ICLEI’s Town Hall COP Initiative is emerging as a powerful model to make climate action truly locally led, transformation-oriented, and, most importantly, nationally relevant.

Since its launch in early 2025, the initiative has gained traction, with more than 85 local governments and civil society organizations registering to host Town Hall COPs across more than 40 countries. So far, twelve Town Hall COPs have taken place across diverse geographies, from Australia and the Republic of Korea to Uganda, Türkiye, and the United States, showing strong global interest in locally led climate discussions.

In a significant milestone, South Africa became the first national government to officially endorse the initiative, signaling growing recognition of the vital role that local actors play in shaping national and global climate agendas.

Town Hall COPs are proving that meaningful change can be driven from the ground up. This is more than a dialogue, it’s a new model for inclusive, multilevel climate governance. These were some of the key reflections from the Daring Cities 2025 Virtual Forum kick-off session, which gather national and local leaders, alongside experts, to discuss how Town Hall COPs can influence national climate action.

Why national governments are backing the Town Hall COP Initiative

South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) announced its official endorsement of the Town Hall COP Initiative, becoming the first national government to do so. The endorsement aligns with the country’s G20 Presidency priorities, such as innovation for sustainable development.

“Town Hall COPs represent not just an event, but a critical process of building democratic and decentralized climate governance, where everybody’s involved, one that strengthens the climate compact between the state and society,” said Pemy Gasela, Chief Director at DFFE.

She added: “We need solutions co-designed with those closest to the ground. That’s why this model fits squarely within our vision.”

To bring this commitment to life, ICLEI and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) have partnered to host a series of Town Hall COPs across the country.

“We see Town Hall COPs not just as a space for consulting local government, but as a continuous platform for engagement on issues of local government,” said Rabelani Tshikalange, SALGA’s Specialist for Environment, Climate Change & Sustainability.

He added: “This process fosters mutual accountability. At the same time, national departments gain a clearer understanding of local challenges and opportunities. In turn, municipal leaders become better informed and more equipped to act on these insights.”

Why Town Hall COPs, and why now? Looking ahead to COP30 and beyond

As the global climate community prepares for COP30 and the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), Town Hall COPs are not just checking boxes.

Inspired by past efforts led by ICLEI and the LGMA Constituency, such as the Talanoa Dialogues in 2018, which drew on Pacific traditions of inclusive and transparent dialogue, and the Local Stocktakes in 2023 ahead of COP28, the Town Hall COP Initiative also builds on the momentum of the CHAMP initiative launched at COP28. Together, they are shaping a new era of climate governance rooted in multilevel action, equity, trust, and co-creation.

“This is not a rebrand,” said said HY William Chan, former Sydney City Councillor and ICLEI Oceania Advisor, referring to the initiative’s evolution from these earlier models. “Town Hall COPs are strategic, outcome-driven platforms designed to embed local realities into national decisions.”

As Kobie Brand, ICLEI Deputy Secretary General, explained: “Local governments are no longer just implementers. They’re contributors to ambition. Town Hall COPs allow them to take that ambition to the national level in ways that are grounded, collaborative, and real.”

These events create space for reflection, storytelling, and policy input, ensuring that subnational voices don’t just respond to, but actively shape national climate strategies.

Whether through CHAMP, NDC 3.0, or Brazil’s COP30 presidency’s Mutirão spirit -referring to a collective effort toward a shared goal- the message is clear: Inclusive climate action is not optional if we want to advance toward global climate goals.

Insights from the ground: Greater Sydney’s Town Hall COP

A standout example comes from Greater Sydney, which hosted the first Town Hall COP in 2025 as part of its Climate Action Week. Sixteen municipalities participated, and national government representatives were also in attendance.

“The event revealed a striking disconnect between local ambition and national climate discourse,” said Chan. “While cities invest in resilience and household electrification, national debates still revolve around fossil fuel subsidies and nuclear power.”

The event offered municipalities a unique opportunity to present concrete data to the national government, showing that Greater Sydney alone could reduce Australia’s emissions by up to 15%.

“That’s a clear case for why local strategies must be integrated into Australia’s NDCs,” Chan emphasized. “We may seem local, but our role in both the problem and the solution is significant. Our Town Hall COP effectively linked national priorities with a conversation that wasn’t abstract or symbolic,” he reflected.

What If national governments aren’t engaged?

Not all countries have embraced multilevel collaboration. In some cases, local and regional leaders are working in isolation or even in opposition to their national counterparts. According to responses from Town Hall COP hosts, the nationally relevant component of the process is both the most challenging and the most vital.

“Don’t wait for permission; start where you are,” urged Pemy Gasela.

“See this as an opportunity to build awareness, input into policy, and unlock partnerships,” advised Rabelani Tshikalange.

“Invite your negotiators. Make it simple and accessible,” encouraged HY William Chan.

“Don’t give up. Insist, and make your case with persistence,” added Yunus Arikan, Director of ICLEI Global Advocacy.

Town Hall COPs demonstrate that even in politically complex environments, local action can shape national progress. By convening diverse stakeholders and documenting real community needs and solutions, local governments can push and create multilevel action momentum from the bottom up.

To support this, ICLEI developed four customizable national government outreach letter templates to help local governments communicate their Town Hall COP outcomes and recommendations to national authorities, whether before or after the event takes place, and whether or not the NDC is still being drafted.

Reflecting on the broader significance of the Town Hall COP Initiative, Pemy Gasela made a clear call: “Those who have not embraced it must understand that multilevel governance is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. I encourage my peers to see multilevel governance not just as a burden, but as a powerful tool to accelerate progress and legitimacy in the climate space.”

*This blog was written based on the Daring Cities 2025 Virtual Forum session, “Ground up, national impact: Making Town Hall COPs matter for national climate action,” held on 9 July 2025. Watch the recording here.