1- LGMA Multilevel Action Pavilion throughout COP28 Inputs to UNFCCC Negotiations and Action Agenda 2- World Climate Action Summit including subnational engagement and Local Action Summit on 2 December 3- 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate on 6 December 4- LGMA COP28 Forums at Blue Zone Shared Area and other Side Events in Week -1 and Week-2
With the announcement of the Presidency vision and Thematic Days, the LGMA agenda at COP28 is also taking shape. The broad and active mobilization of Mayors and other subnational leaders at the World Climate Action Summit on 1-2 December, the “Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment/Transport Day" on 6 December and engagement across all themes are recognized as the "first-evers of COP28", where LGMA Multilevel Action Pavilion will continue to serve as the base-camp throughout the 2-weeks. With this strong emphasis on multilevel action and urbanization, COP28 is expected to constitute a major breakthrough in the decades-long LGMA advocacy "recognize-engage-empower local and regional governments in global climate action".
ICLEI Director of Global Advocacy
LGMA Focal Point
LGMA Roadmap towards COP28
COP28 Presidency vision and thematic days empowering multilevel action and urbanization
In his speech at the Ministerial on Climate Action (MOCA), followed by Letter to UNFCCC the Parties and accredited organizations, COP28 President-designate Dr. Sultan Al Jaber offers a clear vision for the first Global Stocktake and COP28, saying “We will also host a historic number of parliamentarians, mayors and local leaders. In this context, we are calling on parties and observers to commit – including in NDCS and NAPs – to the multilevel partnership required for critical areas such as buildings, transport, waste, water, and energy.”
COP28's Thematic Days include the first-ever “Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment/Transport” Day on 6 December—the final day of Week 1. Across the two weeks, the LGMA will host a full agenda in our Multilevel Action Pavilion, aligned to thematic days.
IPCC elects new leadership for the 7th Assessment Cycle
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) completed the election of its new leadership, consisting of Jim Skea as the Chair, along with Co-Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Task Force Leaders who will guide the preparation of the 7th Assessment Report, including the first-ever Special Report on Cities. The LGMA congratulates the newly elected members, and commends the previous leadership, including Debra Roberts who elevated LGMA agenda in the work of IPCC.
Designed as a comprehensive position from our constituency toward COP28, Regions4, the Under2 Coalition, and the European Committee of the Regions, are leading a draft including topline messages along with a second part, translating these key messages into "UN language" making them suitable for direct inclusion in the COP28 decision documents. LGMA partners are invited to contribute by 31 July. A revised version of the text will be circulated thereafter, with the aim of seeking endorsement by mid-September.
On behalf of the LGMA Constituency, representatives of ICLEI, Casablanca Region, Under2 Coalition, the European Committee of the Regions, and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy highlighted the significance of local and subnational inputs into global stocktake and called for multilevel cooperation, faster adaptation, and financial reform.
The Florida county held two #Stocktake4ClimateEmergency events in June and July, becoming the latest local government to contribute to the Paris Agreement Global Stocktake and the LGMA is ready to help your community do the same!
From climate neutrality to multi-level governance, Mayor Kizō Hisamoto, from Kobe, Japan, emphasized the role of local governments in the transition to net-zero patterns. An Urban7 press release congratulates the outcomes following the 7-9 July meetings in Takamatsu, Kagawa, which marked the second time a mayor has directly participated in a G7 ministerial meeting.
Released at the U20 Mayoral Summit, State of Cities: Towards Low Carbon and Resilient Pathways report was prepared as a collaboration effort between the ICLEI South Asia and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and sheds light on the climate-related issues confronting 15 Indian cities from a global perspective.
G20 Chair City, Ahmedabad, India, hosted a two-day Urban20 Mayoral Summit from 7 - 8 July, 2023, including more than 600 delegates from 90+ G20 cities. The final U20 Communiqué was endorsed by more than 100 cities. LGMA partner ICLEI South Asia prepared the Ahmedabad Climate Resilient City Action Plan: Towards A Net Zero Future, under the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation-funded CapaCITIES project.
Events and Announcement
Scaling-up finance for biodiversity: the role of cities and regions 7 September | Online In ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre’s webinar series in partnership with Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNEP, IUCN, European Committee of the Regions (CoR), and Regions4, learn about increasing investment in biodiversity action at local and subnational levels, including instruments such as grants, bonds, and blended finance mechanisms. Register here.
Yunus Arikan, Director of ICLEI Global Advocacy, orients local and regional governments on the important issues of multilevel governance and progress in the global climate negotiations. Every month, Yunus will be highlighting developments and key topics from the global climate arena. Join on 30 August at 10:00 or 16:00 CEST.
To accelerate action by governments, business, finance, local authorities and civil society, and hear from “first movers and doers,” the United Nations Secretary-General is convening a Climate Ambition Summit atUnited Nations Headquarters in New York on 20 September.
The LGMA’s busy advocacy calendar culminates in November/December with COP28 in Dubai, but is marked by key moments all year long, across three agendas: United Nations and UNFCCC events, events hosted globally or by nations, and those hosted by our own constituency organizations.
Stay informed about multilevel governance and global climate negotiations with our monthly webinars! Registerhere.
