COP30 in Belém, Brazil, will be the most substantial and strategic mechanism for local and subnational governments to influence and impact national and global sustainability agendas in 2025. As we gear up for the mid-year Bonn Climate Conference, it is essential for local and regional governments to ensure that their national governments include them in the crucial planning and implementation phases of new nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) initiative for Climate Action shows a robust push towards engaging multiple governance levels in climate dialogue. This year, as nations prepare to update their NDCs, we must leverage examples from countries like Brazil and Colombia, who effectively integrated multilevel cooperation into their updated NDCs released last year. Additionally, new “Town Hall” COPs will be an effective tool in equipping local and subnational governments to align with their communities around climate action and influence national governments to envision more ambitious climate plans.
We hope that public awareness and pressure, demonstrated social and economic benefits of sustainable development and existing institutional capacities, combined with the increasing scale and impact of the triple planetary crisis, can play a key role to keep the momentum for local, subnational and national action. At ICLEI, we are drawing strength from the actions and commitment of our network of proactive local and regional governments.
Here are 10 things we’re watching in 2025 regarding global sustainability agendas:
1) Multilateral Implications of New Leaders & National Elections
U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in on January 20, 2025, and made withdrawing from the Paris Agreement one of his first official acts. This begins a roller coaster of elections and leadership changes in major countries: Germany’s government will form a new coalition in March, Canada will appoint a new Prime Minister in March – with elections likely to quickly follow – and Australia will hold national elections in the first half of the year. With changes coming to so many countries that have served as important leaders in global sustainability, continued leadership cannot be assumed. In an increasingly fragmented world, local and regional leaders can demonstrate that multilevel action is essential for all countries and instrumental in upholding global goals and solidarity.
2) Subnational Governments Shaping the Direction of Biodiversity & Wetland Agendas
In February, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 talks resumed in Rome, Italy. This year’s talks aimed to finalize negotiations on: 1) the creation of a dedicated global biodiversity financing instrument and resource mobilization strategy; 2) the monitoring framework and mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting and reviewing (which are of particular interest to local and subnational governments); and 3) cooperation with other conventions and international organizations.
Last year’s CBD COP16 talks – the first since adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) – were historical, as it saw the largest, whole-of-society mobilization at a CBD COP ever. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the CBD applauded the Summit as a true demonstration of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. “We hope that you will inspire more subnational governments to take action and make peace with nature. The challenge is to connect and collaborate and go further. We need to go further, and we need to go fast!” she said.
In July, the Ramsar 15 (Convention on Wetlands) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, will focus on wetland conservation, freshwater protection and biodiversity. The conference will pay special attention to the role of local governments in wetland management through the announcement of newly accredited Wetland Cities under the Wetland City Accreditation Scheme. This voluntary initiative provides an opportunity for cities that protect their wetlands to receive international recognition for their efforts.
3) Increased Ambition for Clean Energy
In March, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore returns to Paris to host the Climate Reality Project’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Marking 10 years since the signing of the Paris Agreement, this dynamic two-and-a-half-day event kicks off the “Climate Ambition Tour”: a year-long movement demanding bold action to phase out fossil fuels and combat climate change. This training will enable participants to learn what’s been achieved, critical next steps to accelerate the energy transition and how to advocate for ambitious action ahead of COP30. Subnational leaders, city officials, grassroots advocates, young leaders, entrepreneurs and community members are invited to gain the tools, strategies and global connections needed to drive meaningful change.
4) Town Hall COPs
To celebrate the 55th annual Earth Day, ICLEI is launching a groundbreaking global campaign to ignite public dialogues on local climate action. Running throughout the year, the initiative aims to mobilize mayors and city leaders to host transformative discussions, called Town Hall COPs, on how to elevate the power and impact of local and subnational climate action. Town Hall COPs will bring together communities to advance climate action and contributions to NDCs, bringing in voices from businesses, families, schools, unions and faith groups. “Local governments are uniquely positioned to lead this charge,” says Kale Roberts, ICLEI USA Deputy Director.
5) Maintaining Global Momentum at International Summits
Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in June, the 2025 UN Ocean Conference will serve as a pivotal moment in the global movement to protect and sustainably use our oceans. Under the urgent theme, “Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean,” this landmark gathering in Nice will focus on scaling efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas and marine resources. ICLEI is proud to play a key role at the conference with the launch of the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition for Cities and Regions. Announced at the COP29 Climate Mobility Pavilion, this initiative represents a critical opportunity to unite subnational governments, networks and scientific organizations to drive innovative, scalable solutions for coastal resilience. The official launch of the Coalition will take place during the Summit on Adapting Coastal Cities and Regions on June 7, 2025.
In June and July, leaders from government, international and regional organizations, financial and trade institutions, businesses, civil society and the UN system will convene in Seville, Spain, for the fourth International Conference on Financing for Sustainable Development. Happening every 10 years or so, it provides a unique opportunity to reform financing at all levels.
Later in July, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESCO) held in New York City, the 2025 High-Level Political Forum will focus on SDG3 (health), SDG5 (gender equality), SDG8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG14 (life below water) and SDG17 (partnerships).
In November, the Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar aims to reinvigorate the Copenhagen Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Summit will foster global solidarity, focusing on universal social protections like health coverage, housing, education and decent work. It represents the pivotal moment to reaffirm the UN’s pledge that no one will be left behind. Highlighting humanity’s commitment to people-centered progress, equity and social justice, key stakeholders have already convened to shape the Summit’s agenda, underscoring the commitment to transparency and collaboration. It is likely that this Summit will return to the themes underscored at last year’s Summit of the Future, which reaffirmed commitments to multilateralism and encouraged progress on equitable digitalization and financial reform.
6) Mitigating Plastic Pollution
Under the overarching theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet,” the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) will take place in December in Nairobi, Kenya. The session will focus on themes such as reducing unsustainable resource extraction, fostering technological innovation, enhancing environmental governance and upholding the human right to a clean, sustainable environment. Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced that negotiations for a global plastics treaty will resume at an unspecified time and place, possibly in May. It is likely that the final plastics treaty agreement will happen at UNEA-7.
7) Potential for Economic Partnerships To Deliver on SDGs
Canada will take the helm of the G7, just as their national leadership faces election. However, the Urban7 group will look to continue to build momentum after strong progress under the recent Presidencies of Italy, Japan and Germany. All three countries prioritized including urban voices in the G7 decision-making process.
In November, Johannesburg, South Africa, will host the G20: a major event, occurring in tandem with the Urban20, that will bring global attention to South Africa and its transformation efforts. While it is unlikely that the G20 will agree on collective commitments or actions, we want all G20 nations to demonstrate their leadership by bringing new national climate plans that prioritize multilevel collaboration, sustainable development and climate finance.
And, Brazil has taken the helm of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE), thrusting their national leadership into the spotlight. Under Brazil’s leadership, BRICS countries have the opportunity to showcase the ability of emerging urban economies to uphold inclusive multilateralism, embrace multilevel climate action and support sustainable development.
Cities and regions will be watching how these global political agendas do –or do not – elevate multilevel sustainability priorities this year.
8) Opportunities To Advance Transformative Climate Action at COP30
The 2025 UN climate agenda includes the Bonn Climate Conference in June, COP30 in November, and numerous workshops and informal ministerial meetings. All eyes are on the preparation of new NDCs to be released by COP30, which are expected to be prepared through multilevel collaboration pursuant to paragraph 161 of COP28 UAE Consensus. Additionally, the resumption at the mid-year conference of negotiations that were punted from COP29 make the Bonn talks even more critical to COP30’s success.
This year also kickstarts the drafting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Intended to be complete by March 2027, its drafting is an important process that is likely to be informed by the developments of 2025.
9) Cities & Regions Advocating for Climate Action Beyond COP30
2025 will be a crucial year for the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA) to advocate for local and regional governments around the world. Highlights include: the third United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Forum of Intermediary Cities in Cuenca, Ecuador, in January; the Green and Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, in February; ICLEI’s World Local Government Climate Summit in Goyang, South Korea, in April; the second Mediterranean Climate Conference (MedCOP-2) in Tangier, Morocco, in September; and the UN Forum of Mayors in Geneva, Switzerland, in October. Additionally, two climate weeks: London Climate Action Week and Climate Week NYC, will leverage cities’ diverse ecosystems to drive global and local climate action.
10) Building Stronger National Climate Plans Through Multilevel Action
2025 becomes a critical year for action in the lead up to COP30. With the submission and implementation of the next round of NDCs soon upon us, national governments need to build capacity to implement multilevel, integrated and holistic NDCs in 2026 and beyond.
The inconclusiveness of the COP29 agenda increases the relevance of the upcoming Bonn Climate Conference in June. While normally a more technical meeting, this conference will be more valuable to subnational leaders than usual because negotiation agenda items that were intended to take place in Baku will now take place in Bonn. The Daring Cities 2025 Bonn Dialogues will bring together local and regional leaders during these critical talks to meaningfully connect local efforts to combat the climate emergency with global climate negotiations by showcasing the need for effective multilevel governance.
A version of this article originally appeared on ICLEI’s CityTalk.
Yunus Arikan is Head of Global Policy & Advocacy at ICLEI World Secretariat.
Ariel Dekovic is Head of Global Communications at ICLEI World Secretariat.
Nandita Mathews is Communications Intern at ICLEI World Secretariat.
Ingrid Coetzee is Director of Biodiversity, Nature & Health at ICLEI Africa Secretariat & ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center.
Ivana Benitez Landa is Biodiversity Advocacy Officer & International Liaison at ICLEI Africa Secretariat.
Michelle Preen is Director of Communications & Knowledge Management at ICLEI Africa Secretariat.
Kate Strachan is Senior Manager of Climate Change Resilience, Coastal Management & Disaster Risk Reduction at ICLEI Africa Secretariat.
