ICLEI launches Transformative Actions Program application process

Designed as a 10-year program, the TAP aims to raise local and regional climate ambitions as well as to accelerate the implementation of climate actions in the crucial pre-2020 and post-2020 phases. More specifically, the TAP aims to, over time, improve access to existing capital flows to cities and regions, as well as catalyzing and accelerating additional capital flows from public and private investors.

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UNFCCC Friends of Cities provide multi-level partnerships for scaling up local action

The engagement of all levels of government – local, subnational and national – is essential when tackling climate change. They are also highly dependent on one another to effectively plan and coordinate unitedly for achieving their respective (shared) climate targets. The UNFCCC's Friends of Cities will encourage the fostering of climate change adaptation and mitigation by supporting governments and enabling frameworks.

Cities and businesses work to bridge gaps at Metropolitan Solutions 2015

Metropolitan Solutions 2015, which took place on 20-22 May in Berlin’s CityCube, brought together a range of representatives from businesses and cities for plenaries, workshops and discussions on urban sustainability. The lesson was clear: while finance and innovative technology for making cities more sustainable are available, the connections required to bring them to the local level must be strengthened.

Local governments call for ambitious climate agreement at Bonn talks

Local governments are seeking to provide an impetus to the ongoing Bonn Climate Talks by demonstrating their climate leadership and ambition. The Bonn talks will focus on trimming the 80-page draft climate pre-agreement to be adopted at the UN Climate conference in Paris in December 2015.

James Nxumalo, Margareta Wahlström and Christiana Figueres announced as patrons of Resilient Cities 2015

The Resilient Cities 2015 congress begins next week. ICLEI is delighted to announce the three patrons of the congress, and to present the final program for participants. This year's program includes a full-day Finance Forum and a half-day Special Urban Food Forum, as well as an exciting range of plenaries, presentations and panel discussions.

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Doornkop Renewable Energy Expo a huge success

In a pioneering effort, the small urban settlement of Doornkop hosted the first Doornkop Renewable Energy Rural Expo. This event was organised by the local community, with support from the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality and ICLEI Africa.

Zurich and Copenhagen top air protection rankings

ICLEI members Zurich (Switzerland) and Copenhagen (Denmark) have done more than any other European cities to combat urban air pollution, a new ranking by the campaign “Soot Free for the Climate” has revealed. Coming in at first and second place respectively, the Swiss and Danish cities were followed by Vienna (Austria) and Stockholm (Sweden).

Spotlight on Solapur, India – An interview with Mayor Sushila Laxman Abute

As a city from an arid region, Solapur faces problems of scarcity of water, high T & D losses in water supply network, sewage treatment, river/nallah pollution and air pollution. Recently the city has initiated implementation of 3 decentralized wastewater treatment plants to prevent nallah/river pollution.

2nd Urban-LEDS International Networking Seminar (INS) welcomes over 60 participants

The 2nd Urban-LEDS International Networking Seminar (INS) welcomed over 60 participants – including senior local government representatives of 37 Urban-LEDS project cities in Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Europe – to meet and learn from each other. 12 Urban-LEDS cities expressed their intent to comply with the Compact of Mayors as leaders in support of transparent approaches to reducing city-level emissions.

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8 pilot cities selected for Integrated Urban Water Management project

The pilot projects were selected as part of an interactive exercise, with stakeholders asked to rank a set of projects based on environmental, social and economic feasibility/efficiency. The projects with the highest score were finalized for implementation, in consultation with the Municipal officials.

18th Breakfast at Sustainability’s looks at engaging cities and citizens ahead of Paris climate negotiations

The 18th session in the long-running Breakfast at Sustainability's series will explore how cities and citizens can be engaged in the run up to the Paris Climate Negotiations. A major international climate change agreement is expected to be adopted at the upcoming COP in Paris (France), with the input of cities and citizens vital to ensure that the agreement recognises the roles of diverse actors in driving change.

Urban-LEDS cities’ projects profiled to potential funders

Nine projects, promoted by 6 Urban-LEDS cities, were chosen to be presented to potential funders at the Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) Summit 2015, in Basel, 27-28 May. These projects were selected from a group of 150 project proposals submitted. Concurrently, the Transformative Actions Program was presented in a mobilization of efforts towards the global climate negotiations later this year.