8 November 2023 – Bonn, Germany/Nairobi, Kenya. ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and  UN-Habitat, the United Nations entity responsible for sustainable urbanization, have announced plans  for a joint pavilion at COP28 in Dubai, UAE.  

The Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion will serve as the global stage for the city and subnational  climate agenda at COP28. The Pavilion will bring into focus not only the challenges and needs, but also  the accomplishments and commitments of local and subnational actors on climate action.  

The Pavilion is co-convened by UN-Habitat and ICLEI in its role as the focal point of the Local  Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA Constituency). The Pavilion is co-hosted by the Scottish  Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM)  and C40 Cities. 

Open during the entire COP28 program, 30 November - 12 December, the Pavilion provides a space for  local, national and international leaders to meet and exchange. It will host in-person and hybrid events,  in addition to a dedicated networking space for informal discussions. 

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif  said: “The voices of cities, towns, and regions must be heard for they hold the key to the  implementation of climate solutions. Our Multilevel Action and Urbanization Pavilion at COP28 is  designed to do just that. It is a platform where local and national actors, along with diverse partners, will  come together to showcase achievements, discuss challenges, and make commitments to shape our  urban future.”

ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin said: "For more than two decades, cities, towns, states and  regions continue to play a pivotal role in our global climate response, as first actors to respond to  climate impacts and as implementers of national climate goals. The Multilevel Action & Urbanization  Pavilion at COP28 will highlight this critical contribution during the time when the world will be pushing  nations for faster and more comprehensive climate solutions that include all levels of government. We  invite COP28 parties, leaders of and partners of cities, towns, regions, states and other subnationals to  join us at the Pavilion to hear our successes, address our challenges, and join forces to push forward a  sustainable and resilient urban future. Together, through collaboration and commitment, we can  achieve our shared climate goals." 

Màiri McAllan, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition said: “States,  regions and nations like Scotland have a big role to play in tackling the climate and nature crises. By  working together again at COP28, we can help provide a platform for those that are often least heard in  climate discussions, including people from the global south and young people. One of the great  injustices of climate change is that the people least responsible for global warming are often the ones  suffering its worst consequences. That is why the Scottish Government will continue to push for  increased global action and urgent funding for loss and damage at COP28.” 

“For nations to reach their climate targets, mayors and governors need to be empowered to have a  bigger role on the global stage,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on  Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “For the  first time ever, this year’s COP President – Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and the government of the United Arab  Emirates – is integrating local leaders into the formal programming and agenda. By formally elevating  city leadership in the fight against climate change, we are taking a critical step forward towards ensuring  we make progress faster.” 

The inclusive platform will bring together cities, towns, regions, and representatives from the Local  Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency organizations, as well as individuals and  groups dedicated to supporting local and subnational actors in playing more substantial roles in  achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. This year’s Pavilion builds on the experience of the  LGMA/ICLEI, Scotland and others in convening cities and subnational pavilions at previous COPs, in  addition to benefiting from UN-Habitat's expertise in sustainable urbanization. 

The Pavilion is hosted within the Blue Zone at COP28, where the urban climate agenda has a strong  narrative through the two-week programming, with the COP28 Presidency holding key events including  the Local Climate Action Summit on 1-2 December, a first-of-its-kind gathering to recognize the critical  role local leaders play in reducing emissions, addressing climate risk, and supercharging national efforts  to move further and faster on climate progress, hosted by the COP28 Presidency and Bloomberg  Philanthropies. On 6 December, the Pavilion program will feature complementary programming  alongside the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change – the headlining event of the  thematic day Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment/Transport on 6 December.

Those who wish to attend sessions while in Dubai or tune in virtually can register for daily updates from  COP28, including exclusive coverage, live sessions, announcements and interviews.

- 

NOTE TO THE EDITORS 

About Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency 

Since the Earth Summit in 1992, when nine stakeholder groups – including local authorities – were  designated as essential partners in implementing the global sustainability agenda, the Local  Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency has represented networks of local and  regional governments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  The LGMA has served as the voice of cities and regions since the first Conference of Parties (COP) in  1995 and continues to achieve advocacy success for multilevel action in the climate, nature, and  desertification processes. The LGMA has grown to more than 45 accredited networks of local and  regional governments. The LGMA coordinates inputs to the global climate negotiations all year,  influencing and informing outcomes toward meeting the Paris Agreement. To learn more, visit:  https://www.cities-and-regions.org/ 

About ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability 

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (known as "ICLEI") is a global network of more than 2,500  local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries,  ICLEI influences sustainability policy and drives local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable,  resilient and circular development. ICLEI Members and its team of experts work together through peer  exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability. For  more information about ICLEI, please visit: https://iclei.org/.

About UH-Habitat 

UN-Habitat is the United Nations entity responsible for sustainable urbanization. It has programmes in  over 90 countries that support policymakers and communities to create socially and environmentally  sustainable cities and towns. UN-Habitat promotes transformative change in cities through knowledge,  policy advice, technical assistance, and collaborative action. To know more, visit www.unhabitat.org or  follow on X @UNHABITAT.  

CONTACT

3 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Ariel Dekovic, Head of Global Communications 

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability 

World Secretariat (Bonn, Germany) 

Phone: +49 (0)177 190 2830| Email: ariel.dekovic@iclei.org | Skype: ariel.dekovic.iclei 

Jessica Jones-Langley 

UN-Habitat (Paris, France) 

Phone: +33 (0)6 95 55 61 01 | Email: jessica.joneslangley@un.org