ICLEI at COP31
The ICLEI network at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye
Cities, towns, states and regions must be at the heart of the Paris Agreement’s implementation phase
COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, concludes a pivotal year for the three Rio Conventions, with global negotiations on land, biodiversity and climate taking place within months of one another. The challenge now is to move beyond fragmented commitments toward coordinated implementation.
At COP31, ICLEI calls for a rapid, just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, stronger multilevel governance and integrated action across climate, biodiversity and land agendas. As the focal point organization of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, ICLEI calls on national governments to recognize cities and regions as essential implementation partners, with the mandates, resources and regulatory room to act.
ICLEI will bring a global delegation of local and regional leaders, experts and partners to COP31 to advocate for these priorities, contribute to negotiations and showcase how cities and regions are already advancing climate action on the ground.
ICLEI's priorities at COP31
Climate science warns: Action must accelerate
The urgency of this agenda is reinforced by UNEP’s 2026 Overshoot Report, which warns that sustained warming above 1.5°C is now expected, making rapid emissions reductions, adaptation and multilevel cooperation more critical than ever.
Looking ahead, the IPCC’s forthcoming Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, expected in March 2027, will provide further scientific evidence to guide urban climate action. Together, these assessments underscore why COP31 must accelerate implementation and empower cities and regions to act at the scale and speed the climate crisis demands.
ICLEI’s COP31 Agenda
ICLEI Members, leaders and experts will participate in dozens of interventions, sessions and events throughout the two weeks of COP, on themes including:
- Just transition, renewable energy and decarbonization
- Urban resilience, locally led adaptation and disaster risk reduction
- Multilevel governance and climate partnerships
- Climate finance and municipal infrastructure
- Circular economy and waste management
- Town Hall COPs, community participation and youth engagement
- Food systems and food security
- Sustainable mobility and integrated urban planning
- Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions
- Sustainable buildings and energy efficiency
ICLEI in Türkiye
With COP31 taking place in Antalya, Turkish local and regional governments have an opportunity to showcase their climate leadership, share experiences, and strengthen international partnerships.
ICLEI’s 24 Members in Türkiye include metropolitan cities, municipalities, and district municipalities of varying sizes from across the country, making Türkiye the country with the largest number of ICLEI Members in Europe.
Through its European and global network, ICLEI connects them with peers, expertise, and collaborative projects, while amplifying their priorities and contributions on the international stage.
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LGMA Constituency: The voice of local and subnational governments in the climate negotiation process
ICLEI, in its role as focal point organization of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, will actively facilitate subnational government engagement in the formal negotiations. For COP31, the LGMA Constituency Position outlines six key asks for climate negotiators, ranging from accelerating a just energy transition and strengthening multilevel climate finance to advancing science-based decision-making, multilevel governance, and adaptation.
Read the LGMA Position
Multilevel Action Pavilion: The stage for cities and regions
The Multilevel Action Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone will provide a dedicated space for cities and regions to showcase local and regional government leadership, innovative solutions and engagement, highlighting their vital contributions to climate action in partnership with national governments.
The Pavilion will be co-convened by ICLEI, the LGMA Constituency, the Zero Waste Foundation and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, with Bloomberg Philanthropies as an organizing partner.
Across the two weeks, the Pavilion will feature an event program showcasing climate solutions, including on zero waste, while bringing together ICLEI and LGMA networks and partners. It will create opportunities for local, regional and national governments to exchange, connect and highlight their work.
ICLEI has a long track record of co-hosting COP pavilions, bringing together thousands of stakeholders across dozens of diverse sessions each year.
See the agenda
Bringing five shifts for urban climate action from Daring Cities to COP31
Daring Cities 2026, co-convened by ICLEI and the Federal City of Bonn, Germany, brought together local and regional leaders and national policymakers at the Bonn Dialogues, held alongside the UN Climate Change Bonn Talks (SB64) last June. The dialogues identified five shifts shaping the next phase of urban climate action:
- From recognition to implementation
- From climate science to real-world action
- From financing gaps to investable projects
- From emissions first to wellbeing first
- From cities as implementers to equal partners in climate action
Through the Daring Cities Leaders initiative, these insights, alongside real-world best practices, will be brought to COP31, highlighting the priorities, partnerships and governance needed to turn climate ambition into action where it matters most: in our cities, towns and regions.
Learn more