Mostly not. And that's an issue, since one of the drivers of success for COP30 could be how well the NDCs 3.0 reflect and enable climate action in cities.

Born from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, these three multilateral environmental agreements have shaped how the international community approaches global environmental challenges.

Every year, the Bonn Climate Talks - formally the sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) - serve as the mid-year checkpoint on the road to the annual COP. With over 6,000 national delegates and civil society representatives expected, the SB62 (16-26 June 2025) is far from routine.

What if your coffee cup or takeout container didn’t end up in the trash, but went back into circulation, reducing waste, cutting emissions, and sparking local innovation and green jobs? Explore lessons from the Circular City Labs project.

As grants become scarcer, subnational governments can use Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to overcome funding gaps and drive sustainable, inclusive infrastructure.

Feeling the heat? So are our cities, and they’re taking action. On Heat Action Day, we spotlight how local and regional governments are rising to the challenge through people-centered solutions to beat the heat.

Under the theme “Stronger national climate plans through multilevel action,” the sixth edition of Daring Cities aims to serve as a pivotal platform for local and regional governments to influence global climate negotiations. Explore what Daring Cities 2025 is bringing to the table.

As Türkiye braces for another summer of heatwaves and unpredictable storms, spaces like the Kadifekale community garden offer a green space that is not only public, but participatory.

Food is a cornerstone of health, dignity and wellbeing—yet many cities face challenges in ensuring access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. Discover how cities in the Malmö Commitment Network are building inclusive food systems that serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government, Republic of Korea, has implemented a comprehensive set of ambitious initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a particular focus on transportation and building efficiency.

On 13 March 2025, Greater Sydney hosted one of the first Town Hall COPs for 2025 - part of a growing global effort to place local priorities at the center of national and international climate decision-making.

Looking ahead to COP30, what cities and regions do in advance of this global climate summit may matter more than the conference itself. On the road to Belém, local and regional governments have a unique opportunity to engage with their national governments, shift the trajectory of the climate emergency, and push for inclusive, multilevel climate action.

The Malmö Commitment pioneers are exploring how targeted energy efficiency measures can support energy equity, demonstrating how these measures can contribute significantly to making housing more affordable for everyone.

In Izmir’s Pazaryeri and Imariye neighborhoods, women are on the frontlines of climate resilience, navigating floods, heatwaves, and economic challenges while leading solutions that strengthen entire communities.

To wrap up 2024, we delve into the diverse array of stories that proved to be our most popular of the year - five stories that resonated, shaping and informing perspectives on sustainable urban development.

Read our insights from the UN Convention on Combating Desertification COP16 - and the Mayors Forum - held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-12 December.

Housing affordability has become an increasingly urgent global issue, driven by factors such as inflation, rising living expenses, increased construction...

Held from 25 November to 1 December 2024, in Busan, Republic of Korea, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5) to develop a Global Plastic Treaty concluded without an agreement, pushing further negotiations into 2025. The draft text made some references to local and subnational governments, prompting the Local and Subnational Governments Coalition to End Plastic Pollution to advocate for stronger inclusion.

At the Water for Climate Pavilion at COP29 on 19 November,  the importance of locally-led initiatives and multilevel governance approaches in implementing effective water management was in the spotlight.

As the world's attention turned to COP29, leaders from the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, gathered on 13 November at a special session to respond to COP29 and the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WCAS).

The Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion launched at COP29 in Baku with a powerful message: Addressing the climate emergency requires...

At COP29, California and Japan’s local leaders emphasize that cities must lead the charge on climate action, showing that bold, independent initiatives can drive sustainable futures beyond national policies.

Hundreds of cities’ representatives and their partners have come together at the Daring Cities 2024 to exchange solutions and discuss their strategies to tackle the climate emergency. How does this translate into practice? The event showcased many real-life cases that offer inspiration for other local and regional governments to dare to take bold, transformative steps forward

The Summit of the Future (SoF) begins on 22 September at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. The Summit is an initiative of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (pictured above; photo credit Kiara Worth / UNFCCC) to improve the UN system and strengthen multilateralism. The high-level event brings world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.

On 1 August, ICLEI, in partnership with the County Government of Kisumu, unveiled a tailored-made roadmap towards 100% renewable energy by 2050. Under the 100% Renewables Cities and Regions Roadmap project, Kisumu is sparking the shift to transition its energy landscape. By targeting key sectors such as electricity, transport and clean cooking, the county is setting a powerful example for urban areas worldwide on how to embrace renewable energy solutions.

From 8 to 17 July in New York City, the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened UN Member States and representatives from civil society organizations to follow up and review progress on a subset of the 17 Global Goals, ranging from promoting gender equality to preserving biodiversity. ICLEI actively participated in this year's Forum, which featured key events for cities and regions: The launch of the 8th Edition of the Global Taskforce's Annual Report and the Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda.

During the ICLEI World Congress 2024 closing plenary on 21 June, Katja Dörner, Mayor of Bonn, Germany, and chair of the Climate Action Governance Portfolio for the ICLEI Global Executive Committee, called on urban leaders to proactively engage with their national governments and local government associations to enhance NDCs by 2025 and support CHAMP. National associations of local governments – under the leadership of ICLEI governance Members - 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.

This piece was written by Anna Aaen, Deputy Mayor, City of Aalborg, Denmark, following the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial hosted by the city of Elsinore on 21-22 March 2024. It is a wonderful feeling to leave a meeting filled with energy and motivation. And it is even better when the meeting’s agenda is both significant and challenging – namely, global climate action at the local level.

Amazonian cities are diverse in opportunities and needs. The region’s biodiversity is amongst the world’s most important but its cities’ sustainability challenges are less well-known. These jurisdictions require financial support and capacity building to create sustainable, conservation-oriented, equitable, nature-based spaces with circular development. At the ICLEI World Congress, mayors from this region convened to amplify the voices of these unique cities.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of nature in urban environments, providing solace and a sense of well-being during lockdowns. At the ICLEI World Congress, local and subnational governments, alongside WHO experts and NGOs, discussed the potential of Nature-based Solutions to address biodiversity loss and climate change while enhancing urban health.

In a world increasingly shaped by the climate emergency, cities are stepping into the forefront of resilience and sustainability efforts. During the ICLEI World Congress’ plenary “Our Changing World,” ICLEI Members and experts discussed how cities can leverage local initiatives to drive global impact, emphasizing the urgency of integrated approaches to mitigate environmental risks and build climate-resilient communities worldwide.

Integrating equity into climate mitigation is essential for creating sustainable cities that serve all residents, particularly marginalized communities. Initiatives like the INCLU:DE project and the Malmö Commitment on Inclusive and Equitable Communities exemplify successful strategies, promoting inclusive planning, inner-city collaboration, and equity-based methodologies.

Urban areas can restore ecosystems and improve residents' well-being. Cities like São Paulo, Puducherry, and Austin showcased innovative strategies for urban resilience and economic growth, proving that systemic change for a sustainable future is possible.

By leveraging simulation, play, and interactivity to generate learning outcomes, serious games have been used in various sectors, including healthcare, military, and policymaking.

Amidst slow national progress in the sustainable energy transition with RE sources, Gyeonggi-do stands out as a proactive subnational leader.

With platforms like CitiesWithNature, the Berlin Urban Nature Pact, and metrics like the 3-30-300 rule, local and subnational governments are now better equipped than ever to track their impact and drive systemic change, proving that the path to a nature-positive future starts on the ground.

Multilevel governance dialogues have taken place across seven UrbanShift countries, engaging city representatives from diverse urban contexts.

Green bonds can unlock infrastructure investment opportunities for cities and nations to finance transformative solutions.

*This blog was written by Rohit Sen and Kanak Gokarn from the Sustainable Energy Team, ICLEI World Secretariat, and it...

By embracing the wisdom of First Peoples and integrating cultural burning into modern land management, we can protect landscapes, restore ecosystems, and strengthen our connection with nature.

To ensure climate policies are more socially balanced, particularly in addressing the needs and participation of structurally disadvantaged populations, the INCLU:DE project promotes a shift in focus from incentivizing to enabling. How do cities design local climate actions that speak to all different realities?

What happens when around 100 stakeholders from five continents come together to discuss urban agrifood systems transformation? In September 2024, the Urban Agrifood Systems Global Workshop—co-organized by FAO and ICLEI—turned FAO headquarters in Rome into a vibrant marketplace of ideas. Check out the outcomes.