After WCAS, local and subnational leaders rally for enhanced multilevel collaboration

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).

Building on the LGMA Joint Position that has been endorsed by nearly 100 local and regional governments and their networks, leaders from the LGMA Constituency are advocating for the development, financing, and execution of ambitious NDCs and other key strategies leading up to 2025 and beyond. They gathered to reflect upon their expectations for a successful COP29 outcome to enable ambitious, multilevel climate action that ensures resilient and climate-neutral cities, regions and states around the world.

On behalf of an unprecedented delegation of over 500 representatives of local and other subnational governments – one of the largest at COP29 – LGMA leaders made their statement about the vital role of cities, regions, and states in delivering on global climate goals.

What cities and other subnationals need to achieve a successful COP29 outcome

Serena McIlwain, Secretary of Environment for the State of Maryland, USA, shared her perspective on what it will take for COP29 to be successful. She emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, especially for local and state governments. “We need to take climate change seriously,” she stated, noting the importance of strong action from subnational levels of government. “We have a major threat in front of us, and we need stronger subnational leadership to ensure successful outcomes at this COP.”

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, echoed these words, calling for clearer recognition of the critical role of cities and regions. He pointed out that local and regional authorities are essential for reaching climate goals, emphasizing that their involvement is not about local interests but about achieving efficient and accountable processes. “The role of regions and cities is more about having a good process to achieve goals than about their specific interest as subnational levels of governance.” He also called for a clear framework where subnational governments have a recognized role and adequate funding to meet targets.

Financing the future: Innovative solutions for subnational climate action

Shifting the focus to the critical issue of climate finance, Erion Veliaj, Mayor, Tirana, Albania, Chair of the Balkan 40 Cities Network and ICLEI Europe Regional Executive Committee Member, shared the challenges faced by cities in the Balkans. “The richer you are, the easier you have it to take to receive finance,” he lamented, highlighting the hurdles for non-EU member states in accessing international funding. “We’re poorer but more creative,” he stated.

Mayor Veliaj highlighted a successful student-led tree planting effort in Tirana that will likely get 2,000,000 trees planted by 2030. But he acknowledged the broader challenge of financing urban sustainability. “You cannot ask kids to build solar panels or retrofit homes,” he noted, and called out the lack of creative financing solutions for cities at previous COPs. 

He suggested innovative approaches, such as funding profitable city utilities and creating specialized banks that focus exclusively on cities with strong revenue streams: “Let’s think [about] urban finance creatively. Cities are easy to work with. They already agree that this is an emergency. They are already doing fantastic work, but regional networks can do so much. Cities need finance, and they need it now.”

Representing the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), Melissa Logan, Mayor of Blytheville, Arkansas, underscored the power of regional collaboration. “Our voice is louder together than it will ever be if I was here sounding off alone,” she asserted, highlighting the collective efforts of 105 mayors along the Mississippi River to protect their most valuable asset.

Mayor Logan emphasized the importance of inclusive and gender-responsive climate action, noting the role of female mayors in MRCTI. “We are committing the role of women to lead the charge for climate action,” she declared.

Why we should get the inclusive, multilevel NDCs we want: Climate ambition from Istanbul to Tokyo

Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, Türkiye, and President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities, described his city as “Europe’s most climate vulnerable, coastal city,” Mayor İmamoğlu emphasized the urgent need for climate action, stating, “All these environment-related disasters impacting lives and economies across continents should be a wake-up call.”

Outlining Istanbul’s ambitious climate commitments, Mayor İmamoğlu shared, “By joining the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, we have intensified our climate commitments, accelerating our carbon neutral target from 2050 to 2030.” He highlighted the city’s strategic investments in sustainable public transport and green spaces, as well as its pioneering issuance of Türkiye’s first local government green bond.

“As we emphasize in our LGMA Joint Position, cities around the world need direct access to more innovative resources. But my final message is this: Climate action is incomplete without social justice. Ecological justice is deeply tied to social justice and democratic politics. We must get everyone on board. Let’s push for inclusive, multilevel governance that aligns with our goals. Together, we can create a resilient, sustainable future for the world,” concluded Mayor İmamoğlu.

Echoing the call for greater climate action, Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, Japan, showcased her city’s cutting-edge initiatives. “Tokyo will become a power-generating future city capable of producing electricity in every area,” she proclaimed, detailing plans for mandatory solar panel installations, floating offshore wind farms, and the development of a green hydrogen supply system.

“As countries around the world seek to strengthen their goals and efforts to achieve the 1.5 degree Celsius target, let’s deepen our multilevel collaboration with cities, calling all the world to take climate action,” urged Governor Koike.

Reflecting on the diverse perspectives shared, Yunus Arikan, Director of ICLEI Global Advocacy and Focal Point of the LGMA Constituency praised the unity and diversity of local leaders present at COP29. “Together, we can really make a change,” he affirmed. 

Mr Arikan emphasized the strength of the LGMA’s Joint Position and its unwavering commitment to securing a successful COP29 outcome. “We are stronger with your leadership, with your membership, and we invite more of our colleagues to join us in terms of our networks, in terms of our endorsements, our declarations,” he stated. As a closing remark, he declared: “We, cities and subnationals, are committed to deliver, and we will not give up.”