On the road to COP30: Reflecting on how multilevel action can strengthen national climate plans

Daring Cities’ 2025 Cornerstone I – Reflect – brought together local leaders and climate representatives virtually to discuss how to build on past climate initiatives, especially those stemming from COP28 and COP29.

Looking ahead to COP30, what cities and regions do in advance of this global climate summit may matter more than the conference itself. On the road to Belém, local and regional governments have a unique opportunity to engage with their national governments, shift the trajectory of the climate emergency, and push for inclusive, multilevel climate action.

Building on COP28 Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership for Climate Action Initiative, known as CHAMP – which has been endorsed by 75 countries – Daring Cities 2025 is a pivotal platform where local and regional leaders will join national policymakers to shape stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) ahead of COP30. The aim is not only to make climate commitments more ambitious—but also more implementable across all levels of governance.

From 16–18 June, the Daring Cities 2025 Bonn Dialogues will unfold alongside the UNFCCC SB62 Climate Talks. With many of the unresolved negotiations from COP29 deferred to SB62, this juncture is critical.

“Back to back to the half-term negotiations of the UNFCCC between COPs, the Bonn Dialogues will be our last pit stop,” said Katja Dörner, Mayor of Bonn, Germany, and Chair of ICLEI’s Climate Action Governance Portfolio. “We shall compile our best practices, our actions, and our knowledge—and we shall evaluate how we can still do better in the coming months until COP30.”

The call from Mayor Dörner is clear: cities and regions must not wait. “While our common challenge is financing our action in difficult political framework conditions, we can overcome financial, political and structural barriers.”

From climate setbacks to local momentum

Amid weakened multilateralism and mixed outcomes from COP29, many subnational actors are stepping up in the face of an international climate leadership void. In the United States, Brigid Shea, Commissioner of Travis County, and ICLEI USA Board Chair, described the reality starkly: “We are horrified at so much of what’s happening—the retreat from science, the rejection of international agreements.” But she added, “The work of addressing climate change now falls to local and regional governments.”

Despite global uncertainty, the momentum remains with cities. “The nations of the world alone can’t solve this problem—we need all hands on deck,” Commissioner Shea emphasized.

Yunus Arikan, ICLEI Director of Global Advocacy, also raised concerns. “Many governments are shifting their development or climate funds toward their defense budget. This funding should not come at the cost of climate finance.” 

Framing COP30 as both a milestone and mandate, speakers emphasized the unique opportunity to elevate multilevel action and the urban agenda, with COP30 as a turning point for multilevel action and urbanization. “The Amazonian Summit will focus on urban informality, food systems, the role of Indigenous Peoples, and nature-based solutions as essential elements of climate ambition in the Amazon context, setting a precedent for upcoming climate Summits,” emphasized Mr. Arikan.

Brazil’s climate federalism in action

“In a vast country like Brazil, and many others, cities are where things happen, where initiatives begin, and serve as examples for others to follow,” stated André Correia do Lago, COP30 President. As we head to Belém, his words reaffirm Brazil’s commitment to integrating diverse stakeholders, emphasizing the role of mayors and subnational governments in shaping the COP30 agenda.

Antonio Da Costa e Silva, Chief International Advisor, Ministry of Cities, Brazil, referred to the partnership between the Ministry of Cities and ICLEI as part of a broader initiative that the Ministry of Cities is leading towards COP30, aiming to translate Brazil’s commitments under NDC 3.0, climate federalism and the CHAMP initiative into tangible actions.

“We must make concrete initiatives to give real meaning to this commitment to multilevel engagement—bridging the territorial level with the federal level, involving cities, municipalities, mayors, city councils, municipal chambers, and social movements,” asserted Ambassador Da Costa e Silva.

In addition, Axel Grael, former Mayor of Niterói, Brazil; Chair of ICLEI Climate Action Support Portfolio, and Vice President of Frente Nacional de Prefeitas e Prefeitos (FNP), acknowledged the challenging political context but underscored the importance of collective momentum: “We live in a political environment that worries us, but we know the strength of global mobilization is fundamental.” At the national level, he celebrated that Brazil is advancing in climate policy, with strong engagement from cities through the emergence of climate federalism. “Public climate policies are now being developed with the participation of all three levels of governance in our country: federal, state, and municipal.”

In this regard, the creation of the LGMA National Coordination Group for COP30 is a noteworthy step. Supported by ICLEI as the focal point of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, the Coordination Group aims to boost the role of Brazilian municipalities and States in shaping COP30. With strong support from national and local leaders, including the Minister of Cities, this initiative marks a key step toward advancing climate federalism and leaves a lasting legacy for future COP hosts.

Town Hall COPs: Bringing global climate discussion at home

A powerful new tool in this process is the Town Hall COP initiative, a brand-new initiative by ICLEI, which will be supported by Daring Cities. “We believe climate action requires us to bridge communities and global climate efforts, and push for inclusive, bold local action,” said Alyssa Chenault, Operations Manager, Climate Action, ICLEI World Secretariat. 

The initiative is already taking center stage as an avenue for local and regional governments to inform themselves on their respective country’s NDC 3.0 and showcase how their community can best contribute to its successful implementation over the coming years. The Town Hall COPs initiative invites local governments, municipal authorities and local communities to bring the global climate movement home by hosting a climate summit in their own community. Ongoing progress was already achieved in Australia, where the Greater Sydney Region Town Hall COP was held in March, marking the very first Town Hall COP of the year.

“Town Hall COPs like ours present this ideal opportunity to mobilize locally, bringing together diverse stakeholders to influence national, regional and global outcomes for inclusive, bold climate action,” said Elizabeth Adamczyk, Councilor, City of Newcastle, Australia and newly elected Chair of the ICLEI Oceania Regional Executive Committee.

With a deadline of September 2025 for countries to submit their updated NDCs, the clock is ticking. “Time is of the most essence. We encourage holding a Town Hall COP as early as possible,” said Ms. Chenault.

COP30 and beyond

According to Yunus Arikan, “We are prepared for a fragmented world, a multipolar world that can offer new opportunities.” He envisioned the next five years as a pivotal window to realign the conventions on climate, land, and nature in “a circular world” and celebrated the forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities as a tool to support that shift. 

“We already envisaged the Daring Cities road beyond Belém,” added Mayor Dörner. While Daring Cities  2025 will also bring in the IPCC Special Report, the potential for new partnerships with science should be explored further. “Holistic action requires new partnerships – and Daring Cities dare look beyond city borders,” said Mayor Dörner.

As we move forward, speakers called for a decentralized and community-driven future grounded in data, digitalization, and innovation, with Town Hall COPs and Daring Cities leading the way.

Watch the recordings from the Reflect Cornerstone of Daring Cities 2025.