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…
Building the legal backbone for net-zero cities: Insights from COP29’s Korea Pavilion
At COP29, this session at the Korea Pavilion presented how to build net-zero cities through legal innovation and citizen engagement.
After WCAS, local and subnational leaders rally for enhanced multilevel collaboration
As the world’s attention turned to COP29, leaders from the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, gathered on 13 November at a special session to respond to COP29 and the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WCAS).
Saitama City brings the G7 to COP29
Despite cities being home to the majority of G7 citizens, local governments are not yet systematically consulted by national governments on critical decisions affecting their communities. The Urban7 (U7) is seeking to change that within the G7 group of countries.
Local government representation in international fora doesn’t end with the United Nations agendas, such as the Climate COPs. Local and regional governments are advocating for representation – especially with regards to sustainable development objectives – on multiple fronts, including the G7, G20 and other multilateral platforms.
At COP29, California and Tokyo leaders urge cities to lead on climate action
At COP29, California and Japan’s local leaders emphasize that cities must lead the charge on climate action, showing that bold, independent initiatives can drive sustainable futures beyond national policies.
“Why should my Mayor attend global sustainability events?”
In recent years, more and more local and regional government leaders are traveling to international environmental conferences, like the annual Climate COPs or the ICLEI World Congress. These meetings provide the opportunity to discuss solutions to global and local challenges. But at the same time, the concrete value of elected leaders’ engagement can at times be difficult to grasp. What is the value for such in-person meetings? How does the community back home benefit?