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.

The urgent call for increased climate finance for local and regional governments has resonated globally with stakeholders rallying to address this challenge. Initial commitments and progress on mechanisms at COP29 in Baku, while encouraging, mark just the beginning of a critical journey toward COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

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

Throughout 2024, Daring Cities spotlighted the Town Hall COPs initiative as an innovative mechanism linking local climate emergency action to national and global efforts. How do the Town Hall COPs fit into the current global climate arena? We brought this discussion to COP29.

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.

Despite cities being home to the majority of G7 citizens, local governments are not yet systematically consulted by national governments on critical decisions affecting their communities. The Urban7 (U7) is seeking to change that within the G7 group of countries. Local government representation in international fora doesn’t end with the United Nations agendas, such as the Climate COPs. Local and regional governments are advocating for representation - especially with regards to sustainable development objectives - on multiple fronts, including the G7, G20 and other multilateral platforms. 

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

In recent years, more and more local and regional government leaders are traveling to international environmental conferences, like the annual Climate COPs or the ICLEI World Congress. These meetings provide the opportunity to discuss solutions to global and local challenges. But at the same time, the concrete value of elected leaders’ engagement can at times be difficult to grasp. What is the value for such in-person meetings? How does the community back home benefit?

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 100% Renewables Cities and Regions Roadmap project has turned a global dream into reality, guiding cities and regions toward 100% renewable energy. ICLEI's Head of Sustainable Energy share share his insights on this journey.

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.

Building on the unprecedented COP28's multilevel action momentum and with the upcoming COP16 and COP29 by year-end, cities and regions have an actual window of opportunity to amplify their voices in the global climate discussions. At the ICLEI World Congress 2024 plenary, “From Global to Local to Global: Shaping the Future of Sustainability,” mayors and climate leaders emphasized that now is the time for local and regional governments to push for unified, cross-government action to achieve the urgently needed transformations toward a sustainable world.

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.

From June 18 to 21, over 1,500 global attendees converged in São Paulo, Brazil, to celebrate the vital role of international networks in connecting cities, towns, regions, and communities. During the Congress' closing plenary, ICLEI leaders underscored the power of collaboration and knowledge exchange in advancing local sustainability efforts and tackling shared challenges, propelling the much-needed global transformations.

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.

Digital tools increasingly play a role for cities as they design strategies to combat climate change. Learn how cities around the world are leveraging AI and technology is crucial for building sustainable and resilient urban environments.

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.

Water challenges often exacerbate social inequalities. Examples from São Paulo, Puducherry, and Boulder showcase innovative practices such as data-driven decision-making, valuing natural water storage, and community engagement in water management.

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.

From 9 to 11 September 2024, over 100 participants from five continents gathered at FAO headquarters in Rome for the Urban Agrifood Systems Global Workshop, co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and ICLEI. The workshop laid the groundwork for the co-creation of a five-year Roadmap toward transforming urban agrifood systems.

At COP29, this session at the Korea Pavilion presented how to build net-zero cities through legal innovation and citizen engagement.

The Malmö Commitment pledges social equity as the core of sustainable urban development, building a network of pioneer local and regional governments working together on inclusive approaches. At the Daring Cities 2024 Virtual Forum, Santa Fe, Argentina; Pittsburgh, USA; and Turku, Finland, took center stage, showcasing how they are adopting equity-focused strategies for an inclusive transition—setting a path for other cities to follow suit.

The ICLEI World Congress 2024 in São Paulo gathered over 1,500 attendees, including more than 100 mayors, to advance sustainable urban development on a global scale. Highlighting major initiatives like the ICLEI São Paulo Strategic Vision 2024-2030 and the Urban Infrastructure Insurance Facility, the Congress set the stage for impactful actions shaping our future.

Com base no impulso de ação multinível sem precedentes da COP28 e com as próximas COP16 e COP29 até o final do ano, as cidades e regiões têm uma janela de oportunidade real para ampliar suas vozes nas discussões climáticas globais. Na plenária do Congresso Mundial ICLEI 2024, “Do global para o local para o global: moldando o futuro da sustentabilidade”, prefeitos e líderes climáticos enfatizaram que agora é a hora de os governos locais e regionais pressionarem por uma ação unificada e intergovernamental para alcançar as transformações urgentemente necessárias em direção a um mundo sustentável.

Em um mundo cada vez mais moldado pela emergência climática, as cidades estão assumindo a vanguarda dos esforços de resiliência e sustentabilidade. Durante a plenária “Nosso Mundo em Transformação” do Congresso Mundial ICLEI, os membros e especialistas do ICLEI discutiram como as cidades podem alavancar iniciativas locais para gerar impacto global, enfatizando a urgência de abordagens integradas para mitigar os riscos ambientais e construir comunidades resistentes ao clima em todo o mundo.

Durante la sesión plenaria de clausura del Congreso Mundial ICLEI 2024, la alcaldesa Katja Dörner pidió a los líderes urbanos que se comprometan de manera proactiva con sus gobiernos nacionales y asociaciones nacionales de gobiernos locales para mejorar las NDC para 2025 y apoyar la iniciativa CHAMP.

Aprovechando el impulso de acción multinivel sin precedentes de la COP28 y con la llegada de la COP16 y la COP29 a finales de año, las ciudades y regiones tienen una verdadera ventana de oportunidad para amplificar sus voces en los debates mundiales sobre el clima. En la sesión plenaria del Congreso Mundial ICLEI 2024, “De lo global a lo local a lo global: dando forma al futuro de la sostenibilidad”, alcaldes y líderes climáticos enfatizaron que ahora es el momento de que los gobiernos locales y regionales impulsen una acción unificada e intergubernamental para lograr las transformaciones urgentemente necesarias hacia un mundo sostenible.

loilo City is on the path to achieving Sustainable Development Goals with the "RISE ILOILO CITY" roadmap. This four-year strategic plan focuses on Responsive and Inclusive Human Development, Innovative Economic Development, Sustainable Environment, and Essential Resilient Infrastructure.