ReUse this: Medellín’s steps to scale returnable packaging
From coffee cups to soda bottles, over 1,000 tonnes of waste are generated every day in Medellín, Colombia. In response, the city has been focusing on reusable systems.
From policy to factory floor: What cities can learn from the EU SWITCH-Asia Textile project in China
From recycling hubs to traceability and green finance, ICLEI’s SWITCH-Asia project is helping Chinese small and medium size enterprises go circular. Read about six field-tested levers cities can apply – each with a clear 90-day checklist to drive real impact.
Circular Development Equitable Development ICLEI organization ICLEI's Five Pathways Japan Office Nature-based Development Resilient Development Zero emission Development
ICLEI Members in Japan are scaling action through ICLEI’s five pathways
In fiscal year 2024, ICLEI Members in Japan engaged in various activities connected to ICLEI’s five pathways toward sustainable urban…
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.
Toward a world free of plastic pollution?
As countries race to finalize a global plastics treaty by the end of 2025, a critical round of negotiations is underway in Geneva, Switzerland. From production limits to toxic chemical bans, what’s on the table and why must cities have a seat at it?
Beyond the bin: What cities can do to make reuse work
What if your coffee cup or takeout container didn’t end up in the trash, but went back into circulation, reducing waste, cutting emissions, and sparking local innovation and green jobs? Explore lessons from the Circular City Labs project.
Air quality Circular Development East Asia Procurement Resource access Resource security Zero emission Development
What does an ecological civilization look like? China’s Guiyang City is showing the way
With lush forests, clean air, and a fast-growing green economy, Guiyang is proving that cities can thrive without costing the Earth. On 5–6 July, urban leaders will gather here for the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference to promote harmony between humans and nature, a journey that Guiyang has proudly led for years
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…
The beginning of the end of plastics pollution, what does this mean for the Republic of Korea Cities?
The Republic of Korea hosted INC-5, bringing national governments together to forge a global treaty to end plastic pollution. This initiative began at the 2022 UN Environment Assembly with the adoption of Resolution 5.14 titled: End Plastic Pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument.
Bursting the bubble? Engaging the disengaged for equitable climate transitions
To ensure climate policies are more socially balanced, particularly in addressing the needs and participation of structurally disadvantaged populations, the INCLU:DE project promotes a shift in focus from incentivizing to enabling. How do cities design local climate actions that speak to all different realities?
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.
Two years, no agreement on plastics: Where to from here? The Local and Subnational Government Coalition asks after INC-5
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5) to develop a Global Plastic Treaty concluded without an agreement, pushing further negotiations into 2025 – prompting the Local and Subnational Governments Coalition to End Plastic Pollution to advocate for stronger inclusion.