The LGMA’s website, Cities-and-Regions.org, is your hub for COP28 news and preparation. Please visit the updated website and remain involved.
In this edition, you will have an overview of the LGMA achievements in June, which turned out to be the busiest month of 2023. The 2nd UN Habitat Assembly, happening only every 4 years, cemented the bridge between urbanization and climate action, building on decades of efforts which were boosted with the outcomes of COP27. At the 2023 UN Bonn Climate Conference, the LGMA was visible at every session of the Global Stocktake, pushed further urbanization as a non-market approach and as a field of adaptation, and advanced collaboration with youth. Kicking-off the year round engagement with its first in-person session after COVID-19, Daring Cities 2023 successfully ensured the synergy between the urbanization agenda in Nairobi and the climate agenda in Bonn, as well as re-energizing the dialogue between the LGMA leaders and the UNFCCC Friends of Multilevel Action. Tangier, Brussels, London were proud hosts of locally-driven inputs to the global debates.
The next couple of weeks will be crucial to prepare the ground for ambitious outcomes for urbanization and multilevel climate action. This is why we are proud to launch the initial list of Stocktake4ClimateEmergency sessions. By transforming City Halls into mini-COPs, the subnational leadership is committed to ensure that the global stocktake at COP28 in Dubai kicks-off a new generation of national and global climate emergency mode of action, which has urbanization and multilevel collaboration at its heart.
ICLEI Director of Global Advocacy
LGMA Focal Point
LGMA Roadmap towards COP28
2nd UN-Habitat Assembly embraces and elevates COP27 outcomes
At the 2nd UN Habitat Assembly (UNHA2), Ministers of Urbanization adopted their first-ever resolution on climate change, under the leadership of Egypt as the COP27 Presidency and host of WUF12 as well as Pakistan which played a key-role in pushing the local-and-damage-finance. The UNHA2 climate resolution cements the bridge between urbanization and climate action, building on decades of efforts which were boosted with the outcomes of COP27, by encouraging continuity of Ministerial Meetings on Urbanization and Climate at UNFCCC COPs, operationalization of SURGe Initiative and connecting to NDCs. ICLEI agenda at UNHA2 complemented its engagement with the UN-Habitat Executive Board since its inception.
The LGMA Constituency Agenda at the UN Bonn Climate Conference (SB58) included engagement at the Global Stocktake, the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.8 covering non-market mechanisms, the Global Climate Action Agenda including adaptation, as well as collaborating with youth, amongst others. The first in-person LGMA Leaders Dialogue with UNFCCC Friends of Multilevel Action was also supported with a warm and inspirational message from COP28 High Level Champion H.E. Razan Al Mubarak. Read our statement delivered during the closing plenary.
At the 2-day events, local leaders sat face-to-face with national negotiators to make the case for urban inclusion in national goals and implementation strategies, and host City, Bonn, celebrated entry into the group of MCR2030 global Resilience Hubs.
The New Hampshire city hosted its Paris Agreement Local Stocktake event on 22 May, answering the questions: Where are we on meeting local and national climate targets? Where do we connect with national/federal plans? How do we get there in a climate-just way?
The year-long Paris Agreement stocktaking is underway by cities and regions around the world. Check #Stocktake4ClimateEmergency webpage to download your toolkit, see the latest list, register your community’s event, and read testimonials from leaders like Mohamed Sefiani, Katja Dörner, Susan Aitken, Rob Werner.
The IPCC announced nominations for various posts that will lead the 7th Assessment Report Cycle, which will start with the Special Report on Cities. While we respect all candidates, we are particularly proud to recognize the commitment of Debra Roberts from eThekwini Municipality, who has been a longtime champion of LGMA to integrate locally-led evidence-based, data-driven science-policy dialogues in response to the climate emergency.
In its 3rd edition, MEDCOP2023 brought together actors for ambitious multilevel action in the Mediterranean basin, which is recognized as the one of the top 25 hotspots for climate emergency. The event provided an opportunity for Mediterranean local and regional governments to take stock of progress since the 2nd edition in 2016, institutionalize their collaboration and prepare for engagement towards COP28.
Ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Paris, cities gathered with partners and negotiators to discuss their best practices on plastic pollution and their hopes for the treaty.
The COP27 Presidency's Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) overview brochure outlines how the initiative will achieve its objective — through five tracks — to equip cities to accelerate local climate action, deliver the targets of the Paris Agreements, and the SDGs.
We are already starting initial plans for the LGMA Multilevel Action Pavilion at COP28! Are you interested in hosting an event at the pavilion? Let us know!
Launched by WWF to mobilize action from cities in the global transition toward a climate-friendly future, the OPCC is open to all local governments that transparently report their climate work on a standardized international platform such as the CDP-ICLEI Track, on which 700+ cities from 69 countries report ambitious climate action plans and actions.
Want to engage the youth in your community in climate action but not sure where to start? Download this checklist prepared in consultation with the YOUNGO Constituency, for local and regional governments that will guide you through the process of meaningfully engaging youth in climate action.
Events and Announcement
Mobilization and awareness raising on the road to Biodiversity COP16
20 July | online ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre (CBC) is leading this webinar series in partnership with Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNEP, IUCN, European Committee of the Regions (CoR), and Regions4. Read the article summarizing the first webinar, and don’t miss the upcoming session on 20 July by registering here.
7-8 July | Ahmedabad, India
The Urban20 Mayors' Summitwill allow U20 cities to present their joint recommendations to the government of India as President of the upcoming 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit.
7-9 July | Takamatsu, Japan
Japan's G7 Presidency will hold a second ministerial meeting as an excellent opportunity to discuss building international partnerships based on common principles and the development of sustainable cities.
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! Register here.
