Rooted in Resilience: Local Leaders in a Shifting Landscape
Dear Colleagues and Partners,
As we reflect on 2024, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for what we have achieved together. This has been a year of unprecedented momentum for ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) and our member communities, one that has demonstrated the true power of local leadership in advancing climate action and sustainability.
In a complex and often challenging national landscape, local governments have remained steadfast in meeting the moment. Across all 50 states, we not only grew our membership, but deepened our engagement, supporting hundreds of localities in unlocking and deploying the historic levels of federal climate funding made available this year. Through tailored technical assistance, project support, and peer-learning opportunities, ICLEI USA has helped ensure that this once-in-a-generation investment translates into real, measurable impact at the local level. We were thrilled that ICLEI USA was chosen in December as a partner to the Coalition for Green Capital to design and implement a $60mm federally funded grant program to help 100+ local governments build local markets and create public private partnerships to invest in clean energy infrastructure for their communities.
Beyond our work on the ground, we elevated the voices of U.S. local leaders on some of the world’s most important stages—from the ICLEI World Congress in São Paulo, to the United Nations (UN) Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP) in Colombia, to the UN Climate COP in Baku. In every forum, we proudly highlighted the innovation, ambition, and resilience of our members.
I had the honor of joining ICLEI USA as Executive Director at the end of the summer. Stepping into this role has been a privilege, and I want to extend my deepest thanks to the ICLEI USA Board for placing their trust in me. I am also profoundly grateful to my predecessor, Angie Fyfe, whose visionary leadership over the past eight years built a strong foundation and positioned ICLEI USA for this new era of growth and impact.
As we look ahead, we do so with great confidence. The foundation we’ve built is strong. The momentum we’ve generated is real. And the movement of local governments leading the charge on climate action has never been more vital—or more vibrant.
With appreciation and resolve,
Saharnaz Mirzazad
Executive Director, ICLEI USA
