ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is strengthening climate action through its new Local Diplomacy Unit, launched in November 2024. This initiative builds upon ICLEI’s 30-year history of fostering local-to-local connections, offering a dedicated platform for mayors, county commissioners, council members, and other elected officials to act for climate.
The new unit is backed by U.S. Department of State funding and embodies ICLEI’s commitment to addressing today’s climate challenges through collaborative efforts. It will provide mayors and local government leaders with the resources, knowledge, and diplomatic channels needed to drive change, helping cities and regions achieve international climate targets.
ICLEI is uniquely positioned to help local leaders participate in international climate diplomacy and elevate the voices of municipalities in global forums.
The Local Diplomacy Unit will build upon existing ICLEI initiatives such as Cities Race to Zero, Cities Race to Resilience, Race to Resilience Culture, and Cities Forward, to help local governments gain the leadership space to scale up impactful actions and engage in partnerships with philanthropic and government entities.