This week, Rio de Janeiro buzzed with energy as subnational leaders from around the world gathered to accelerate local climate solutions and chart a collective path forward in response to the COP30 Presidency’s Global Mutirão call for action.
From 3–5 November, mayors, governors, and subnational officials convened at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum to showcase how local action is driving global progress and to advance a unified subnational agenda ahead of COP30 negotiations. The Forum was co-hosted by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, with support from leading international networks and institutions advancing local climate action. Among these, ICLEI played an active role, with ICLEI President Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, serving as one of the Forum’s 16 Co-Chairs.
The Forum marked several major milestones on the road to Belém. On 5 November, European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera announced the EU’s endorsement of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP). With the EU as CHAMP’s 78th endorser, the coalition enters COP30 with renewed momentum, reaffirming its commitment to elevate local, regional, and other subnational governments as partners in climate action.
Mayor Jammeh commended the European Commission and Vice-President Ribera for the endorsement, calling it “a strong signal that Europe is committed to a climate governance model that sees cities and regions as equal partners in shaping and delivering the transition.” Earlier that day, EU Environment Ministers had agreed on the EU 2040 climate target and the bloc’s NDC submission, pledging to “involve and empower all governance levels to implement climate action.” Read Politico’s coverage of Mayor Jammeh’s reaction to the CHAMP endorsement here.
The same day also marked the Local Climate Action Summit, where ICLEI President Jammeh invited mayors and subnational leaders to strengthen their resolve, commitment, and solidarity under the LGMA Constituency. “We see across the world that the climate community is facing serious backlashes,” she said. “But local and subnational governments will continue to act at the frontlines. ICLEI and all LGMA networks must remain bold, active, and coordinated to support.”
The Forum concluded with a Joint Outcome Statement; on behalf of ICLEI, and as one of the Forum’s Co-Chairs, Mayor Jammeh signed the Statement, which outlines three clear offers to national governments at COP30:
- Partnering in implementation: Helping countries achieve national climate goals through joint action and a just, resilient transition.
- Unlocking finance: Ensuring a robust pipeline of over 2,500 transformational and bankable local projects to localize and channel climate finance.
- Strengthening accountability: Advancing multilevel collaboration to make the COP process one of implementation and transparency.
As the week continues, Malmö Mayor and ICLEI President Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, representing the LGMA Constituency, joins Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, and Brazil Governor of Pará Helder Barbalho at the World Leaders Summit in Belém.
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