ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

We are a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.

We bring sustainability to a rapidly developing urban world.

ICLEI makes sustainability an integral part of urban development and creates systemic change in urban areas through practical, integrated solutions. We help cities, towns and regions anticipate and respond to complex challenges, from rapid urbanization and climate change to ecosystem degradation and inequity.

The local and regional governments in our network confront these challenges by incorporating sustainability into day-to-day operations and policy. We invest in the capacity and knowledge needed to design solutions and make decisions informed by data, scientific evidence and local realities and pressures. Our five pathways towards low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development are designed to create systemic change.

We work in cities, towns and regions of all sizes, with varying capacities and challenges. Many have set and reached ambitious targets and are at the forefront of sustainability, pioneering new solutions and challenging the status quo. Others are taking early steps towards transformation, strengthening their systems and capacities to achieve sustainability goals.

Across the world, ICLEI brings the latest global knowledge and solutions to the local context.

Our Contribution to the UN Decade

As a global partner ICLEI: Participates actively in reinforcing and further amplifying UN Decade’s initiatives through our channels and networks; Amplifies and further reinforces UN Decade’s activities by using our channels and engaging membership base and networks; and Manages requests by own members to link to the UN Decade. 

This partnership highlights the important relationship of cities with nature, and the critical role of local governments and city stakeholders in the UN Decade. It also recognizes ICLEI’s leading role in creating systemic change for urban sustainability.