ICLEI Europe

Building on the milestones like the Aalborg Commitments (2004) introducing local targets, the Basque Declaration (2016) promoting systemic change, and the Mannheim Message (2020) calling for Local Green Deals, the Aalborg Conditions lay out the framework needed to implement this sustainable transformation! "We need a common voice because many of the challenges we face are the same as in other cities. We have to act in the short-term but make a better framework for long-term planning and the Aalborg Conditions speak to that," notes Lasse Frimand Jensen, Mayor of Aalborg and Vice President of ICLEI Europe. Wolfgang Teubner Regional Director, ICLEI Europe adds, "The Aalborg Conditions mark a pivotal moment in Europe's sustainable cities movement, reflecting 30 years of progress. In order to implement their advanced transformative action plans, cities need the right framework conditions. By advancing Shared Governance, Integrated Finance, and a Cohesive Transition, we ask for a way forward that empowers local governments to lead the democratic transformation towards a climate-neutral, equitable, and resilient Europe." Sustainable Cities and Towns #Aalborg2024

🌍 At COP29, over 500 local and regional leaders, part of the LGMA Constituency, are standing together to push for bold, multilevel climate action and innovative financing. Leaders like ICLEI Europe RexCom Member Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Bashkia Tirane, and Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, underscored the importance of financing for sustainable cities. The message is clear: achieving global climate goals requires direct access to creative funding solutions and resources for cities, where green commitments are growing. Inclusive NDCs and climate finance aren't just policies; they're pathways to resilient, just, and climate-neutral cities. #COP29 #ClimateAction #SustainableCities #LGMA

🌍 At #COP29, local government leaders from G7 nations came together to tackle urban decarbonisation on a global scale and discuss next step for the Urban 7 (U7). Originally formed in 2021, the U7 has become a crucial platform for fostering collaboration between G7 nations and their municipalities on global sustainability challenges. 🗣️ A key highlight: multi-level governance. Alessandro Ghinelli, Mayor of Arezzo 🇮🇹 emphasised, “Multilevel governance between national governments and cities is essential for efficient policy implementation. The U7 fosters this governance, encouraging ongoing dialogue. I urge the G7 to recognise the U7 as an official engagement group, allowing cities to contribute directly to global challenges like climate action and sustainable urban development.” This approach, championed by the U7, builds essential bridges for achieving shared climate objectives. Under Italy’s G7 presidency in 2024, leaders explored a unified approach to urban development, recommending U7’s elevation to an official G7 engagement group—an endorsement of the power of local voices in shaping global policy. With the 2025 Canadian G7 presidency on the horizon, U7 leaders are aiming to ensure that cities remain at the heart of the G7 climate agenda. Ed Webber, Deputy Director at the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, echoed this call, emphasising that collaboration can not only scale individual efforts but multiply them across all levels—cities, regions, nations. As we move forward, U7 remains committed to uniting national and local actions, building a robust ecosystem for sustainable urban growth and a resilient global future. Learn more👉 https://lnkd.in/eZG_vHXj #COP29 #Urban7 #U7 #G7 #Sustainability #ClimateAction #MultiLevelGovernance

#COP29 is well underway and ICLEI Europe is joining forces with the entire #ICLEI network to once again show the power of #multilevel action in tackling the #ClimateEmergency. Find us at COP29 Azerbaijan 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKhzKncJ

Aligned with the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt (#WUF12) theme “It All Starts at Home”, we dug into enhancing climate resilience in communities through comprehensive participatory approaches and global partnerships as well as access to climate #financing. 🤝 With experiences from cities joining the Z Zurich Foundation Urban Climate Resilience Program (UCRP) together with key partners: Resilient Cities Network Stichting R-Cities and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC, discussions helped shed light on the the significance of local representatives and leaders' role as key stakeholders in urban transformation and climate resilience efforts. And discussed the key actions required to co-design, plan, develop, and deliver customised solutions which enable communities to build #resilience, and harness their potential as catalysts for positive change at the local level. 🏙️ 💶 We also highlighted the need to improve financial accessibility for local climate projects, emphasising the disparity between larger, resource-rich municipalities and smaller cities that struggle to access climate funding. This funding gap hinders #climateaction at the local level and contributes to a global imbalance in achieving climate targets. We called for tailored financing mechanisms and technical assistance that address the unique constraints of smaller municipalities, enabling them to participate in climate initiatives more effectively. #WUF12 #ResilientCities #ClimateFinance

🌍🎬 Inspiring sustainability actions at the Greenmotions Filmfestival! 🎬🌍 📽️ICLEI was thrilled to participate in this year’s #GreenmotionsFilmFestival, a unique annual event in #ICLEIMember Freiburg 🇩🇪 that amplifies voices for sustainability, justice, and biodiversity through the powerful medium of film. Our attendance at this festival allows us to engage directly with local communities, share insights and advocate for transformative change. Highlights included: ✨Jannis Niethammer from ICLEI Europe's Justice, Equity, and Democracy Team joined a thought-provoking panel discussion alongside Torsten Pötzsch, former Mayor of Weißwasser, and Lina Wiemer-Cialowicz from Eine Stadt für Alle, Freiburg. The discussion followed the screening of "Auf der Kippe", a film spotlighting coal communities facing transitions. Together, they emphasised the need for a #JustTransition that protects and uplifts those most affected by the shift away from coal dependency and how best challenges in making this possible can be faced. ✨Kassia Rudd, Communications Expert from our Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions Team, participated in a lively Q&A session after "A Call from the Wild", alongside the directors of the film. This impactful nature documentary delves into human impacts on Norwegian landscapes, inspiring a dialogue on how we can collectively protect our planet's most vulnerable ecosystems. Being represented at Greenmotions allows ICLEI to champion causes like #justtransitions and #biodiversity preservation. Through events like these, we aim to inspire more people to take action, build resilience, and foster sustainable communities globally. Looking forward already to next year’s event!🌱

🎙️ Looking for something to listen to on your morning commute? Here's a sneak peak from the latest episode of the ICLEI Europe podcast, Local Voices for Sustainability. In this episode, Dalila Sepúlveda, Head of the Department of Environment and Sustainability, discusses how circular economy strategies are helping #ICLEIMember Guimarães 🇵🇹 to transition from a linear to a circular economy. 🎧Have a listen https://lnkd.in/e4AiNiq3

✨Great news for local and subnational governments! With our partners the Center for Regenerative Solutions and the Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, the Urban Biodiversity Accelerator was launched at #COP16 in Cali 🇨🇴 This iteration of the accelerator programme will include: 🌿 building capacity of #cities for urban biodiversity action through UrbanByNature content, expert inputs and #knowledge exchange 🌿producing real outputs such as Urban Greening Plans or proposals built on co-creation 🌿generating #sustainability and #biodiversity solutions for vibrant, liveable and #equitable urban areas —all in partnership with #nature! 🌎The programme is open to interested cities in Europe, North and South America. Stay tuned for information on how and when to apply! ICLEI ICLEI USA Kirsten Maynard

🌍 ICLEI Europe welcomes the recommendation from the recent G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting in Rome to formally engage cities in the G7 decision-making process. In the official Meeting Communiqué, ministers concluded with the recommendation to future G7 presidencies to recognise the Urban7 (U7) – which unites local government networks across G7 nations – as an official G7 engagement group. Representatives of the U7, Eckart Würzner, Mayor of #ICLEIMember Stadt Heidelberg, and Roberto Pella, Mayor of Valdengo (Italy) and Acting President of Italy’s ANCI, emphasised the crucial need for cities to have a voice in shaping the frameworks that guide local transformations. Mayor Würzner stated: "Our towns are the future. Cities are best positioned to lead their local transformations through holistic actions, but the frameworks we, as city representatives, operate under are often set without our involvement." With over half of the G7’s population living in cities, the Communiqué outlines actions to support horizontal collaboration between national and local governments and to strengthen investment capacities that fuel sustainable urban transformation. This first step toward a continuous, formal dialogue paves the way for Canadian leadership in 2025 to establish the U7 as a lasting engagement group. 👥 A sustainable future depends on empowering cities, so join us in advocating for multilevel cooperation to tackle global challenges! #G7 #Urban7 #SustainableCities #ICLEI #UrbanTransformation #LocalGovernance ICLEI Global Parliament of Mayors 📷 Italian G7 presidency 

✨ Excited to announce that ICLEI Europe is now part of the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund administered by the Centre for Public Impact! With this support, we will train city officials in AI skills, which are crucial for their roles in environmental and #ClimateAction. 🤝 We look forward to working with #ICLEIMembers and public officials at all levels to enhance resilience and support the rapid adoption of AI in local government. Stay tuned for more details! Learn more about the Fund: https://lnkd.in/eCU-zPHU #AIForGood #SmartCities #ClimateAction #ICLEIEurope