Multilevel Governance Dialogues for greener, more resilient cities
Multilevel governance dialogues have taken place across seven UrbanShift countries, engaging city representatives from diverse urban contexts.
Supporting energy equity: The role of energy efficiency in tackling energy poverty and burden
The Malmö Commitment pioneers are exploring how targeted energy efficiency measures can support energy equity, demonstrating how these measures can contribute significantly to making housing more affordable for everyone.
Global sustainability agendas: 10 things we’re watching for in 2025
As we begin a pivotal year, many global north countries are facing elections and leadership changes, testing the world’s commitment to sustainable development. Last year, we witnessed several key global processes needing to continue into 2025 – like the biodiversity negotiations and the Plastics Treaty – or delivering a disappointing lack of ambition, such as the climate COP. Here are the ten things we’re watching for in 2025 regarding the global sustainability agendas.
How green bonds are shaping the future of sustainable investment
Green bonds can unlock infrastructure investment opportunities for cities and nations to finance transformative solutions.
Small but mighty: Shimokawa, Japan’s successful circular economy
Shimokawa Town in Hokkaido is the smallest member of ICLEI Japan. Rich in forest resources, it has become a model…
Cities at the crossroads: Powering urban energy futures amid global crises
As nations increasingly turn inward, losing sight of common global challenges, progress towards mitigating our present energy systems’ local and international environmental impacts is threatened.
Ten ingredients to stir up urban agrifood systems transformation
What happens when around 100 stakeholders from five continents come together to discuss urban agrifood systems transformation? In September 2024, the Urban Agrifood Systems Global Workshop—co-organized by FAO and ICLEI—turned FAO headquarters in Rome into a vibrant marketplace of ideas. Check out the outcomes.
How New Taipei City’s E-House Program is pioneering nearly zero-carbon communities through public-private collaboration
Aiming for net-zero emissions in 2050, the largest city on the island of Taiwan has successfully implemented several initiatives, like its “Energy-Saving E-House Program,” the region’s first-ever housing energy-saving initiative engaging private stakeholders from the real estate sector and local communities.
Rainwater utilization as a key to enhancing urban resilience by Sumida City, Japan
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent, concerns over the rising risks of urban flooding and water scarcity…
Top five most-read ICLEI stories in 2024
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.
Scaling climate finance: From COP29 to COP30 and beyond
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.
From Daring Cities to Town Hall COPs, how ICLEI is taking on local-to-global climate action
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.