Member States should ensure full integration of LRGs at COP30

At a Member States briefing in Geneva, co-organized by WHO and UN-Habitat and attended by interested delegations, including from Egypt, the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil (the COP27, 28, 29 and 30 host States as members of the COP Continuity Initiative on climate change and health, the Global Cities Hub represented the LGMA constituency. “LGMA constituency” is a name given to networks of local and regional governments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This briefing mainly focused on advancing multilevel and urban engagement ahead of COP30 by enumerating existing and planned initiatives and activities by all stakeholders, including Member States, LGMA constituency and UN agencies.

The LGMA constituency reaffirmed its strategic mobilization around each COP and highlights the increasing efforts by host countries—Egypt, UAE, Azerbaijan, and now Brazil—to include local and regional governments (LRGs) in the climate process.

With COP30 marking the 10-year milestone since the Paris Agreement, the LGMA calls for stronger recognition of subnational contributions, improved access to climate finance, and clearer inclusion of LRGs in the next generation of the Nationally Determined Contributions ( NDCs). The proposal to initiate Locally and Subnationally Determined Contributions as part of the NDCs was also raised, aligning with ongoing efforts like the NDC 3.0 model, explained and provided by UN-Habitat.

The upcoming participation of Brazilian mayors in the UN Forum of Mayors in Geneva was also highlighted as a sign of growing subnational momentum including in Brazil ahead of COP30 in Belem.

The Global Cities Hub Co-Director Kamelia Kemileva concludes by emphasizing that a pavilion – promised to LMGA constituency – is not enough! Member States should ensure full integration of LRGs across all COP30 processes to achieve an inclusive and effective Urban COP30. Read the whole statement and learn more on various Initiatives such as the CHAMP (Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships) and the Town Hall COPs which demonstrate the growing institutionalization of local voices in global climate governance: here.