Download as Word Document | Download as PDF
Seventh annual edition brings together all levels of government to turn climate commitments into delivery in the lead-up to COP31.
10 June 2026 (Bonn, Germany) – The seventh edition of the Daring Cities Bonn Dialogues begins today and runs through 12 June, taking place alongside the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64). Co-convened by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Federal City of Bonn, Germany, this year’s event brings together leaders from all levels of government, alongside global partners, to accelerate climate implementation and advance multilevel action in the post-COP30 era.
With support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Foundation for International Dialogue of the Savings Bank in Bonn (Stiftung Internationale Begegnung der Sparkasse in Bonn), the three-day event convenes local and regional governments, national policymakers, international organizations, researchers, and practitioners to accelerate implementation pathways towards UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Under the framework “Know more. Act better. Lead together,” the 2026 edition responds to a defining challenge of the Paris Agreement implementation phase: ensuring that national climate commitments are translated into effective action across all levels of government.
As countries move from preparing to implementing their NDCs 3.0, Daring Cities 2026 provides a strategic platform connecting local leadership with national and global climate processes. The event comes at a time when cities and regions continue to deliver climate solutions on the ground, yet remain underrepresented in multilateral decision-making processes.
ICLEI, in its role as focal point organization of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, is actively facilitating subnational government engagement in the formal negotiation tracks of SB64. Through Daring Cities, local and regional leaders will contribute perspectives and recommendations to strengthen implementation, governance, and accountability mechanisms ahead of COP31.
Building on the momentum of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), Daring Cities 2026 will also support continued dialogue between national governments and subnational actors. A key focus of this year’s edition is the upcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, scheduled for release in 2027. Participants will explore how cities, researchers, national governments and financial institutions can prepare to maximize the report’s impact, translating scientific findings into actionable policies, investment opportunities and implementation tools.
Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI, says: “Daring Cities 2026 continues to provide a trusted platform for dialogue, collaboration and shared learning, bringing together the leaders needed to accelerate delivery. As we look ahead to COP31 and the release of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities in 2027, this is a critical moment to strengthen the role of local and regional governments within the global climate architecture and ensure they have the support needed to drive implementation.”
Mr. Van Begin adds: “I am grateful for the continued support of the City of Bonn and Mayor Guido Déus, as well as our partners at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Foundation for International Dialogue of the Savings Bank in Bonn. Together, we are building the conditions needed to scale what already works, translating climate ambition into measurable impact.”
Guido Déus, Lord Mayor of the Federal City of Bonn, Germany, emphasizes: “For 30 years, Bonn has been the German city of the United Nations and an important location for international cooperation. Together with the Federal Government and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, we support the work of the United Nations on the ground to the best of our ability – not only as hosts, but also with our own commitment. With the close interlinking of international negotiations and practice-oriented exchange formats such as ‘Daring Cities’ in June, Bonn is sending a clear signal for climate diplomacy at a global level and for decisive action in cities and regions worldwide.”
Niels Annen, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, and Chair of the GIZ Supervisory Board, says: “The coming years will show whether climate commitments lead to real change. Cities and regions are key partners to achieving climate goals, attracting investment, and building resilience. Resilience platforms like ‘Daring Cities’ help turn cooperation and ambition into action – from local to national level.”
The event features high-level dialogues exploring the multilevel governance, finance and partnerships required to accelerate climate implementation. Participants will discuss how national governments and subnational actors can work together to deliver NDCs 3.0, strengthen multilevel governance, and create the enabling conditions for climate action at scale.
Featured speakers include Dr Ursula Sautter, Deputy Mayor of Bonn, Germany; Dr Evita Schmieg, Head of Division 112 – Energy, Urban Development and Mobility, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany; Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director, GIZ, Germany; ICLEI President Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden; ICLEI Vice Presidents Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco, and Piia Elo, Mayor of Turku, Finland; Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor of Yokohama, Japan, and Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice-Chair, IPCC.
A special session will highlight the Town Hall COP, ICLEI’s global initiative that connects local communities to all levels of climate action, offering them a unique opportunity to help shape climate policy from the ground up. Additional sessions will focus on climate finance, transparency and accountability, including the role of the ICLEI–CDP Track in supporting local climate reporting and connecting local action with national and global frameworks.
The full agenda for the Daring Cities 2026 Bonn Dialogues can be found here.
Daring Cities 2026 continues throughout the year through regional and global engagement opportunities, bringing local and regional government perspectives into key international processes in the lead-up to, during and beyond UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
For more information about Daring Cities 2026, visit daringcities.org.
-End-
NOTE TO EDITORS
About Daring Cities:
Daring Cities, co-convened by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Federal City of Bonn, Germany, is a global initiative for urban leaders taking on the climate emergency. Created in 2020, this action-oriented forum is designed to empower urban decision-makers –such as mayors, city councilors, administrators, and urban thought leaders, as well as national government representatives, researchers, technical staff, business leaders, civil society decision-makers and community organizers– to lead in the climate emergency through ambitious and inclusive multilevel action.
About ICLEI:
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (known as “ICLEI”) is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, ICLEI influences sustainability policy and drives local action for zero emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI Members and its team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability. To learn more about ICLEI, visit: https://iclei.org or follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky and YouTube.
CONTACT
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ariel Dekovic, Head of Global Communications and Engagement, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
World Secretariat (Bonn, Germany)
Email: [email protected]