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As the world continues to shape the framework of the much-anticipated “Global Plastic Treaty”, the urgency to address the plastic pollution crisis has never been more pronounced. Spearheaded by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, this international legally binding instrument has been in the making since 2022, aiming to complete its work by 

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In its Quarterly Report 2024, the UNFCCC confirmed that this year’s Regional Climate Weeks, including the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week, have been canceled until further notice due to “lack of funding.” These regional climate weeks are seen as crucial for promoting multilateral partnerships and coordination, fostering innovative approaches, and uniting efforts to tackle 

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Authored by Pourya Salehi, Ariel Dekovic, Yunus Arikan, and Maryke van Staden from ICLEI World Secretariat At the 43rd session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Nairobi in 2016, the panel decided to include a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SRCC) in the IPCC Seventh Assessment Cycle. This achievement marked 

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Access, participation, and opportunity are three key ingredients local governments should consider when promoting local agriculture, reducing food miles, or supporting community markets. Explore how to implement them and real city examples to follow suit.    *By María Alonso Martínez and ICLEI’s CityFood Team In recent years, the conversation around sustainable food systems has focused 

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Gender-inclusive, multilevel, and cross-boundary water governance approaches are ever more crucial for achieving peace and safety. Such approaches can improve access to safe sanitation and water, prepare for future shocks and threats, and tackle present-day social inequities, especially impacting women. *This blog was written by Paul Currie, Director of Urban Systems Unit, and Luka Dreyer, 

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The City of São Paulo has recently declared the acquisition of 32 private green areas as a public utility, equivalent to the size of Paris or 15,500 football fields. With this significant addition, the megalopolis will total 26% of its territory under environmental protection. “Expanding these preservation areas is one of the greatest gifts we 

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How can we build capacity for local and regional officials to access diverse funding sources for climate adaptation and mitigation projects? Between 13-16 February, UrbanShift hosted the Marrakech City Academy for Africa in Morocco, engaging nearly 80 participants from 25 cities across seven countries in intensive learning on Climate Finance and Urban Biodiversity. ICLEI led 

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In November 2023, the Urban Infrastructure Insurance Facility (UIIF) Project hosted its first in-person event in San José, Costa Rica. The gathering brought together representatives from various Latin American and Caribbean cities and ICLEI, united by a common goal: To enhance their understanding and management of natural disasters. The dialogue was a melting pot of 

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A wave of sustainable mobility is reshaping urban public transport in Brazil, led by the City of São Paulo’s pioneering eco-mobility solutions, boasting the largest fleet of electric buses in Latin America. With ambitious goals to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2028, explore how this 12 million-people megacity is paving the way for a 

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Keep important sustainability events right in your own calendar! You can subscribe to a global events list that highlights political events (such as UNFCCC meetings), webinars (from our Advocacy team and more), and conferences that contribute to the world of sustainable urban development, and synchronizes directly with the calendar client you already use. This list 

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In 2024, the global climate agenda is at a critical juncture following the outcomes of COP28, which have been described as the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era. The stocktake at COP28 recognized the urgent need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, to address 

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The foundational topic of inequality was raised throughout COP28, but is most deeply felt in the day-to-day work of subnational governments who are the first responders to climate change impacts. Inequality cannot be tackled without tackling climate change, and climate change cannot be tackled without tackling inequality. On 2 December, as part of the inaugural 

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As our world urbanizes swiftly, cities like Melaka, Independencia, Lusaka, and Minas Gerais State are taking strides to transform climate challenges into opportunities for resilient, sustainable futures. Explore their stories of innovation and adaptation. Melaka, Malaysia: Integrating tourism into resilience plans “Mass tourism has created an economic boost for the city. The challenge is to 

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As the world grapples with the harsh reality of falling off the Paris Agreement track, the COP28 Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership (CHAMP) for Climate Action, provides a small ray of hope for getting back on track. The initiative commits endorsing countries to enhance cooperation with their local, regional and other subnational governments – 

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Did you know that half of the planet’s inhabitants are 35 or younger and will represent 60% of the urban population by the end of 2030? These facts reinforce the urgency to amplify youth voices and ensure their active participation in steering a sustainable future. Here’s how ICLEI took charge to involve youth in shaping 

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Urban innovation is not only about technology; it encompasses policy-making, finance, climate action communication, and even human interaction innovations. Explore how cities can not only address climate challenges but also reshape the narrative of existing possibilities by adopting human needs and solution-finding approaches for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban landscape.    “Cities are already 

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Under the #Stocktake4ClimateEmergency initiative, 26 cities and regions staged their local events that officially contributed to the first Global Stocktake. Three of these were led by youth from Africa in Accra, Ghana; Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda. Leading the charge behind Kampala’s event is Walter Osigai Etipesit, a youth climate advocate who firmly believes in 

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This blog was written by Dr Magash Naidoo, Head of Circular Development, ICLEI World Secretariat One thing has become clear, there is a lot at stake. Our health, our natural environment, our economies, and our social equity. Yet, there are many narrow interests being pursued that make pursuing the ‘greater good’ objectives of the UNEA 

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In the lead-up to COP28, 26 cities and regions hosted their local events that officially contributed to the first Global Stocktake by turning their town halls into COP venues. Explore the process, the outcomes, and practical examples of this inventory exercise that brings cities and regions’ voices into global climate discussions.  As COP28 unfolds in 

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Worldwide, national and subnational governments are setting targets and developing policies to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems that ensure energy security and climate neutrality. Global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine make the need for this energy transition even more critical. Implementing such a transition requires collaborating 

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A wave of sustainable mobility is reshaping urban public transport in Brazil. From São Paulo’s shift to electric buses to the search for integrated urban transportation planning in Belém and Porto Alegre, explore how these cities contribute to a greener journey. São Paulo, pioneering sustainable mobility This is not just any city. It’s a “megacity” 

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As the world counts down to COP28, more than 70,000 worldwide delegates set to converge in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.  We’ve turned the spotlight on fourteen members of ICLEI’s international team of experts, by asking them to share their insights on why they are going to COP, what they want to achieve, 

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26 November marks the first-ever United Nations World Sustainable Transport Day, promoting sustainable, efficient, and inclusive transport. ICLEI joins this celebration by spotlighting exemplary cities worldwide driving change—whether with electric buses in Quito, an urban freight revolution in Portland, or a decade of a car-free festival in Suwon, these urban innovators are paving the way 

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