How subnational leaders are paving the path to sustainability

By ICLEI leadership team*

Transforming commitments into action: a call for subnational leadership on the road to COP30 and beyond

As leaders of cities and regions, we stand together, united by a common purpose: to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. The recent World Congress of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) in São Paulo, Brazil, served as a powerful reminder of both the urgent challenges and the extraordinary opportunities we face in this endeavour.

We – the elected leadership of ICLEI – left São Paulo energised by the innovative solutions being implemented by our peers worldwide and more committed than ever to transforming our own communities.

The congress made it resoundingly clear that cities and regions are not merely implementing sustainability – we are pioneering it.

Subnational governments are demonstrating that it is possible to create thriving urban environments that are both ecologically sound and socially just. The congress highlighted a wealth of practical solutions that can be adapted and replicated across diverse contexts. We were particularly inspired by:

• The Urban Infrastructure Insurance Facility (UIIF), a new initiative helping cities in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce risk and access innovative insurance solutions to enhance their resilience against natural disasters.
• Cities and regions in Kenya, Indonesia and Argentina that are creating pro-active roadmaps that will get them to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
• Fort Collins, Colorado’s Epic Home programme, which provides residents with low-interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades and solar installations, demonstrating that equitable financing mechanisms can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.
• Mérida, Mexico’s first green bus stop, which demonstrates that even small-scale infrastructure projects can deliver both environmental and social benefits by combining heat mitigation with biodiversity enhancement.

These are just a few examples of the inspiring initiatives showcased at the congress being implemented by our peers around the world. By sharing our knowledge and experiences through networks like ICLEI, we can learn from one another, accelerate the adoption of best practices, and amplify our collective impact.

The congress also served as a timely reminder of the crucial role of subnational governments in advancing the global sustainability agenda. As the world prepares for CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia and the Climate Change COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, we call on our fellow subnational leaders to:

• Advocate for greater subnational influence in global policy decisions. Our voices must be heard in international forums like the UNFCCC and CBD COPs to ensure that local needs and priorities are reflected in global agreements. Platforms like the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency and Global Taskforce are an excellent way to have a seat at the table. Both the UN Summit of the Future and the first-ever Local Climate Action Summit held during COP28 in Dubai demonstrated that the transformative power of cities is now fully recognised at the highest global levels, with strong acknowledgment from the United Nations. This underscores the critical role of city networks like ICLEI in driving collective action and amplifying local solutions on the global stage.

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  Actively engage with your national governments and advocate for multilevel climate action plans. COP28’s Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action initiative, endorsed by 74 countries, provides a framework for enhancing cooperation between national and subnational governments on climate finance, implementation, and monitoring. Cities in Brazil, Europe and North America have pushed their national governments to embrace CHAMP and have shown the power of local leaders to influence national decisions.

• Embrace innovative financing mechanisms and explore new partnerships to unlock the resources needed to implement our ambitious sustainability agendas. The congress showcased a range of innovative financing models, including green bonds, social impact bonds, and public-private partnerships.
• Join together with other local and regional governments that are united in our mission for sustainability. Through city and region sustainability networks like ICLEI, local and regional governments can work together to create sustainable, resilient, inclusive and safe cities, towns and regions around the world.

We, the undersigned, are committed to leading by example and working tirelessly to create more sustainable, equitable, and resilient cities and regions. We call on our fellow subnational leaders to join us in this critical endeavour.

*Signed,

• ICLEI President Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden
• ICLEI First Vice President Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku, Finland
• ICLEI Vice President Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco
• ICLEI Vice President Majorie Kauffmann, State Secretary of Environment for Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Main image: Oleg Kryuchko | Dreamstime.com