Five insights for cities facing water bankruptcy
What happens when water scarcity is no longer temporary? The concept of “water bankruptcy,” developed by 2026 Stockholm Water Prize…
Only 15 percent of SDGs are on track. At the UN High-Level Political Forum, cities showed a way
ICLEI emphasized the indispensable role of local and regional governments in delivering global commitments and helping shape the international framework that will succeed them.
The just transition is starting locally: Turning fossil fuel phase-out into fair local change
Ahead of the First Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (24–29 April) in Santa Marta, Colombia, local and regional governments are turning this shift into fair, workable change, from energy planning to renewables and workforce reskilling.
Eight signs 2026 isn’t business as usual for urban sustainability agendas
For better or worse, the year ahead brings a mix of reforms, political shifts and global milestones that will shape how urban sustainability agendas are governed and delivered. Here’s what local and regional governments should be on the lookout for this year.
Cities and regions address opportunities and needs on key environmental issues at UN Environment Assembly
As co-focal point of the Local Authorities Major Group, ICLEI ensures cities’ and regions’ voices are represented in the UNEA process, with subnationals calling for stronger synergies with the Rio Conventions and other Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
CityFood’s journey to and at COP30: Local action driving global food system transformation
As a signatory to the Climate Champions’ Food Systems Call to Action, ICLEI’s Global CityFood Program will showcase city-led solutions and its commitment to a just transition and collective action across several COP30 events.
A global Plastics Treaty stalls, but cities can push ahead
As global Plastics Treaty negotiations failed to reach consensus, cities and regions cannot wait. Read four takeaways to guide local action against the plastic waste piling up daily in cities.
What NDCs 3.0 are (and aren’t) saying about multilevel, inclusive climate action
With only 27 new NDCs submitted by June 2025, covering just 21% of global emissions, are governments actually delivering on that promise?
Can local climate dialogues really shape national climate action? The Town Hall COP Initiative is trying to prove they can
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.
Town Hall COPs gain traction with global reach and national endorsement
Since launching in early 2025, the Town Hall COP Initiative has gained momentum, with 70+ local governments and civil society organizations registered to host an event. Seven cities in six countries have already hosted their events, and South Africa became the first national government to officially endorse the initiative. Read on for the latest updates on how local voices are shaping climate action ahead of COP30.
Advocacy & diplomacy COP30 Daring Cities 2025 Global Advocacy Multilevel governance Zero emission Development
From Bonn to Belém: How national commitments and cities together can deliver a climate-ready future
Under the umbrella of Daring Cities 2025 Bonn Dialogues, this event highlighted the importance of partnerships to deliver not just ambitious plans, but real climate action for a thriving future.
Advocacy & diplomacy Climate mitigation Daring Cities 2025 Global Advocacy Multilevel governance Zero emission Development
From fragmentation to structure: CHAMP helps scaling climate action across all levels
The 2nd CHAMP UNFCCC Focal Point Dialogue provided a platform for national government endorsers and their strategic partners to assess progress and guide CHAMP’s implementation toward COP30.