This month, global governments came together for United Nations climate change negotiations (COP26), hosted by ICLEI Member Glasgow (UK). ICLEI was on-the-ground in Glasgow as the official focal point for the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, which represents local and regional governments at the negotiations. In addition, ICLEI Europe brought local European voices directly to COP26, through varied interventions and sessions.

The results of COP26 were admittedly mixed, as outlined by ICLEI’s World Secretariat here. Many have said that the final agreement, called the Glasgow Climate Pact, does not capture the urgency that the ongoing climate crisis necessitates. On the other hand, it does (albeit incrementally) move forward climate action in several areas. Furthermore, the Pact includes a clear vision for “multilevel and cooperative action”, thereby acknowledging the crucial role of local and regional governments.

The power of local actors was on display throughout the sessions and interventions to which ICLEI Europe organised or contributed. One such example was the chorus of voices who recognised the importance of local legislations to achieve meaningful climate action.

Arno Bonte, Vice Mayor of ICLEI Member Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and member of ICLEI Europe’s Regional Executive Committee, discussed the role of networks in implementing this vital local legislation. “Being a member of international networks of sustainability like the Circular Cities Declaration and ICLEI helps get your policy goals into practice,” he explained.

Furthermore, Dr. Peter Kurz, Mayor of ICLEI Member Mannheim (Germany), addressed the need for multi-level action, saying: “Our call is towards the EU and also the national governments. To involve at the local level more in designing programmes, and to be in a permanent discussion, to adjust these kinds of programmes.”

Local plans must be paired with adequate funding. At a session organised by the UrbanLEDS project, David Jackson, Director of Local Development Finance at the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) explained, “In Europe, every city beyond 100,000 inhabitants will need at least 1 billion EUR to meet the Paris Agreement targets. We need transformative actions now to feed this financial gap."

The climate crisis is upon us and time to act is limited. This urgency demands collaboration across generations, government levels, and sectors. Xuan Zihan, delegate representing the UN Framework Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Youth Constituency, for example called for inter-generational collaboration, telling ICLEI: “Youth should be thought of not only as victims of climate change, but also as agents of change”.

Of course, collaboration of all kinds is at the heart of ICLEI’s work. Gillian Dick, nature-based solutions expert for Glasgow City Council, explained its importance, saying: “It is important to learn from others, recognise that your problems are the same that many cities are facing around the globe. This really supports us in bringing up solutions.”

So what’s next? More in-depth reflections from ICLEI Europe Director Wolfgang Teubner will be shared shortly. And one thing which we can be sure of is that greater collaboration with local leaders will be crucial to facing the climate crisis.

For more insights from ICLEI Europe sessions at COP26, check out a collection of insights from ICLEI’s speakers, which are being published on Twitter here.