The GCoM follows three main principles with regard to data protection and use. 

As the first underlying principle, city data shared by a signatory within the GCoM initiative and with the GCoM Secretariat is open data. Reported city data is made publicly and freely available on our website. This data is used to track progress against the Paris Agreement goals and to provide an evidence base for increased investment in local government action. 

A second principle is that any reported personal data will be treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) of the European Union, in particular as regards the protection, storage and non-disclosure of personal data. 

The third principle is that by reporting data to the GCoM, local governments do not transfer in any form exclusive ownership or control of the data to any GCoM partner or entity. Moreover, no data provided by a city or local government will be used for commercial purposes by any of the institutions or entities involved in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy.