Watch this plenary live on YouTube!
South America is set to become the center of the global climate and nature agendas in the coming year. With the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 hosted in Cali, Colombia in October 2024, and UNFCCC COP30 hosted in 2025 in the heart of the Amazon in Brazil, the world is looking to South America for leadership on these critical sustainability agendas.
Watch this dynamic plenary to explore the powerful interplay between these two critical global agendas and their impacts on policy making at all levels. Key representatives from Colombia and Brazil discussed the urgent need for an integrated approach to the climate and nature crises, emphasizing inclusive dialogues across all levels of government and civil society.
ICLEI Members and leaders shared how these global processes influence local and regional initiatives, stressing the need for global strategies to address on-the-ground challenges faced by cities, towns, and regions worldwide. Those active in global advocacy provided insights into the significance of local government engagement in these arenas.
We highlighted how ICLEI Members and partners can collaborate to engage at the upcoming climate and biodiversity COPs, advocating for our interests and the crucial role of local governments in advancing sustainability targets. Be part of the ongoing conversation that bridges global and local efforts in shaping a sustainable future for all.
Speakers
- Alfredo Coro II, Mayor, Municipality of Del Carmen, Philippines; ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member
- Champa Patel, Executive Director of Governments and Policy, Climate Group (to be confirmed)
- Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member, Urban Research and Innovation Portfolio
- João Bosco Monte, President, Brazil Africa Institute
- Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Special Advisor to COP29 Presidency (video message)
- Mauricio Zunino, Acting Mayor, City of Montevideo, Uruguay
- Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor, Municipality of Chefchaouen, Morocco; ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member
- Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, President, IUCN (video message)
Moderators
- Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI World Secretariat
- Yunus Arikan, Director of Global Advocacy, ICLEI World Secretariat
Session flow
High-level dialogue: The critical need for multilevel governance in multilateral cooperation for sustainability
- Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion; President, IUCN (pre-recorded)
Leaders dialogue: The key role of cities, towns and regions in global sustainability processes
- Alfredo Coro II, Mayor, Municipality of Del Carmen, Philippines; ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member
- Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor, Municipality of Chefchaouen, Morocco; ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member
- Mauricio Zunino, Acting Mayor, City of Montevideo, Uruguay
- Champa Patel, Executive Director of Governments and Policy, Climate Group
Moderator: Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI World Secretariat
Partners dialogue: Supporting our cities, towns and regions in delivering critical sustainability action
- João Bosco Monte, President, Brazil Africa Institute
- Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member, Urban Research and Innovation Portfolio
- Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Special Advisor to COP29 Presidency (pre-recorded)
Moderator: Yunus Arikan, Director of Global Advocacy, ICLEI World Secretariat
