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.
Healing the Australian landscape: The wisdom of First Peoples and cultural burning
By embracing the wisdom of First Peoples and integrating cultural burning into modern land management, we can protect landscapes, restore ecosystems, and strengthen our connection with nature.
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?
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.
Addressing housing affordability: Lessons from Malmö Commitment pioneers
Housing affordability has become an increasingly urgent global issue, driven by factors such as inflation, rising living expenses, increased construction…
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.
Collecting data, building trust: Climate Resilience for Communities project advances in Izmir
When projects like the Climate Resilience for Communities (CRC) initiative take the time to listen to these stories, they turn local communities’ traditional practices into effective, long-term, resilient and sustainable solutions.
No one left behind: Three daring cities embedding equity for sustainable urban development
The Malmö Commitment pledges social equity as the core of sustainable urban development, building a network of pioneer local and regional governments working together on inclusive approaches. At the Daring Cities 2024 Virtual Forum, Santa Fe, Argentina; Pittsburgh, USA; and Turku, Finland, took center stage, showcasing how they are adopting equity-focused strategies for an inclusive transition—setting a path for other cities to follow suit.