizes the critical role of youth in global climate action and sustainability, aiming to empower the next generation by reflecting on three critical questions guiding ICLEI’s approach in working with the youth in different cities, towns and regions around the globe.

Declaration of the Alliance of African Ministers for Urban Development Financing

By Yunus Arikan, focal point of the LGMA, and Director of Global Advocacy, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Leaders returning home from Glasgow will be feeling many mixed emotions on how COP26 concluded. In a fraught two weeks, where the worst case outcome of a failed agreement was possible at many moments, to have […]

13 November at 03:19:30

Closing Statement at COP26 in Glasgow, UK

Delivered by Ngendahimana Ladislas, Secretary General of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities

Delivered by Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku, Finland and First Vice-President of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in a closed meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, and other representatives of local and regional governments: Mr. Secretary General, My name is Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku in […]

11 November at 1:15:57

Global Climate Action High Level Event

Delivered by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and C40 Chair-Elect

11 November

Constituency Focal Points Dialogue

Delivered by Yunus Arikan, Head of Advocacy at ICLEI World Secretariat – Local Governments for Sustainability

Imagine there were a country with 4.5 billion residents that didn’t have a seat at the table at the COP climate conferences. This would be outrageous. It would, in essence, make negotiations pointless, since half of the world’s population wouldn’t be represented in the outcomes or the final decisions.  The world’s cities face this reality. […]

11 November at 17:35

Informal Stocktaking Plenary-2 Statement

Delivered by Andries Gryffroy,
Member of Flemish Parliament and European Committee of the Regions

Comments from the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon As this year’s Climate COP starts to draw to a close, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has urged leaders to go further. Responding to the publication of the draft agreement at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said: “The draft […]

Delivered by Andy Burnham, Mayor, Greater Manchester, UK Winning the race to net zero requires more ambition than we have heard so far at this COP. In the last two days, we ask all governments to do more. To go that extra mile. Left to its own devices, the market will not get us there. […]

8 November at 1:14:15

Plenary on Informal Stock-Take

Delivered by Pippa Heylings, member of the national cross party Climate Change Task Group for of Local Government Association, on behalf of the Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA)

8 November, by The Scottish Government Throughout the past 7 days we have seen multilevel collaboration across the summit, with numerous climate action pledges and statements. Did you know? California became the first US state to sign the Edinburgh Declaration, joining a global network of governments taking action to protect nature and halt biodiversity loss [...]

Today marks the halfway point of COP26, and conversations on the ground and online are already referring to this year’s UN Climate Summit as a ‘Finance COP’. Today is also Nature Day at the summit and I would like to remind us of nature’s central role in the global climate response. This week, figures reaching […]

Delivered by João Campos, Mayor of Recife Mr. President, distinguished delegates, My name is João Campos and I am the Mayor of Recife, and the youngest Mayor of all state capitals in Brazil. I am delighted to be addressing you on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency to the UNFCCC, and as […]

Thursday, 4 November. Contribution by: The Scottish Government The outcome of this summit will shape the future of the world we live in. This must be the moment that the world moves from promises to action. Scotland’s COP26 programme is designed to support and celebrate climate action while also acting as a bridge builder - [...]

3 November 2021 The Earth Dialogues for Climate and Finance, held yesterday at the Multilevel Action Pavilion, received a jubilant response from attendees as the discussions outlined new fiscal instruments for multilevel action on decarbonization and biodiversity conservation.  One of the groundbreaking announcements saw Regions of Climate Action (R20) partnering up with Pegasus Capital, IUCN [...]

Wednesday, 3 November After months of uncertainty and ever changing logistics, the world’s nations, cities, media, and environmental organizations have gathered in Glasgow - and virtually - to address the climate emergency. The 26th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, or COP26, is a critical summit for global climate action.  Since the historic Paris Agreement was [...]

Scotland is proud to welcome the world’s biggest summit on climate change to Glasgow – the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Climate change remains the greatest challenge facing this planet, and COP26 is one of our best chances to address it, bringing together heads of state, climate experts and negotiators to […]

1 November at 2:41:47

World Leaders Summit Statement

Delivered by Eric Garcetti, Mayor, Los Angeles; Chair of C40

31 October at 2:22:55

Opening Statement at COP26 in Glasgow, UK

Delivered by Nasry “Tito” Asfura, Mayor, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

THE CONSTITUENCY OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS CALLS FOR A “MULTILEVEL ACTION COP26” WITH ROADMAP TO GLASGOW At COP25, cities and regions again showed their leadership in climate action through participation in the Climate Ambition Alliance Download press release as a pdf document | Download the full document "Towards a Multilevel Action COP26" 16 December [...]

Mobilization at COP24 LGMA Interventions 2 December 2018, Katowice The joint opening plenary of COP24/CMP14/CMA 1.3/SBSTA49/SBI49/APA1.7 Statement Webcast 3 December 2018, Katowice Official opening ceremony of COP24 CMP14 CMA1.3 and high-level segment Statement Webcast 5 December 2018, Katowice The Presidency Open Dialogue between Parties and non-Party stakeholders Statement 6 December 2018, Katowice Talanoa Dialogue wrap-up [...]