Since launching in early 2025, the Town Hall COP Initiative has gained momentum, with 70+ local governments and civil society organizations registered to host an event. Seven cities in six countries have already hosted their events, and South Africa became the first national government to officially endorse the initiative. Read on for the latest updates on how local voices are shaping climate action ahead of COP30.
Food is a cornerstone of health, dignity and wellbeing—yet many cities face challenges in ensuring access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. Discover how cities in the Malmö Commitment Network are building inclusive food systems that serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Who owns the land, and who gets to decide how it’s used? These questions are not just about property—they are about power, rights, and justice. Explore the vital connections between urban and rural areas and the role of gender justice in sustainable land management.
The Malmö Commitment pioneers are exploring how targeted energy efficiency measures can support energy equity, demonstrating how these measures can contribute significantly to making housing more affordable for everyone.
Shimokawa Town in Hokkaido is the smallest member of ICLEI Japan. Rich in forest resources, it has become a model for circular economy initiatives based on sustainable forestry. Through innovative strategies, strong governance, and community engagement, it has revitalized its local economy while ensuring environmental protection. Like many local governments in Japan, they have faced…
What happens when around 100 stakeholders from five continents come together to discuss urban agrifood systems transformation? In September 2024, the Urban Agrifood Systems Global Workshop—co-organized by FAO and ICLEI—turned FAO headquarters in Rome into a vibrant marketplace of ideas. Check out the outcomes.
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.
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.
Hundreds of cities’ representatives and their partners have come together at the Daring Cities 2024 to exchange solutions and discuss their strategies to tackle the climate emergency. How does this translate into practice? The event showcased many real-life cases that offer inspiration for other local and regional governments to dare to take bold, transformative steps forward
The Summit of the Future (SoF) begins on 22 September at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. The Summit is an initiative of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (pictured above; photo credit Kiara Worth / UNFCCC) to improve the UN system and strengthen multilateralism. The high-level event brings world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
To truly empower local people, community needs must be incorporated into policy, ideally using familiar language to communicate climate action and involving diverse groups in decision-making processes. Examples from cities like Baltimore, Glasgow, Lusaka, Rosario, and Baguio demonstrated the benefits of local stocktakes and continuous dialogue.
This interactive session showcased how creativity can enhance project design, build trust, and improve outcomes. From illustrated maps to promote nature-based solutions in Colombia, to the integration of art and policy to envision sustainable cities, to photos that portray community perspectives, creativity is a vital tool for driving sustainable change and fostering community engagement.