One curriculum transformed Izmir’s climate training, and created an emergency team
In Izmir, four departments stopped working in silos and built one shared curriculum, with results none of them expected.
On the road to COP31, cities lead on zero waste and climate action at the Zero Waste Forum
At the Zero Waste Forum 2026 (5-7 June, Istanbul, Türkiye), cities made the case that transforming waste into a resource is emerging as one of the most practical pathways for delivering climate action, strengthening resilience, and advancing sustainable urban development.
Climate adaptation Climate mitigation Health Nature-based Development Resilient Development Zero emission Development
When the heat rises, cities act
Heat Action Day, celebrated every year on 2 June, is a moment to recognize the scale of the challenge and the growing range of responses cities are leading. Across ICLEI’s network, those responses take many forms.
Climate adaptation Climate mitigation Health Nature-based Development Resilient Development South America Zero emission Development
Heat, humidity and hard choices: Lessons from Belém’s climate risk analysis
Sitting at the edge of the Amazon rainforest, surrounded by rivers, parks, and some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, Belém seems an unlikely place to talk about heat as a crisis. And yet…
What cities need to unlock the net-zero transition: Lessons from the Kaohsiung-ICLEI Community of Practice
Cities consume over 70% of global energy and account for more than 60% of carbon emissions. With accelerating urbanization, cities…
Beyond shelter: Why housing is Africa’s biggest urban equity challenge
Across Africa, rapid urbanization, affordability gaps, and climate risks are pushing low-income households into informal settlements. Explore how housing inequities deepen poverty and vulnerability, and why housing must be treated as a structural equity issue.
Who gets a say: How cities are engaging those often left out
Participation is critical for urban planning but often uneven. To foster inclusive engagement, cities within the Malmö Commitment are experimenting with accessible formats, community partnerships, and linking participation to daily life.
Malmö’s blueprint for green finance and what other cities can learn
Malmö competes for capital alongside covered bond issuers, national governments, and corporate. How can a city be so successful?
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.
How protecting migratory species built bridges between governments during COP15 in Brazil
The discussions showed how financing, peer learning, and cooperation across regions can help protect migratory species in the habitats and corridors they depend on.
Zero food waste: Here’s how four cities are getting there
This year’s Zero Waste Day, our focus is on food – an area where the potential for impact is both urgent and transformative. Across four cities, innovative approaches are showing how the loop between farm and fork can be closed through actionable policies and community engagement.
Making your city investable: A practical guide to green finance
Many local governments still struggle to access affordable, long-term capital at scale. Green finance can help – when it is embedded in systems and treated as an institutional responsibility.