Next week marks the start of COP29, the 29th session of the United Nations’ annual climate conference, held this year in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22. Known as the “Climate Finance COP,” this event focuses on advancing financial commitments for climate action.
ICLEI USA will attend with a delegation of 10 U.S. mayors, governors, tribal representatives, and local leaders to ensure that local governments continue leading progress in adaptation, climate finance, and climate justice.
When the U.S. exited the Paris Agreement in 2017, cities, towns, counties, states, Tribal nations, and regions reaffirmed their climate commitments. At COP29, ICLEI USA and our members are prepared to lead once again, advancing local climate action solutions that move us forward.
Learn more about:
- Local Climate Action at COP29
- Mayors and Other Subnational Leaders Attending COP29
- ICLEI USA Agenda at COP29
- COP29 Announcements from ICLEI USA (TBA)
Local Climate Action at COP29
How are cities and regions being recognized as central to the event?
- For the second time, the COP Presidency has designated a “Multilevel Action, Urbanization, and Built Environment” Day (aka “Cities Day“) for November 20th.
- The ICLEI-managed LGMA Multilevel Acton Pavilion will continue as the “home for cities and regions at COP29,” hosting nearly 50 sessions.
- A third Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change will bring nations and local governments together on November 20th
- ICLEI USA members will be present at the U.S. Center, the designated space within the U.S. pavilion at COP29.
As the focal organization to the UN’s “Local Governments and Municipal Authorities” (LGMA) constituency group, ICLEI’s role at COP events has always been to represent the voice of cities, towns, and counties. Our COP29 position paper highlights that collaboration across all levels of government offers the strongest pathway to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
While there are many reasons to feel concern or uncertainty about the future impacts of climate change, our cities and towns are creating a narrative of resilience and optimism. Sign up for our global advocacy mailing list to stay informed and engaged in this work.
US Mayors and Other Subnational Leaders Attending COP29
- Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson (Riverside, CA)
- Commissioner Brigid Shea (Travis County, TX, ICLEI USA Board Member)
- Mayor Martha Guerrero (West Sacramento, CA)
- Mayor Tim Keller (Albuquerque, NM)
- Mayor Melisa Logan (Blytheville, AR)
- Samuel Assefa (Director of California Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation)
- Legislator Susan Hughes-Smith (Monroe County, NY)
- Vice Mayor Chantel Raghu (Oxford, OH)
- County Supervisor Otto Lee (Santa Clara County, CA)
- Mayor Hollies Winston (Brooklyn Park, MN)
- Secretary Wade Crowfoot (California’s Natural Resources Secretary)
- Secretary Yana Garcia (Secretary for Environmental Protection, CalEPA)
ICLEI USA Staff
- Saharnaz Mirzazad, Executive Director, ICLEI USA (Week 2)
- Kale Roberts, Deputy Director, ICLEI USA (Weeks 1 and 2)
ICLEI USA Agenda at COP29
Week 1
Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion’s High level Opening
Join us to kick off two weeks of programming at ICLEI and UN-Habitat’s joint pavilion, the home for cities in the Blue Zone. Hear remarks from US Mayors Melissa Logan and Tim Keller.
November 12th
10:00 – 11:00 AM AZT / 1 – 2 AM EST
Location: Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, Area E Pavilion I15
No Livestream Available
Raising the Bar and Setting the Pace: Cities, states, and regions leading the race toward a net-zero, climate-resilient future
Hosted by the US State Department and moderated by ICLEI’s Deputy Secretary General Emani Kumar and ICLEI South America’s Bianca Cantoni.
November 12th
12:00 – 12:45 PM AZT / 3:00 – 3:45 AM EST
Location: US Center
Watch Online
“E-KIZUNA High-Level Talks”: Continuing the critical role and engagement of local governments in the G7
Mayor Melissa Logan to join a panel discussion on the Urban 7, hosted by the Mayor of Saitama City in collaboration with ICLEI Japan.
November 12th
4:30 – 5:30 PM AZT / 7:30 – 8:30 AM EST
Location: Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, Area E Pavilion I15
No Livestream Available
LGMA Response to COP29 and World Climate Action Summit
Subnational leaders, including Mayor Melissa Logan, discuss the outcomes of the World Climate Action Summit (Nov 11-12).
November 13th
10:00 – 11:00 AM AZT / 1:00 – 2:00 AM EST
Location: Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, Area E Pavilion I15
No Livestream Available
Legal Challenges For Cities To Go Net-Zero
Mayor Winston will contribute to a panel discussion hosted by the Korean Pavilion and ICLEI.
November 15th
11:15 – 1:05 PM AZT / 2:15 – 4:05 AM EST
Location: Korea Pavilion
Going All In & All Out: Sustaining & Accelerating America’s Progress with Bold, Durable Subnational Climate Action
Organized by the U.S. Green Building Council, World Wide Fund and America Is All In, U.S. Climate Alliance, and ICLEI USA.
November 15th
4:45-5:30 PM AZT / 7:45 – 8:30 EST
Location: US Center
Watch Online
Race to Resilience Culture Reception
From ICLEI USA, Kale Roberts will attend.
November 15th
6:00 PM AZT / 9 AM EST
Week 2
Race to Resilience in Action: 2024 Update Publication Launch
Saharnaz Mirzazad to be recognized on behalf of ICLEI USA by HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, a cultural heritage advocate and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
November 18th
4:30 – 5:30 PM AZT / 7:30 – 8:30 AM EST
Location: Humanitarian Hub, Blue Zone
Collective Action Agenda: Locally Led Adaptation and Multilevel Governance
Saharnaz Mirzazad and Mayor Lock Dawson to speak on local adaptation measures.
November 19th
9:00 – 11:00 AM AZT / 3:00 – 5:00 AM EST
Location: Water for Climate Pavilion, Area E Pavilion F10b
Watch Online
Showcasing Subnational & Private Sector Solutions to Achieve Equity, Efficiency & Clean Energy Goals
In this UNFCCC Official Side Event, Commissioner Shea will speak to the policy and regulation side of the clean energy transition, alongside US Green Building Council and other local leaders.
November 19th
3:00 – 4:30 PM AZT / 6:00 – 7:30 AM EST
Location: Blue Zone Side Events SE Room 4
High-Level Opening Plenary Session on Multilevel Climate Action
This high-level opening will kick off a series of roundtable discussions, labeled Ministerial Meeting(s) on Urbanization and Climate Change. The full ICLEI USA delegation will be in attendance.
November 20th
9:00 – 10:30 AM AZT / 12:00 – 1:30 AM EST
Location: UNFCCC Plenary Room
Online streaming will be available [Link TBC]
“Greening Urban Transport” Ministerial Roundtable
Mayor Lock Dawson will discuss transportation decarbonization alongside Ministers of Transport and Urbanization, UN agencies, and financial institutions.
November 20
11:00 – 12:30 PM AZT / 2:00 – 3:30 AM EST
Location: Mugham
“Green construction and energy efficiency in buildings and climate resilience in cities” Ministerial Roundtable
Commissioner Brigid Shea will discuss green construction alongside Ministers of Energy, Environment and Urbanization, UN agencies, and financial institutions.
November 20
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM AZT / 2:00 – 3:30 AM EST
Location: Hirkan
Harnessing Community Science for Climate Action
Saharnaz Mirzazad will speak on a panel hosted by the American Geophysical Union.
November 20
12:00 – 1:00 PM AZT / 3:00 – 4:00 AM EST
Location: Oceans Pavilion
Housing as an Equitable Climate Strategy
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the International Code Council.
November 20
3:30 – 4:15 PM AZT / 6:30 – 7:45 AM EST
Location: US Center
Watch Online
Town Hall COPs in the new era of Local-Global climate action and advocacy
Hosted by ICLEI with a special announcement on the future of Town Hall COPs.
November 20
4:00 – 5:00 PM AZT / 7:00 – 8:00 AM EST
No Livestream Available
COP29 Urbanization and Climate Ministerial Closing + Reception
The full ICLEI USA delegation will attend the reception hosted by ICLEI and UN-Habitat.
November 20
5:30 – 6:30 PM AZT / 8:30 – 9:30 AM EST
Location: Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, Area E Pavilion I15
No Livestream Available
Develop new quality productive forces and advance the transformation to green and low-carbon development in Chongqing
Saharnaz Mirzazad will sit on a panel hosted by the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment.
November 21
11:30 – 1:00 PM AZT / 2:30 – 4:00 AM EST
Location: China Pavilion
Responding to Climate Change: Tianjin’s Actions
Commissioner Brigid Shea will speak on a panel hosted by Tianjin Ecology and Environment Bureau. Saharnaz Mirzazad to deliver opening remarks.
November 21
9:30 – 11:00 AM AZT / 12:30 – 2:00 AM EST
Location: China Pavilion