Uniting for Impact: Driving City Climate Action Toward a Greener Future – GCoM Secretariat Newsletter, December 2024

Uniting for Impact: Driving City Climate Action Toward a Greener Future – GCoM Secretariat Newsletter, December 2024

It’s with great pleasure that we present the latest edition of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy newsletter, a platform for updates and insights at the forefront of climate change and action. Within these pages, curated contributions from the GCoM Secretariat, GCoM’s dynamic National/Regional Covenants and valued alliance partners, we offer an overview of some of the collective efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change. Discover how GCoM is working towards a greener, more resilient future, with cities leading the way.

💡 News from the Global Secretariat

Mayors Pratibhaben Jain And Emil Boc join the GCoM Board Of Mayors and Lord Mayor Reynolds becomes Regional Ambassador for Oceania

In July, GCoM
welcomed two new mayors to the GCoM Board of Mayors and Leaders: Mayor Pratibhaben Jain of Ahmedabad City, India and Mayor Emil Boc of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Representing South Asia and the European Union & Western Europe, both mayors represent their regions on the global stage, catalyzing city climate action to help national governments meet the highest ambitions of the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, on December 5th, the Lord Mayor of Hobart (Australia) Anna Reynolds, after an impactful term as GCoM Board Member, was appointed as Regional Ambassador for Oceania. 

2024 Innovate4Cities Conference

Co-hosted by GCoM and UN-Habitat from 10 to 12 September in Montréal, Canada, the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C24) brought together decision makers, scientists, civil society leaders, and city climate experts from over 100 countries across 6 continents. With more than 200 sessions, the event provided an essential convening space for the leading voices of city climate action to synthesize knowledge and scale up urban climate policies and solutions. Key moments included:

  • The launch of exciting new features to GCoM’s Data Portal for Cities, offering new capabilities that help cities build comprehensive GHG inventories. These enhancements provide a solid foundation for evidence-based climate action plans, enabling cities to track their progress over time.
  • The Montréal Call to Action on Cities, Climate Research and Governance, aims to accelerate climate action by making science, knowledge and innovation available to support stronger, more ambitious and widespread collaboration between subnational (cities, towns, states and regions) and national governments. The call is currently supported by over 100 practitioners from business, research and civil society.
  • The AI x City Climate Action Hackathon sessions: With interactive demonstrations and practical exercises, participants delved into harnessing AI tools for climate data analysis, gaining valuable insights and developing actionable strategies. The winning team of the Hackathon, DUCTExplorer, stood out for their groundbreaking approach to climate risk assessment. Their innovative use of AI not only met the critical data access challenges but also provided actionable insights that could accelerate climate adaptation efforts in urban areas. As part of their reward, the winning team will be mentored by Donna Vakalis, a two-time Canadian Olympian and AI expert at Mila Artificial Intelligence Institute.

GCoM at WUF12: Empowering Cities in the Fight Against Climate Change

GCoM played an active role at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo – convened by UN-Habitat – showcasing the power of cities to lead on climate action. From 4 to 8 November, GCoM hosted and co-hosted
a series of impactful sessions dedicated to actionable insights, successful case studies, and collaborative strategies that empower local governments across the globe to scale climate solutions.

  • As part of an ongoing commitment to engage and support South Eastern European municipalities, GCoM hosted Mayor Dušan Raičević, President of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) and Mayor of Bar, Montenegro, alongside Mayor Tomislav Rob of Beli Manastir, Croatia, in the GCoM Booth at WUF12.GCoM is committed to enhancing cooperation in the region, addressing its specific needs, and fostering a structured engagement for climate action.

Boosting Energy Efficiency Financing in Kyrgyzstan: Workshop in Bishkek

On October 18, a GCoM workshop on financing energy efficiency projects in municipal buildings was held during the Bishkek Urban Forum, bringing together Kyrgyz cities, policymakers, donors, and financial institutions to address challenges and solutions in funding energy efficiency initiatives. National and international donors presented financing opportunities for cities, while GCoM highlighted energy efficiency projects under preparation as part of their Climate Action Plans. The workshop is part of GCoM’s technical support to six Kyrgyz cities, Talas, Jalal-Abad, Batken, Karakol, Naryn, and Tokmok, helping them develop Climate Action Plans and improve energy efficiency in municipal buildings. GCoM’s experts conducted energy audits on 44 buildings, providing tailored recommendations for energy savings and costs. Next steps include finalizing project documentation and engaging potential financiers to secure investments.

GCoM partners with Smart City Expo World Congress 2024

While WUF12 was in full swing, GCoM was also proud to support as institutional partner the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, which brought together 25,000+ leaders to address key urban challenges, including decarbonization, mobility, housing, and security. GCoM’s Business Matchmaking initiative enabled 15 cities from five regions to connect with and estimated 59 businesses, resulting in approximately 169 pre-arranged meetings at the EU Joint Projects Pavilion. Cities also participated in exclusive exhibition tours and spoke at sessions, including the Green Agora and Catalonia Pavilion’s Inno Challenge. As an institutional partner of Fira Barcelona, GCoM worked closely with regional development agencies, national pavilions, associations and private sector leaders to amplify climate action collaboration.

Mayors at U20 Call for $800 Billion Annual Public Investment towards Climate Action in Cities by 2030

The U20 Summit advanced the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP)—a pledge from 74 countries to enhance collaboration between national and subnational governments on climate initiatives. GCoM’s delegates came out in full force to push for tangible climate action & securing funding for urban solutions, while also highlighting why multi-level governance matters. Among the key developments, nearly 60 mayors and urban leaders, including mayors from GCoM & C40 Cities, called for at least $800 billion in annual public investment from national governments and development finance institutions by 2030. The investment is critical in deploying and scaling city-level climate projects across the globe.

GCoM and Open Earth Foundation (OEF) Announce Partnership

GCoM and OEF announced a partnership to expand global access to data for cities and local governments, optimize software development for fit-for-purpose tools, and increase the availability of local greenhouse gas emissions inventories globally, leveraging GCoM’s Data Portal for Cities and OEF’s CityCatalyst.

Draft for Consultation of Integrity Matters: GHG Target Setting Guidance for Cities, States, and Regions

The Expert Group convened by GCoM and the World Resources Institute (WRI) published a draft for consultation of “Integrity Matters: GHG Target Setting Guidance for Cities, States, and Regions”, aiming to present a high-integrity, fair-share approach for setting, updating, or stress-testing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets that align with the ambition and principles of the Paris Agreement.

Cities Meet Cities through GCoM

Under GCoM’s Cities Meet Cities initiative, cities worldwide are exchanging innovative solutions. Recent exchanges highlighted transformative efforts in Blacktown (Australia), Cesis (Latvia), Katowice (Poland), Melbourne (Australia), and Daegu (South Korea). In Blacktown, delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Kenya explored climate projects from cooling homes with nature-based solutions to managing stormwater with wetlands. Cesis showcased its integration of sustainability through real-time energy monitoring and sustainable transport innovations, inspiring cities like Torres Vedras (Portugal) and Gavar (Armenia). In Katowice, Santa Fe delegates explored the transformation from a coal mining hub into a model for sustainable regeneration. Melbourne and Daegu exemplified how peer learning accelerates action on renewable energy and heat resilience. Melbourne’s Urban Forest Strategy and rooftop farms complemented Daegu’s vast urban forest and heatwave monitoring systems, sparking deep engagement. Visits to continue next year.

UTM Global Innovation Summit 2024: A Look Back at Key Discussions and Collaborations for a Sustainable Future

On October 7-8, the second edition of the UTM Global Innovation Summit, supported by the European Commission, Urban Transitions Mission Centre (UTMC), GCoM, and CoM East, brought together more than 240 city leaders, urban experts, and stakeholders from across the world. This vibrant exchange of ideas, innovation, and collaboration aimed to guide cities toward a sustainable and resilient future.

The Urban Transitions Mission’s Cohort Has Now Reached 103 Cities from 44 Countries

Based on the targets these cities have set compared to a business-as-usual scenario, the cohort could collectively reduce GHG emissions by more than 500 MtCO2e annually by 2050—roughly equivalent to the carbon footprint of 1.1 million round-trip economy class flights between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Amman, Jordan. The mission is seeking 200 more pioneering cities to join and deliver on their transitions to net-zero by 2030, igniting a global movement that unites cities and innovation leaders to transform lives in communities worldwide.

🚨New resources! 🔔

2024 GCoM Impact Report: Banking on Change – Finance for Local Action

At COP29 the 2024 GCoM Impact Report “Banking on Change – Finance for Local Action” was launched. This year’s report shares key city climate insights, and the major hurdles that cities face in engaging with forms of climate finance to make a difference locally and globally. Support for cities in the form of funding and financing to tackle climate change is essential, as is technical support to enhance local governments’ capacity to leverage their budgets more effectively.

2024 Innovate4Cities Outcomes Report & Updated GRAA

Following the successful I4C24, GCoM, UN-Habitat, and Melbourne Centre for Cities
launched at WUF12 the flagship report “Accelerating Next-Generation City Climate Action:  Findings from the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference and Update to the Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA)”. Containing insights from urban practitioners, researchers, business leaders, and civil society, the report represents the latest milestone in the Innovate4Cities initiative toward accelerating city climate action.

Climate Innovation Readiness Navigator for Cities and Local Governments

GCoM, in partnership with ARUP, released the “Climate Innovation Readiness Navigator for Cities and Local Governments (CIRN)”. This rapid assessment framework helps local authorities understand and enhance their capacity to accelerate innovative climate solutions.

Urban Energy Access Toolkit for Local Governments

Recognizing the importance of accompanying reporting with guidance and resources, GCoM recently launched the “Urban Energy Access Toolkit for Local Governments”. Developed in partnership with ARUP, the Toolkit supports local government staff as they pursue measurement and action along their energy access and poverty journeys.

Addressing Rampant Climate Disinformation 

At the request of its Board Members, GCoM recently took a closer look at how to respond to climate disinformation. As a key outcome, a tailored paper explores current narratives of climate denial, explores best practices, and proposes proactive strategies to counter misinformation by informing, engaging, inspiring, and empowering constituents to expand public understanding & support for climate action.

Study Suggests Countries Can Better Tackle Climate Change by Working with Cities – SB60 Bonn Climate Change Conference Report

A report released at the SB60 Bonn Climate Change Conference back in June revealed the untapped potential of cities in helping countries achieve their climate goals. The report published by UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark analyzed the climate commitments of 194 countries party to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Exploring Urban Climate Finance in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

GCoM and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU.Resilience) delivered an update to their findings on the urban climate finance components of NDCs, suggesting that between USD 30-43 billion have been requested to realize urban action implementation in the 26 countries for whom information is available as of 28 August 2024.

Urban Transitions Mission: Transforming the Future of Urban Planning with Data and Insights in Partnership with Google

The Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) and Google recently released their third publication, part of their collaboration to support cities in exploring the importance of using data for climate action. With urban planners in mind, the guide “Transforming the Future of Urban Planning with Data and Insights” explores case studies from UTM cities and guidelines to tackle the pressing urban planning challenge. This guide is the third of a series developed by UTM in collaboration with Google; previous to it, a guide on “Data & Insights to Accelerate Impact Finance and De-risk Investments in Cities was published earlier this year, as well as one on “Data and Insights to Inform, Action and Monitor Local Mobility Policies” last year.

🌍 News from our Regional and National Covenants

GCoM Latin America – Advancing Climate Leadership

The Latin American region has made remarkable strides in climate action, exemplified by its impactful presence at the ICLEI World Congress 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil, and other events such as U20, COP16 on Biodiversity, the World Urban Forum and Innovate4Cities. Key activities included the Latin American Mayors’ Forum, which focused on accelerating climate financing and integrating new city representatives, and the Amazonian Cities Session, emphasizing the unique challenges and opportunities for climate action in the Amazon region. Additionally, the region celebrated the culmination of the Flagship Cities initiative, which provided technical assistance to 14 cities to develop financeable projects in mitigation and adaptation. Watch the video here.

Latin America also concluded its national strategies across eight countries (Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico), achieving significant milestones:

  • 65 activities conducted
  • 150+ cities engaged
  • 34 Greenhouse Gas Inventories completed
  • 11 Climate Change Risk Assessment
  • 70 Climate Action Plans finalized.

For further details on these achievements, visit the regional webpage.

GCoM Canada – Implementation Cohort Culminates with Success

The GCoM Canada Implementation Cohort marked a significant milestone in 2024. This initiative supported 14 Canadian cities through tailored training, peer-to-peer workshops, and customized deliverables to advance their climate actions. The program concluded with a final event that facilitated knowledge exchange and celebrated accomplishments, such as adaptation performance indicators, mitigation strategies, and enhanced climate governance.

Key achievements include the release of the report “Navigating Federal Support: Funding Opportunities for Canadian Municipal Climate Initiatives”, which provides practical insights for Canadian municipalities to secure funding for sustainable initiatives. Explore the report and its actionable recommendations here.

GCoM United States – Empowering Cities Through Knowledge-Sharing

In 2024, GCoM and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) partnered to host a series of virtual workshops and events that supported 127 U.S. cities in advancing climate action. Highlights include:

  • CHAMP partnerships workshop showcasing best practices from global cities.
  • Engagement innovations featuring cities like Vancouver and Valencia.
  • Climate financing strategies with insights from Atlanta and Lyon.

The series culminated in a session at the USDN Annual Meeting, which provided a platform for cities to explore collaborative opportunities. GCoM also offered office hours to guide cities in navigating federal funding options. Learn more about this partnership here.

GCoM Caribbean – Strengthening Climate Action

In November 2024, GCoM completed missions in Belize City, Belmopan, and Portsmouth (Dominica), marking the culmination of two years of collaboration supported by the European Union. These visits provided tailored assistance for developing Climate Action Plans (CAPs), conducting Risk and Vulnerability Assessments, and engaging local stakeholders to ensure plans reflect community priorities.

High-level meetings with mayors and EU Delegation representatives reinforced political support, while dialogues with local leaders fostered sustainable strategies. These efforts exemplify the power of localized action, setting a foundation for resilient and sustainable cities across the Caribbean. Learn more here.

GCoM Southeast Asia – The Climate Finance Universe

23-24 October 2024: 11 GCoM Malaysia cities (Seberang Perai, George Town (Penang Island), Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Johor Bahru, Muar, Segamat, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sibu and Miri) were eligible to receive capacity building under the Climate Adaptation Fund – Malaysia Adaptation Sharing Hub (MASH). One of its core objectives is to build institutional capacity to adapt to climate change. The knowledge management platform developed through this program will facilitate the capturing and dissemination of results, not only to other districts in Penang but also to the other 11 GCoM Malaysia cities, enhancing replication potential. MASH aims to foster engagement across different levels of partnership. This collaboration will contribute to annual community engagements, mapping the impacts felt, providing insights from communities, offering updated scientific data, and clarifying any doubts with MASH partners. 

3-11 November 2024: 8 GCoM Malaysia cities (Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Seberang Perai, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Muar, Segamat) are currently receiving continued in-person and online technical assistance under the City Climate Finance Gap Fund delivered by World Bank Group’s technical experts from the Urban, Resilience and Land Global Practice of East Asia & Pacific Region, World Bank. Read more here.

GCoM South Asia – Partnerships and Pilots

GCoM South Asia has had a productive five months, marked by significant initiatives and accomplishments. Among the highlights is the finalization of four climate action plans, a major milestone in the region’s fight against climate change. These plans, launched in partnership with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on the International Day for Climate Action (24 October 2024), can be explored here: Climate Action Plans.

A pilot project on smart parking in Shimla, facilitated by GCoM’s Business Matchmaking initiative, has demonstrated promising outcomes (watch the video here). Similarly, the participation of representatives from Thimphu and Shimla in the Barcelona Smart City Expo, also facilitated by the initiative, showcased a commitment to innovation and global collaboration (read more).

Pilot projects in Siliguri (focused on Nature-Based Solutions) and Udaipur (focused on Green Transport) are progressing, emphasizing sustainable urban development in the region. For more details on these initiatives, visit the GCoM South Asia website: GCoM South Asia.

Covenant of Mayors for the Mediterranean – Climate Finance and Inspirational Film

The Covenant of Mayors for the Mediterranean (CoM Med) continues driving climate action with key initiatives across the region. The EU-funded Clima-Med project released a Climate Finance Guidebook to help municipalities implement Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs), offering tailored recommendations and overcoming funding obstacles. Workshops on topics like finance with cities’ representatives from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Morocco built municipal capacities to develop and execute climate projects, while the 7th Steering Committee meeting in Tunisia celebrated CoM Med’s growing membership and the completion of over 80 SEACAPs, aligning with EU climate goals and assessed by the JRC

Highlighting local achievements, the “Cities for Climate” (C4C) Program expanded in Jordan and Tunisia, and projects like Nabeul Ville Verte demonstrated sustainable innovations. Inspiring films spotlighted Moroccan and Palestinian cities’ climate resilience, emphasizing the role of local leadership. At the GCoM booth at the World Urban Forum 12, Clima-Med’s session with Cities Alliance showcased Palestinian resilience in urban and climate adaptation efforts, reinforcing regional collaboration for sustainable futures.

Covenant of Mayors Europe – Winter Heat Detox

As European winter sets in, the Covenant of Mayors Europe’s #CitiesHeatDetox campaign is inspiring local governments to embrace healthier, cleaner heating solutions. Cities across Europe are showcasing their unique “detox mixes,” leveraging district heating networks for a “full city detox” and implementing innovative, clean technologies like geothermal, waste heat recovery, solar thermal, and heat pumps to “cleanse” from toxic heat sources. Need inspiration? Explore our interactive map!

Beyond the Cities Heat Detox, you can see what has been achieved in the European Covenant community in the JRC’s annual report. The Covenant continues to enhance multilevel governance in the European context, as a crucial way of engaging and empowering municipalities towards climate neutrality. We heard more about this at the European Week of Regions and Cities, with two great examples from our CoM-munity: a successful recurring multilevel dialogue platform established in Croatia and ongoing efforts in Italy to grow the Covenant through regional support. Watch the video here.

Covenant of Mayors East –  Municipalities to Cut Emissions by 60% by 2050

Covenant of Mayors – East (CoM East) signatories have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. This decision aligns the region’s climate efforts with the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, reinforcing its dedication to combating climate change and fostering sustainable urban development.

The initiative includes 369 municipalities from Eastern Partnership countries, representing nearly half the region’s population. New signatories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine will adopt these ambitious targets immediately. Municipalities with baseline years after 2005 must achieve reductions between 40% and 60%. Adrienn Kiraly, European Commission Director for Neighbourhood East, highlighted the importance of this milestone, emphasizing EU support for achieving these goals. The CoM East Secretariat and the EU Joint Research Centre will assist with data collection, technical guidance, and integrating local and national commitments, ensuring a smoother transition to these ambitious targets.

GCoM Japan – Accelerating Climate Policy with Local Power

GCoM Japan has been fostering local climate action through impactful events. On October 24, Nagoya University hosted a workshop on “Accelerating Climate Policy with Local Power,” uniting 14 of Japan’s 49 GCoM signatories. Dean Professor Satoshi Yokoyama and GCoM Co-Managing Director Piero Remitti emphasized collaboration’s critical role in the environment. Shigeru Komori of the Ministry of Environment introduced the concept of “regional co-evolution,” while sessions explored citizens’ assemblies and renewable energy’s community impact.

Earlier in the year, GCoM Japan celebrated its Badge Award Ceremony at the EU Delegation to Japan in Tokyo. Twelve municipalities were honored for their climate reporting, with first-time awards for Niseko, Kamakura, and Kameoka. A panel discussion, moderated by Secretary-General Noriko Sugiyama, highlighted their challenges and future plans.

Three GCoM mayors also shared local initiatives during the Japan Association for Planning and Public Management’s annual conference, from hydrogen supply chains in Tomiya to plastic bag bans in Kameoka and ZEB policies in Miyoshi.

Covenant of Mayors Sub-Saharan Africa – Catalysing Change on the Ground

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) is catalyzing change on the ground through projects like Mozambique’s pioneering Air Quality Network, co-developing an award-winning Green Infrastructure Plan in an informal settlement in Embu County (Kenya), executing feasibility studies towards implementation in Pikine (Senegal) and Dakar (Senegal) to protect wetlands and coastlines. The initiative is also developing decentralized energy systems and energy efficiency measures on County-owned sites in Nakuru and Mombasa. At the inaugural Africa Urban Forum CoM SSA Mayors advocated for action in critical engagements. Building on this momentum, CoM SSA participated at Innovate4Cities, World Urban Forum and COP29. CoM SSA launched two successful video series in 2024, Insights for change and Abuja Urban Lab. In major milestones: Sekondi-Takoradi officially launched Ghana’s first-ever Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan, CoM SSA signatories established sister-city relations and CoM SSA grew to over 380 signatories.

📰 News from our partners

WWF’s One Planet City Challenge 2024

Istanbul, Turkey and Sunderland, UK were recognized as the Global Winners of WWF’s One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) on November 6th at WUF 12 in Cairo. Congratulations to these frontrunners for their dedication to ambitious climate action amid challenging circumstances! OPCC is the largest and longest-running climate challenge for cities in the world today and was designed to highlight leading examples of climate mitigation and adaptation from cities around the world. The global winners were selected after evaluation by a high-level jury of urban experts from a wide range of organizations including C40, World Economic Forum, Global Covenant of Mayors, World Bank and ICLEI. Over 900 cities from 70 countries have accepted the challenge thus far with a record-breaking number of 359 cities this year alone. The projected annual emission reductions based on this year’s reporting is 160 million tonnes CO2eq. Invitation to participate in the next round of the OPCC to be announced shortly!

Cities Led the Charge Against Climate Change at COP29

The thematic day on urbanization at CoP29 highlighted the critical role of cities in advancing climate action. Central to the day were the Ministerial Meetings on Urbanization and Climate Change, co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the COP29 Presidency, which also featured four High-Level Roundtables. These sessions were supported by several partners including Azerbaijani Ministries, the High-Level Champion of COP29, UNEP, WHO, the International Transport Forum, the World Bank, the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA), and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Our collective efforts were key to ensuring the topic remains a focus at future COPs. A full report is expected in January 2025, more info: unhabitat.org/COP29.

Updates from ICLEI:

The ICLEI World Congress 2024 Highlights the Advancements of Local and Regional Governments Worldwide in Achieving Sustainability Goals

The ICLEI World Congress 2024, held in São Paulo, Brazil, brought together over 1,500 attendees, including more than 100 mayors, in a demonstration of unity, collaboration, and commitment to sustainable urban development. You can learn more about the entire Congress through the interactive outcomes report, featuring 20+ outcomes from the Congress and over 70 case studies from local and regional governments. Explore stories from eight site visits during our mobile workshops and access full recordings of six plenaries and nine thematic sessions. Plus, discover key insights from the 2024 Global Research & Innovation Symposium, which fed into the proceedings of the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference, held in September. Read the outcomes report here

Cities and Regions at COP29: While Baku Delivered the Bare Minimum, Multilevel Action Is More Vital Than Ever to Keep Climate Ambition on Track

Upon the conclusion of COP29, the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency – which is the official voice for cities and regions in the UNFCCC agenda – welcomed the first major climate finance deal in fifteen years. However, the deal is inadequate to ensure that communities around the world can protect themselves and represents the absolute floor of finance that is needed. With a disappointing lack of ambition in the overall COP29 outcomes, the LGMA Constituency stressed the increasing importance of multilevel action to ensure the climate fight continues at speed and scale. ICLEI serves as the focal point of the LGMA, and many leaders from GCoM were involved in the proceedings at COP29. Read the outcomes statement from the LGMA for COP29.

Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for the next edition.

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