From cleaner air to cooler streets, cities are showing what people-centered climate action looks like. Winners will be announced at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 4 November.
Sixteen of the 26 cities selected as finalists for the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Awards hail from ICLEI Member cities. In addition, three more cities are part of ICLEI’s network. The Awards honor bold, high-impact local initiatives that cut emissions, improve lives, and create jobs, spotlighting the pivotal role of mayors and other local and regional leaders on the road to COP30.
This year’s 26 finalists, selected from over 160 applications across 45 countries, demonstrate practical innovation that reduces urban pollution, raises quality of life, and expands economic opportunities. Aligned with the COP30 Presidency’s priorities -just energy transition, adaptation, public health, and multilevel partnerships- the Awards celebrate forward-looking solutions at local and regional levels in six categories.
Congratulations to our ICLEI Members and their initiatives:
Energy Transition & Smarter Buildings
- Chengdu, China: Clean Energy and Green Buildings Empowering the Megacity’s Low-Carbon Transition
- Curitiba, Brazil: Curitiba Mais Energia
- Johannesburg, South Africa: Solar Micro-grids in Informal Settlements
Clean, Reliable Transportation
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Shared Electric Bicycles
- Jakarta, Indonesia: Advancing Sustainable Connectivity through EV Initiatives & Greater Jakarta Network Expansion
- Oslo, Norway: Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Transport Pioneer
- São Paulo, Brazil: Electrifying the Bus Fleet—Innovative Acquisition & Financing Program
Safer Infrastructure for a Changing World
- Bogotá, Colombia: Resilient Urban Revitalization
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Extreme Heat Response Protocol
- Teresina, Brazil: São Joaquim Lagoon—Green Infrastructure & Climate Resilience
Healthy Cities, Strong Communities
- Barcarena, Brazil: Food System for Sustainable Development & Food Security
- Fortaleza, Brazil: Urban Microparks
- Paris, France: Paris Respire—Reimagining Mobility & Public Space for Clean Air
Sustainable Waste Solutions
- Quezon City, Philippines: Trash-to-Cashback—From Waste to Worth
- Salvador, Brazil: Recicla Capital
Power of Partnership
- Recife, Brazil: Filtering Gardens
In addition, we also celebrate our ICLEI network finalists: Beijing, China; Boston, USA; and Cerro Navia, Chile.
A distinguished jury will select winners that most effectively connect climate policy to daily life and accelerate Paris Agreement implementation. One Brazilian and one global winner will be awarded in each category on 4 November at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum.
Now in its ninth edition and delivered in partnership with C40 Cities, the Awards celebrate ambitious, measurable climate leadership. Applications were open to subnational members of ICLEI, C40 Cities, the National Front of Mayors (Frente Nacional de Prefeitos), Global Covenant of Mayors, Under2 Coalition, Climate Mayors, Regions4, and Centro Brasil no Clima. Read Bloomberg Philanthropies’ press release announcing the finalists here.
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