“As we underline in our LGMA Joint Position, cities worldwide need direct access to greater innovative resources. But my final message is this: Climate action is incomplete without social justice. Let’s advocate for inclusive, multilevel governance that aligns with our goals.”
-Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, Türkiye, and President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities, at the LGMA Response to COP29 and World Climate Action Summit session.
LGMA at COP29
After WCAS, local subnational leaders rally for enhanced multilevel collaboration
As the world’s attention turned to COP29, leaders from the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, gathered on 13 November at a special session to respond to COP29 and the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WCAS).
Building on the LGMA Joint Position that has been endorsed by nearly 100 local and regional governments and their networks, leaders from the LGMA Constituency are advocating for the development, financing, and execution of ambitious NDCs and other key strategies leading up to 2025 and beyond. They gathered to reflect upon their expectations for a successful COP29 outcome to enable ambitious, multilevel climate action that ensures resilient and climate-neutral cities, regions and states around the world.
Watch this video, where Yunus Arikan, Director of ICLEI's Global Advocacy and Focal Point of the Local Governments and Municipal Authority (LGMA) Constituency, provides an overview of the LGMA's advocacy at COP29 and welcomes participants to the main sessions at the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion and at the Blue Zone.
LGMA Statement to COP29 Parties: “We are your partners to set and achieve strong NDCs”
Representing over 100 local and regional governments and their global networks, Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources, USA, delivered a Statement at COP29 Opening Plenary urging Parties to: Increase ambition across all levels of government, finance sustainable climate action, and adopt a broader approach that includes pollution reduction, nature protection, and sustainable development.
New WRI Paper: Recommendations for national governments on stronger NDCs with cities, states, and regions
Officially launching on 19 November at COP29, key findings from the new WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities working paper include: National governments are encouraged to review the present level of subnational content in their NDCs and assess their potential contributions; foster strengthened collaboration and develop ambitious NDCs by integrating subnational data, trends, targets, risks, policies, and actions, creating greater incentives for joint implementation across all levels of government.
ICLEI, in collaboration with esteemed partners, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is co-organizing a session focused on long-term transformations for extreme heat resilience. Join in person at the Resilience Hub in the Blue Zone or follow the livestreamtoday, 14 November, at 9:00 AZT / 6:00 CET.
For a deeper dive into extreme heat solutions, catch the replay of the IFRC session held on 12 November at COP29, where ICLEI showcased its commitment to IFRC to empower communities and scale up climate action to beat the heat.
Negotiations Updates
Negotiations on Mitigation Work Programme offer opportunity to advocate for multilevel NDCs and connect to initiatives like CHAMP and Urbanization Ministerials
The first COP29 Informal of SB61 Agenda Item7 on Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme (MWP) was convened on 12 November 2024, with negotiations facilitated by Germany and South Africa. Numerous Parties delivered very positive statements to have substantial outcomes on the 2024 MWP focus on cities, buildings and urban systems.
The LGMA sent a message to MWP Facilitators, based on its COP29 Joint Position, welcoming COP27, COP28, and COP29 initiatives on urbanization and multilevel collaboration, developed in close collaboration with the Constituency.
Ministerial Meeting at the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, featuring Murat Kurum,
Minister of Environment, Urbanism and Climate Change, Türkiye, and Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Azerbaijan, both at the center.
LGMA leaders at a special session to respond to COP29 and the World Leaders Climate Action Summit.
Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources, USA, delivering the LGMA Statement at COP29 Opening Plenary.
What's on tap today at the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion
9:00 LGMA daily briefing
10:00 How to design and build the cities of the future
11:30 State governments and Brazilian companies in the transition to a zero-carbon economy
16:00 Towards climate-neutral, inclusive urban water and sanitation
14:30 Blowing the winds of sustainability: Wind energy in the race against climate change
Top Headlines
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE Countries have Been Overlooking Their Biggest Climate Allies: Local and Regional Governments
Some countries are already proving how stronger collaboration between levels of government can unlock powerful results for the planet. From India to Kenya, Chile and beyond, these leaders show how multilevel partnership can drive climate action and ambition at the scale needed. Read more >>
HIGH-LEVEL CHAMPIONS COP29: Significant Strides by Cities, Businesses, and Civil Society Prepare Way for Government to Accelerate the Pace at Baku
Even amidst shifting political realities, rapid growth in clean technology, rising demand for low-carbon solutions, and the persistent risks of climate change are likely to drive continued and accelerating action. Read more >>
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Passing the Baton from Cairo to Baku: Empowering Cities to Fight Climate Change
As WUF12 and COP29 pass the climate baton, cities push for resilience, urban equity and stronger funding to lead on climate action globally. Read more >>
