The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) is the world’s largest alliance for city climate leadership, uniting over 13,800 cities and local governments across 148 countries. More than 1.2 billion people, one in every seven worldwide, live in a city or locality that is committed to GCoM.
As countries prepare enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), cities are stepping forward with Self-Determined Contributions (SDCs): locally led, measurable, and often more ambitious climate commitments. Together, they form the global mutirão, a collective effort of multilevel action, called for by the COP30 Presidency.
GCoM data show that cities could reduce global emissions by up to 4.5 Gt CO₂ annually by 2050, helping close much of the gap between current national pledges and the 1.5 °C pathway. Yet while 66% of NDCs now include an urban dimension, only 14% identify the finance and capacity cities require to implement their plans.
Cities are moving decisively from planning to delivery. More than 9,300 mitigation, 3,700 adaptation, and 1,575 energy-access and poverty badges have now been awarded, demonstrating steady progress and expanding ambition. Through the Invest4Cities initiative, including the City Climate Finance Gap Fund and Bankable Cities programs, €105 million in seed funding is set to unlock over €4 billion in climate investment for urban projects.
Cities are also driving inclusive transition. From Bristol’s community-owned solar co-operative to Medellín’s grassroots energy projects, and from Spain’s Just Transition Institute to Gdynia’s UrbanLab, local leadership is turning ambition into action.
CALLS TO ACTION
To sustain this progress, national governments must embed local climate action in updated NDCs and devolve more finance and authority to cities. Multilateral development banks and financial institutions should simplify access to funds and expand project-preparation support. When empowered, cities turn global commitments into real results, the most direct path to a livable, climate-safe future.
AN ALLIANCE DRIVEN BY THE EFFORTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COVENANTS
Commit to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
GCoM cities are united in their shared goals to increase access to renewable, clean energy, build healthy environments, and promote initiatives and best practices that will accelerate the fight against climate change. Together, we will show the collective impact of cities and local governments, and be a force in realizing our vision to achieve a sustainable future.