COP30 Local Leaders Forum
November 3-5, 2025 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hosted by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the COP30 Local Leaders Forum united mayors, governors, and subnational officials from around the world to showcase how local action is driving global climate progress.
As part of COP30’s Global Mutirão, the Forum put a spotlight on local climate solutions, showcasing how cities, states, and regions are driving global climate progress. Over three days of high-level gatherings, participants shared solutions, strengthened partnerships, and advanced a unified subnational climate agenda — extending from Rio to the COP30 negotiations in Belém.
The Forum included the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Climate Awards, which celebrate the most daring, impactful, and people-centered climate breakthroughs led by cities, states, and regions. The Forum culminated with the Local Climate Action Summit, bringing together local and national leaders to celebrate a decade of subnational progress since COP21 and chart the path forward for the next decade of climate action.
Joint Outcome Statement:
Unveiled at the Local Climate Action Summit as the culminating outcome of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, the Local Leaders Joint Statement is a declaration of support from more than 14,000 cities, towns, states, regions, and provinces across every continent, affirming their collective commitment to advancing real, on-the-ground climate solutions.
Responding to the COP30 Presidency’s call to bring solutions to Belém as part of the global mutirão, local leaders presented three viable solutions to national governments to fast-track action in this decisive decade for climate action.
Local leaders are committed to:
- Helping countries achieve their national climate goals by actively engaging as partners in implementation and ensuring a just and resilient transition.
- Ensuring a robust pipeline of over 2,500 transformative, bankable local projects to help localize and channel climate finance for both mitigation and adaptation.
- Advancing multilevel action and collaboration to make the COP process one of implementation and accountability.
Agenda:
Times in BRT – Brasília / Rio de Janeiro, UTC-3
Monday, November 3
All Day
The C40 World Mayors Summit will bring together hundreds of mayors, governors, and local leaders on the frontline of the climate crisis, determined to put communities and local needs at the heart of climate politics. 2025 marks a turning point: 10 years since the Paris Agreement and 20 years of C40, and on the eve of COP30 in Belém, the most significant climate summit in a decade.
4:45pm-6:00pm
Amazon Cities Forum: A Regional Alliance towards COP30
The Amazon Cities Forum will feature conversations on Amazonian leadership in action, spotlighting the Forum’s role on the road to COP30 and showcasing city-led innovations that are redefining climate action and urban management across the region. From climate innovation to project structuring and governance, mayors will exchange lessons learned and elevate the local solutions driving a more resilient Amazonia.
Tuesday, November 4
All Day
The C40 World Mayors Summit will bring together hundreds of mayors, governors, and local leaders on the frontline of the climate crisis, determined to put communities and local needs at the heart of climate politics. 2025 marks a turning point: 10 years since the Paris Agreement and 20 years of C40, and on the eve of COP30 in Belém, the most significant climate summit in a decade.
All Day
Global States and Regions Summit
Convened by the Under2 Coalition and key partners, the Global States and Regions Summit will show the leadership of states, regions and provinces and identify the finance, policy and partnership support needed to accelerate progress. Key themes include energy, transport, industry, nature, and tackling financial barriers. Through the Summit, regional leaders will build a coordinated and credible subnational offer for COP30, aligning with priorities on global resilience, finance and the just transition.
12:45pm-1:45pm
America Is All In Solutions Exchange
Convened by America Is All In and partners, the Solutions Exchange will spotlight U.S. subnational climate leadership. The session will show how mayors, governors, and tribal leaders are driving emissions reductions and resilience in the face of headwinds, while building new international partnerships. Through panels and keynotes featuring U.S. and Brazilian leaders, the Exchange will underscore the credibility and impact of American subnationals as global partners.
Wednesday, November 5
8:00am-9:30am
CHAMP High-level Political Dialogue
This closed-door, ministerial-level event convenes the members of the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-Level Partnerships (CHAMP) and supporting partners to strengthen ambition and international climate cooperation to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. As nations around the world prepare to usher in a new decade of climate action through revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), the urgency has never been greater—especially with 2024 marking the warmest year on record globally. In this context of escalating climate impacts, strong and cooperative action is more critical than ever. Hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Brazil’s Ministry of Cities, and World Resources Institute, this event demonstrates how working across levels of government can respond to this urgency with coordinated and clear action.
8:00am-9:30am
Coastal 500 – Coastal Mayors Exchange
Featuring voices from Brazil and beyond, the session will showcase how local and subnational leaders are driving climate adaptation and resilience through nature-based and collaborative solutions that bridge global ambition with local action.
10:00am–11:30am
Local Climate Action Summit
On the eve of the COP30 World Leaders Forum in Belém, the Summit will bring together mayors, governors, local officials, and national representatives from across the globe to reflect on the progress of local climate action and chart the path forward. Marking ten years since local leaders first gathered in Paris to demand bold action at COP21, this global convening will spotlight a decade of achievement and showcase the solutions unlocked when cities, states, and national governments work hand in hand. By carrying forward the spirit of COP30’s Global Mutirão, the Summit will celebrate local leadership, strengthen collaboration, and build the momentum needed for bold climate action now.
Partners:
The COP30 Local Leaders Forum is co-hosted by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, with support from leading international networks and institutions advancing local climate action:
Amazon Cities Forum
America Is All In
Breathe Cities
C40 Cities
Cities & Regions in the UNFCCC Process
Climate Mayors
European Climate Foundation
European Committee of the Regions
GCF Taskforce
Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM)
Green Brazil Consortium
ICLEI
Institute for Climate and Society (iCS)
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
National Front of Mayors (FNP)
Regions4
Under2 Coalition
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
UN-Habitat
United States Climate Alliance
World Resources Institute (WRI)
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