COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies Announce Global and Local Co-Chairs for the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro

Held November 3-5, the Forum will be an official COP30 pre-event bringing together hundreds of mayors, governors, and subnational leaders from Brazil and around the world to drive momentum ahead of negotiations

Co-Chairs include European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, UN Climate Change Secretary Simon Stiell, C40 Cities Co-Chairs London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, and California Governor Gavin Newsom

New York, New York — Today, the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a distinguished group of global and local co-chairs of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, which will convene in Rio de Janeiro from November 3-5, ahead of the COP30 negotiations in Belém.

Co-hosted by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Forum will bring together hundreds of mayors, governors, and subnational leaders to elevate local leadership and deliver concrete outcomes on global climate priorities.

The co-chairs will guide the Forum’s vision, showcase how local action strengthens national and global climate ambition, and help ensure NDCs are delivered through collaboration at every level of government. Their leadership will mobilize mayors, governors, and regional leaders to cut emissions, build resilience, and improve lives.

“The active participation of subnational governments and local leaders in our Global Mutirão Against Climate Change is crucial for expediting the implementation of the Paris Agreement, unlocking new opportunities for innovation, and scaling up our adaptation strategies,” said Ana Toni, COP30 CEO. “As those who live and work on the frontlines of climate impacts, governors and mayors are leading the charge. Our success depends on swift, collective action and transforming global consensus into local action.”

“Local leaders are on the front lines in the fight against climate change. And from state capitals to city halls, they are proving they are up to the challenge,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Ahead of COP30, the Local Leaders Forum will bring together hundreds of leaders at the city and state levels to exchange ideas, raise their ambitions, and push national governments to do more, faster.”

The distinguished group of co-chairs includes:

• Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and C40 Cities Co-Chair
• Governor Helder Barbalho, Pará, Brazil
• Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City, Philippines
• Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner of Global Optimism and Former UNFCCC Executive Secretary
• Mayor Kate Gallego, Phoenix, United States, and Chair of Climate Mayors
• Dan Ioschpe, Climate High-Level Champion for COP30
• Mayor Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Malmö, Sweden, and President of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
• Mayor Sadiq Khan, London, United Kingdom, and C40 Cities Co-Chair
• Governor Gavin Newsom, California, United States, and Co-Chair of the United States Climate Alliance and America Is All In
• Mayor Igor Normando, Belém, Brazil
• Mayor Eduardo Paes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, Hobart, Australia
• Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, and Co-Chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors
• Simon Stiell, United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary
• Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, Special Envoy for COP30 to Europe, Dean of the Paris Climate School at Sciences Po, France’s former Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and COP22 UN High-Level Champion for Climate Action
• Premier Alan Winde, Western Cape, South Africa and Under2 Coalition Co-chair

Additionally, several global co-chairs—recognized for their leadership in urban innovation, climate action, and public service—will serve as jurors for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Climate Awards. They will assess the finalist projects to select the winners, who will be announced at the Forum on November 4.

“Cities in the Global South are already demonstrating that climate leadership doesn’t wait for permission or perfect conditions, rather, we are acting now because our residents’ lives depend on it,” said Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown and Co-Chair of C40 Cities. “The COP30 Local Leaders Forum is an opportunity to show the world that when international finance supports local innovation, we can deliver a just transition at the speed and scale the climate crisis demands. I am honored to co-chair this gathering of mayors and governors committed to turning climate commitments into tangible actions that protect communities and build resilient futures.”

“As the world looks for real and scalable solutions to the climate crisis, Brazil has a unique opportunity to lead by example, drawing on our experience of balancing development with environmental protection,” said Helder Barbalho, Governor of Pará. “Unlocking climate finance will be key to accelerating the positive changes already underway across our territories. As Co-Chair of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, I am honored to join fellow subnational leaders in demonstrating that cities and states are essential drivers of climate action. Together, we are ready to turn commitments into results.”

“Our delegation of subnational leaders are not just asking for support—we are offering solutions. Cities like Quezon City are ready to be true partners, bringing leadership, innovation, and on-the-ground action to help national governments meet their global climate targets. As Co-Chair and as Mayor, I am committed to ensuring that cities are not only at the table but are recognized as essential partners in shaping climate policy. By working hand-in-hand, we can accelerate progress and deliver real benefits to our communities,” said Joy Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City.

“What fills my heart with hope is seeing leaders from the Global South not just at the table, but co-chairing it. From Freetown to Quezon City, from Pará to Phoenix, these are the voices that have been demanding climate justice for decades, and now they’re steering the conversation alongside their national counterparts,” said Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner of Global Optimism and Former UNFCCC Executive Secretary. “This is how it must be. Climate action cannot be designed in one part of the world and delivered to another. It must be co-created, with the wisdom and urgency of those on the frontlines guiding us all forward. This is exactly what the COP30 Local Leaders Forum is looking to unlock, and I am honored to help convene this extraordinary delegation of mayors and governors as Co-Chair to see real progress come to life in Rio.”

“Cities are where the challenges of and solutions to the climate crisis come to fruition—whether in a neighborhood impacted by extreme weather or the excitement on the factory floor in an emerging industry,” said Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix and Chair of Climate Mayors. “Holding the Local Leaders Forum means the policy decisions made at COP30 will reflect the reality on the ground. I’m proud to Co-Chair this forum, alongside mayors, governors, and partners from across the globe who are driving job creation, accelerating the transition to clean energy, and building stronger, more resilient cities that will prosper for generations to come. As an American mayor, I’m proud to deliver the message that this work is moving full steam ahead regardless of federal inaction.”

“Cities, states and regions are driving climate action: investing in renewable energy and sustainable public transport, improving air quality, expanding water supply and sanitation, and promoting socioeconomic sustainable development. The COP30 Local Leaders Forum is where we turn those local successes into global solutions,” said Dan Ioschpe, Climate High-Level Champion for COP30.

“From Malmö to Belém, local governments are driving real solutions and ambition. This is our moment to strengthen multilevel collaboration and ensure local voices shape global climate action. As co-chair of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum delegation, I am certain that together we can build resilient, inclusive communities and leave a legacy of lasting change for the world to benefit,” said Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö and President of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.

“I’m delighted to serve as Co-Chair of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum and to work alongside local leaders around the world who are advancing climate action,” said Mayor of London and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan. “Cities have continually proved that we are the doers, not the delayers when it comes to leading the way on tackling the global climate crisis. As we look towards COP30, it’s vital that governments work hand in hand with cities to take the bold action needed to make meaningful change.”

“Addressing the climate crisis starts at the local level,” said Gavin Newsom, Governor of California and Co-Chair of the United States Climate Alliance and America Is All In. “From mayors to governors, regional leaders are uniquely positioned to turn ambition into action, and I am proud to show that subnational governments are stable, innovative, and indispensable partners in tackling the climate crisis.”

“For too long, the world has talked about the Amazon without having come to those of us who live here,” said Igor Normando, Mayor of Belém. As we prepare to host COP30 in my home city, Belém, the Local Leaders Forum in Rio is our chance to show the world how supporting Amazonian communities through real investments in areas like health centers, infrastructure, and better living conditions are all part of what’s driving climate action. We’re ready to welcome the world and demonstrate that protecting the Amazon means protecting the people who call it home.”

“I am honored to welcome this historic convening of leaders to Rio de Janeiro as we work together to advance global climate action across local and national levels, and to serve alongside them as a Co-Chair for the COP30 Local Leaders Forum,” said Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro. “It is a source of great pride for the city of Rio to serve as the stage for this Forum, which will offer critical insight ahead of COP30 by highlighting the most pressing climate challenges local leaders face, the innovative solutions they’ve pioneered, and how national governments can best support them.”

“Cities like Hobart are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. As co-chair of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, I’m working alongside other local leaders to protect our communities and natural environment. We have the unique opportunity to learn from one another and demonstrate that cities—no matter their size—can lead the way in building a safer and more sustainable future,” said Anna Reynolds, Lord Mayor of Hobart.

“Local and regional leaders are at the heart of the green economy transition, ensuring that national governments deliver climate action that benefits their communities,” said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, and Co-Chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors. “I am delighted to Co-Chair alongside this distinguished group, guiding the vital discussions and decisions of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum. By empowering local leaders and strengthening global partnerships, we bring real solutions tailored to the daily needs of the citizens of the world. In accelerating climate action, we are improving their quality of life, making economies more efficient and bringing hope in a time of growing skepticism.”

“As we look ahead to COP30, I’m encouraged by the leadership and collaboration that will be showcased at the Local Leaders Forum in Rio, supported by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change. “Partnerships across all levels of government are essential to speeding up climate solutions and ensuring their vast benefits reach those who need them most—including more jobs and economic growth, better health, more secure and affordable energy, to name just a few. Only by working together can we deliver on the promise of the Paris Agreement and the cooperative spirit of mutirao COP30.”

“Ten years ago in Paris, we built the framework for global climate action, the Paris Agreement, which succeeded because it recognized that progress must happen at every level,” said Dr. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and Dean of the Paris Climate School at Sciences Po, France’s former Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and COP22 UN High-Level Champion for Climate Action. “As we approach COP30, we need that same spirit of partnership and the same courage to turn commitments into implementation. The COP30 Local Leaders Forum reflects this truth: national climate plans are only as strong as the local action that delivers them.”

Over three days, the Forum will feature tentpole events aligned with the COP30 Action Agenda and help advance priorities such as tripling renewable energy by 2030, doubling energy efficiency, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and mobilizing $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support developing countries.

Events will include the C40 World Mayors Summit, the Global States and Regions Summit, the Brazilian National Front of Mayors’ (FNP) 88th General Assembly, the America Is All In Solutions Exchange, the Amazon Cities Forum, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Climate Awards, and sessions on the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), Brazil, and China.

On November 5, the Forum will culminate with the Local Climate Action Summit—the defining moment of the week. Marking ten years since local leaders first gathered in Paris to demand bold action at COP21, this rare global convening will spotlight the power of local governments to turn climate ambition into results. In the spirit of COP30’s Global Mutirão, it will bring local, national, and international representatives together to reflect on progress, deliver recommendations for COP30 negotiations, and build the momentum needed for bold climate action now.

More information on the COP30 Local Leaders Forum is available here. Media interested in attending the COP30 Local Leaders Forum should request credentials in advance HERE.

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