COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies Announce the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro to Elevate Local Climate Action

COP30 Forum will convene hundreds of local leaders November 3-5 to help turbocharge the next decade of climate progress

London and Rio de Janeiro – The COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, a three-day gathering to be held in Rio de Janeiro from November 3-5. Co-hosted by Brazil and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Forum will bring together hundreds of mayors, governors, and subnational leaders to spotlight local climate solutions and demonstrate how cities, states, and regions are accelerating progress on global climate goals.

Unveiled during London Climate Action Week at a meeting between Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, COP30 CEO Ana Toni, and subnational leaders from major international coalitions, the Forum marks a key step in shifting COP30 from negotiation to delivery by placing local leadership at the heart of climate action.

Held just days before the COP30 World Leaders Summit and official negotiations, the Forum will highlight how bold local policies can improve lives while advancing global climate goals – including tripling renewable energy by 2030, doubling energy efficiency, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and mobilizing at least $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support developing countries on the frontlines of the crisis.

The Forum will reinforce multilateralism through subnational diplomacy and, guided by the outcomes of the Global Stocktake, accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement by strengthening collaboration between national and local governments to deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and focus on unlocking finance to help local leaders meet their climate commitments, increase resilience, and scale their adaptation efforts.

“Local leadership is essential to the success of global climate action,” said COP30 President-Designate Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago. “As we prepare for COP30 in the heart of the Amazon, we are inspired by the spirit of mutirão — a collective effort where every voice and every level of governance contributes to a common goal. The COP30 Local Leaders Forum will be a vital platform to highlight the role of cities and regions in delivering real, inclusive, and lasting climate solutions.”

“To hit the targets under the Paris climate agreement, nations must do more, faster — and cities and states are leading the way,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “By teaming up with Brazil to bring together forward-thinking mayors and governors, we’re putting local action at the heart of international efforts — and laying the groundwork for more progress at COP30.”

“The engagement of subnational governments and local leaders in our Global Mutirão Against Climate Change is essential in helping us accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, create new opportunities, and scale up our adaptation efforts,” said Ana Toni, COP30 CEO. “Governors and mayors are at the forefront of our fight against climate change, and our only solution is to work together quickly and without leaving anyone behind.”

“There will be no climate justice without urban justice. Belém must be, in addition to the COP of the Forest, the COP of Cities. The COP of the Amazon must also be the COP of Amazonian cities,” said Jader Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities of Brazil. “When we talk about the environment and climate change, we are, in fact, talking about people — and most of these people live in cities, especially the most vulnerable, who are on the front lines of the climate crisis. Since taking office as Minister of Cities, I have had a clear purpose: to connect the global agenda of the UNFCCC and its COPs with local realities. This means placing urban issues — housing, mobility, sanitation, urban development, disaster risk reduction, and green infrastructure — and territories — states, municipalities, and communities — at the center of climate action. But to ensure that the urban agenda and the multilevel approach have real transformative power, it is urgent to fully integrate them into the negotiations across all tracks: mitigation, adaptation, just transition, and, above all, financing. Only then can we ensure that cities have the tools, mandates, and financing to deliver truly transformative climate action.”

A high-level plenary will bring together local and global leaders to affirm that cities and regions are not side actors – they are essential partners in delivering climate solutions. Key events spanning the three days of the Forum will include:

• The C40 World Mayors Summit, marking the network’s 20th anniversary, will be convened by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and hosted by Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes. It will bring together mayors – including a delegation from Brazil’s Frente Nacional de Prefeitas e Prefeitos – alongside leaders of the Global Covenant of Mayors to showcase progress in energy, mobility, infrastructure, building decarbonization, and nature-based solutions. Sessions will include peer exchanges and spotlights on Brazilian urban innovation.
• The Global States and Regions Summit convened by the Under2 Coalition in partnership with global, regional and national networks will bring together governors, premiers and regional leaders to demonstrate climate action in key sectors such as renewable energy, transport, industry and land use – identifying policy enablers and strategies on overcoming barriers from finance to regulation. Brazilian states, such as the COP host, Para, and the Local Leaders Forum host, Rio de Janeiro, will come together to showcase how their regional leadership bridges global ambition and front-line delivery.
• The Local Leaders Awards Ceremony, co-hosted by C40 and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, will honor subnational governments that are driving results across COP30 priorities: just energy transition, adaptation, health, and multilevel partnerships. Awards will recognize one Brazilian and one global winner in each category.
• The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership (CHAMP) High Level Political Dialogue, convened in partnership with World Resources Institute, C40, and the Global Covenant of Mayors, will convene national and subnational leaders committed to advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement through strong multilevel collaboration. The Dialogue will showcase implementation of CHAMP commitments, elevate new partnerships and drive political momentum for embedding local and regional leadership into national and international climate processes. This session will position multilevel cooperation as essential to accelerating global climate action.
• The America Is All In Exchange will partner with the U.S. Climate Alliance, Climate Mayors, Ceres and other groups to highlight how U.S. cities, states and other local leaders continue to lead on climate in the absence of consistent federal action. Local leaders will present new research showing U.S. progress toward targets. Additional events will be held at the America Is All In Pavilion in the COP30 Blue Zone in Belém.

“The C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro will be a defining moment for city-led climate leadership on the road to COP30,” said Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and co-chair of C40 Cities. “Cities are already delivering practical, urgent solutions to the climate crisis: cutting emissions, creating green jobs and improving the lives of our residents. In this pivotal year, I’m proud to convene a summit that will champion city leadership and send a clear message: that in the face of growing climate denial and delay, mayors are stepping up.”

“Rio de Janeiro is honored to welcome the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, which will convene hundreds of subnational leaders in the city to accelerate the shift from negotiation to implementation,” said Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro and President of FNP (Frente Nacional de Prefeitas e Prefeitos). “This Forum represents the most significant opportunity for local governments to raise their voices and help define an ambitious agenda ahead of COP30. Together with the COP30 Presidency, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and key partners, we are committed to delivering concrete outcomes that empower cities, mobilize climate finance, and advance a just energy transition.”

“Through FNP — the National Front of Mayors of Brazil — which I have the privilege of presiding over, we will ensure that hundreds of Brazil’s largest cities play an active role in the Forum,” Paes added. “Cities and regions are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and are uniquely positioned to drive solutions. This must be a COP of delivery. The time for decisive action is now — and local leaders are ready to lead.”

“Mayors and local leaders are on the frontlines of the climate crisis—and their leadership is essential to turning ambition into action,” said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and GCoM Co-Chair. “As Europe advances its Green Deal, decarbonizes key sectors, and expands access to clean energy, the COP30 Local Leaders Forum—developed with our partners at Bloomberg Philanthropies—will be a vital opportunity to show how ambitious collaboration and local action are delivering a just, sustainable future for European citizens.”

“Ten years ago, hundreds of mayors gathered in Paris—outside the formal COP negotiations—to urge national leaders to take bold climate action and improve the lives of city residents around the world,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors and Vice-Chair of C40 Cities. “A decade after the historic Paris Agreement, mayors are no longer on the sidelines. They are central to the COP process as agents of change on the ground. The Global Covenant of Mayors, representing 13,500 cities and local governments and more than 1.2 billion people, is ready to showcase urban climate leadership and work in partnership with COP30 and national governments for another decade of progress.”

“The Local Leaders Forum will be a critical moment before COP30 for subnational leaders who are delivering solutions on the ground to showcase their action and ambition,” said Raquel Lyra, Governor of Pernambuco, Brazil and member of the Under2 Coalition. “As a governor, I know the power of local action – and working with national governments and the private sector – to deliver positive change. In Brazil, states and cities play a critical role in protecting our vast natural resources while growing the economy. We are grateful and excited to showcase this collaboration and action delivery at the Local Leaders Forum and COP30 later this year.”

“The Alliance’s states and territories have long been laboratories and launchpads for the world’s most innovative and impactful climate solutions. Here in Wisconsin and across the country, we’re delivering cleaner air and energy – and a more sustainable future for our kids and grandkids,” said U.S. Climate Alliance Co-Chair and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “The Alliance looks forward to catalyzing even deeper partnership and action in Brazil, where we’ll make sure the world knows that no matter the obstacles, we’re charging forward.”

“As the fourth largest economy in the world and the hub of American innovation, California continues to prove that climate action is economic action. California leads on bold and transformative policies that boost American jobs, unleash reliable and affordable clean energy, and build stronger economies for all. We’re proud to represent California in Brazil and to stand alongside local leaders from around the world — especially our Brazilian counterparts — at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, united in our commitment to building a healthier and cleaner future,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom, America Is All In Co-chair and U.S. Climate Alliance Co-chair.

“In Phoenix, the reality of our changing climate is evident in intensifying heat and long-term drought. We’re doubling down on climate action to ensure people are safe, prepared for the future, and have accessible pathways to economic security,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Chair of Climate Mayors, C40 Cities Steering Committee member. “On behalf of nearly 350 Climate Mayors collectively representing 46 states and almost 60 million people across the country– we are unwavering in our commitment to sustain the climate action fit for 21st century American leadership. I’m proud to join other dedicated leaders from around the world at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum who understand the importance and opportunity of this moment. Addressing climate change means saving lives, protecting our planet, and building stronger and more prosperous cities.”

Following the Forum, a delegation of local leaders will travel to Belém to connect the events in Rio to COP30 by formally representing a unified subnational climate agenda at COP30. The Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, which serves as the voice of cities and regions in the UNFCCC process, will bring a united vision of rallying for a Local-to-Global COP30 and beyond. Additionally, the Cities & Regions Hub, co-convened by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, as the focal point of the LGMA, and UN-Habitat and hosted by the Brazilian Ministry of Cities in the COP30 Blue Zone in Belém, will serve as the central hub for cities, regions, and their networks, highlighting subnational climate leadership, multilevel collaboration, and how local and subnational governments can contribute to the UNFCCC process.

“For the fourth time, the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change will be held during a COP to elevate multilevel climate action and the role of cities in climate diplomacy. The preceding roundtables will bring ministers, mayors and experts together to clearly articulate the importance of housing and informal settlement transformation, urban nature-based solutions, how climate finance can reach cities and how science, innovation and knowledge can accelerate local climate action,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). “The biggest achievement would be the institutionalization of the Ministerial Meetings at COP and with that anchoring the urban agenda in the COP negotiations. The Hub and the Ministerial meeting will convene urban stakeholders and serve as platforms to amplify their voices.”

“All local and regional leaders present and speaking in Rio, Belém, or hosting a Town Hall COP at home, share one goal: we seek COP30 outcomes that empower us to help implement the Paris Agreement,” said Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, President of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and Mayor, City of Malmö, Sweden. “Cities and regions aren’t outsiders making demands in this process – we are the implementers on the frontlines, delivering climate action while responding to the climate change impacts in our communities. Our Constituency is united: we bring solutions, and we’re proving what all levels of government can achieve together. From Rio to Belém and back to thousands of communities worldwide, we’ll stand with and support Parties to drive action that secures resilient livelihoods, affordable and equitable cities, and a livable future for all.”

“Two things are clear: The global climate transition isn’t possible without cities, and city leaders are showing they are already ahead of the curve,” said Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute. “In almost every country, cities are moving faster than national governments—driven by a close relationship with their residents and a unique ability to innovate. In this moment, supporting and showcasing the energy and optimism of locally driven climate action is essential. Cities are where solutions are already making a difference in people’s lives, and where there’s enormous potential for even greater impact.”

The Forum builds on momentum from the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit (LCAS), co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the COP28 Presidency in Dubai. As the first formal summit to integrate subnational leaders in the COP program, it brought over 500 mayors, governors, and local leaders from over 60 countries to connect global ambition with local solutions. The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) launched there, and nearly $470 million was mobilized for urban climate action. Since then, over 70 countries – representing 33% of the global population, 35% of emissions, and 58% of global GDP – have pledged to partner with local governments to meet national climate targets.

With 87% of its population living in urban areas, Brazil’s cities and states have long been at the forefront of climate action. Brazil is also the first country to formally embed climate federalism in its NDC, signaling a bold commitment to integrating local leadership into national climate plans. For over a decade, from Rio+20 to the Urban20 Mayors Summit during Brazil’s G20 Presidency, Brazil has consistently elevated the role of local leaders in national and global climate efforts. The country’s endorsement of CHAMP further underscores its commitment to national-local collaboration. Backed by President Lula’s push for multilevel climate finance and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ ongoing support, the COP30 Local Leaders Forum will carry that momentum forward, focused squarely on delivery, accountability, and impact.

“Cities are ahead of the curve on climate action,” said Dan Ioschpe, COP30 Climate High-Level Champion. “Those in the Race to Zero are not only setting targets, but are launching thousands of climate projects, and often moving faster than national governments. Across London and Rio, it’s our shared imperative to help them all move better and faster. Investors, mayors, entrepreneurs, and civil society leaders can push these projects, capital and know-how at scale.”

“Through the Local Leaders Forum, cities, states, and regions can show once again that they are ahead of the curve on global climate action – and show national governments what it really means to put implementation at the centre of the global climate regime, and what the concrete benefits of cooperation are,” said Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, France’s former Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and COP22 UN High-Level Champion for Climate Action. “Their climate plans need to be much more integrated into the elaboration of NDCs, and clearly recognised as essential components of national ambition. In the spirit of Mutirão, local leaders will come not just with an ask to national governments, but with an offer of solutions.”

“As host of COP30, Brazil holds a historic responsibility – and a singular chance – to shape a summit that cannot afford to fail,” said Philip Yang, COP30 Special Envoy for Urban Solutions and Founder of the URBEM Institute. “The Local Leaders Forum will highlight how cities and regions are already driving the transition on the ground. But to truly shift the needle, the urban agenda must move from the margins to the core of the formal negotiations. It is not just timely — it is indispensable. Cities are where climate, nature, and equity intersect, and integrating their role offers the most grounded, actionable pathway to complement the forest and finance tracks, catalyze multilevel collaboration, and secure the ambitious outcomes the world now demands.”

About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

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