Conferences

COP30 delivered important political recognition of local and subnational action, and the LGMA welcomed outcomes such as the Action Agenda’s explicit focus on cities and the creation of a Just Transition Mechanism. Yet, the final texts fell short of establishing a mandated multilevel governance framework or predictable, territorial finance to empower local implementers. The Mutirão Decision that “welcomes the efforts of all non-Party stakeholders in addressing and responding to climate change, including those of … cities and other subnational authorities in multilevel climate action,” will be the basis for the Constituency’s continued commitment to supporting the implementation phase beyond Belém.

COP29 in Baku delivered the first major climate finance deal in 15 years, though it fell short of global needs. Key LGMA related outcomes included the 3rd Ministerial Meetings on Urbanization and Climate Change, launching the Multisectoral Action Pathways for Resilient and Healthy Cities Declaration, Baku Urban Continuity Coalition, new funding to COP27 SURGe initiative, and COP28 CHAMP Initiative reaching to 74 Endorsing countries, Mitigation Work Programme Dialogues on cities, buildings and urban systems, and the dynamic Multilevel Action and Urbanization Pavilion.

With climate action now firmly based on two strong footings—following COP26 (Ambition) and COP27 (Climate Justice) conclusions—the successful delivery of the second phase of the Paris Agreement depends on finance, governance, and capacity building. At COP28, the LGMA aimed to operationalize the SURGe Initiative, localize the Global Stocktake through #Stocktake4ClimateEmergency, and accelerate the UNFCCC engagement throughout the year and our Multilevel Action Pavilion.

After decades of talks and delays, COP27 finally provides loss and damage funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters, along with a package of decisions. This was also the COP in which the Presidency created a Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) Initiative focused on sustainable urban resilience, as well as the first COP to host a Climate & Urbanization Ministerial to gather national urban ministers.

The first NDCs are not fully compatible with the Paris Agreement because they were all prepared before its adoption; in other words, they did not address key goals like multilevel action, climate neutrality and 1.5°C targets. That is why the success of COP26 was linked on the new and ambitious NDCs, to be prepared before COP26 by all nations in collaboration with local and regional governments. “Multilevel Action COP” is indeed the motto of the LGMA COP26 Roadmap.

Serving as the second meeting for the Parties to the Paris Agreement, the 25th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 25) focused on raising ambition ahead of 2020, the year in which countries were expected to update their national climate action plans and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The convention aimed to fully operationalize the Paris Agreement, as well as showcase and amplify the climate actions undertaken by cities, regions, business, investors and civil society.

COP24 was a powerful example of how multilateral systems can overcome unforeseen shocks and produce tangible results. The Convention concluded with the adoption of the Paris Agreement Work Programme, also known as the “Katowice Rulebook,” which explicitly details the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Although some technical details were pushed to next year’s COP, the essential components for delivering multilateral climate action are now in place.

The Climate Summit of Local and Regional Leaders was the premier gathering of local and regional governments at COP23. It was the jumping off point for key initiatives and partnerships that support implementation of the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that when cities, regions, businesses, communities and all levels of government join forces, it makes climate action stronger and more effective. Moreover, the Cities and Regions Talanoa Dialogues were developed as a bottom-up, pro-active and immediate response to the COP23 decision in 2017 to convene year-long, inclusive Talanoa Dialogues.

During this COP, local and subnational governments further positioned themselves as vital partners in shaping and implementing the international architecture and the coordinated efforts of committed non-Party actors.

The Paris Agreement, in its preamble, recognized the importance of the engagement of all levels of government. The fact that 185 Parties out of 197 Parties to the UNFCCC ratified the Paris Agreement established a strong indication of the momentum towards strengthening multilevel governance on climate action. The LGMA facilitated the Cities & Regions Pavilion in the Climate Generations Areas, helped to organize the historic Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall, and advocated on behalf of local and subnational governments in the negotiating zone.