The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) welcomed continued support from Bloomberg Philanthropies to accelerate local climate leadership across its more than 13,800 cities this week. Announced by UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and GCoM Co-Chair Michael R. Bloomberg at the Local Climate Action Summit during the COP30 Local Leaders Forum—an international gathering of mayors, governors, and regional leaders just days before COP30—this investment demonstrates how cities, states, and regions are delivering measurable climate progress and are ushering in the next era of local leadership and multilevel collaboration worldwide.

This new support comes at a pivotal time for local climate action. Over the past decade, the GCoM alliance and city networks have transformed local leadership from an emerging movement into a driving force for global progress. Since 2010, GCoM has grown from 7,100 to more than 13,800 local governments worldwide. Today, cities are outpacing national governments in cutting emissions and implementing Paris-aligned climate plans—delivering measurable economic, health, and resilience benefits for their communities.

With Bloomberg Philanthropies’ core support, GCoM will:

• Deepen collaboration between national and local governments: As a key partner in the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), GCoM will accelerate joint action on energy, transport, and adaptation, working alongside the World Resources Institute and the NDC Partnership. This will help ensure local priorities and solutions are integrated into national climate and finance plans, strengthening multilevel governance and unlocking greater impact.
  
• Advance Brazil’s leadership as a global model: The new investment will also support 50 Brazilian cities and nine Northeast states in implementing ambitious climate projects. In partnership with C40, the National Front of Mayors (FNP), and other key organizations, GCoM will help deliver new Climate Action Plans, accelerate the energy transition, and promote inclusive, green growth across Brazil.
• Power the networks driving the next wave of climate action: This investment ensures that GCoM has the core support necessary to mobilize and coordinate cities of all sizes, scaling up proven solutions and collective action.
  

“This transformative investment recognizes that local governments are not just first responders to climate risk—they are architects of global solutions,” said Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM). “With Bloomberg Philanthropies’ continued support, the Global Covenant of Mayors will continue empowering tens of thousands of cities and local governments to scale up proven climate action, unlock new sources of finance, and build healthier, more resilient communities.”

As a co-funder of GCoM, the European Commission continues to work closely with partners to align global, national, regional and city climate and energy activities to strengthen GCoM’s collective impact. 

The funding announcement builds on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ longstanding partnership with GCoM and C40, reinforcing the essential role of cities and local governments in achieving global climate goals. As the world looks to COP30, this support will help ensure that local leadership remains at the heart of the climate solution.