The carbonn Climate Center works to accelerate just, inclusive, and science-based climate action by and for local and regional governments. As the operational arm of ICLEI’s climate agenda, the Center advances a unified, systems-based approach to urban transformation. Its goals are to:

• Support integrated climate action that connects mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development across all five ICLEI pathways
• Ensure equitable and inclusive approaches, prioritizing climate justice and enabling vulnerable communities to lead and benefit from solutions
• Strengthen climate data systems by enabling transparent reporting, monitoring, and accountability through tools like CDP-ICLEI Track
• Advance sustainable energy transitions by supporting local energy planning, energy access, and sector-wide decarbonization
• Unlock innovative climate finance through mechanisms like TAP, helping cities develop bankable projects and access diverse funding sources
• Drive urban research and innovation by piloting scalable approaches, tools, and methodologies that inform science-based policy and action
• Elevate local leadership globally by advocating for multilevel governance and ensuring that local voices shape international climate and development agendas

Together, these goals guide the carbonn Climate Center in delivering measurable, transformative results that align with ICLEI’s global vision for sustainable, climate-resilient development.

The carbonn Climate Center advances ambitious, integrated climate action that is rooted in local realities and scaled to influence global systems. Through data-driven planning, technical expertise, access to innovative finance, and targeted advocacy, the Center supports cities and regions in transforming commitments into measurable progress. Its work has helped institutionalize local climate leadership as a central force in the global response to the climate crisis.

Key impacts include:

• Supported over 2,500 subnational and local governments in 125+ countries, representing more than 1 billion people
• Enabled over 1,000 local governments to report through CDP-ICLEI Track, strengthening transparency and accountability
• Helped 114 cities and regions achieve CDP-ICLEI Track A List status for science-based targets, robust inventories, and comprehensive climate action plans
• Developed a pipeline of 508 climate projects through the Transformative Actions Program (TAP)
• Provided tailored support to 454 TAP projects, with 39 projects securing technical or financial assistance, mobilizing an estimated €1.9 billion in investment needs
• Supported the declaration of climate emergencies by hundreds of cities, raising political ambition and urgency
• Contributed to global processes through participation in Talanoa Dialogues, Local Stocktakes, and the Town Hall COP initiative, ensuring local voices are heard in international climate negotiations
• Played a leading role in the development of the IPCC Special Report on Cities, integrating urban climate science into global policy
• Accelerated energy transitions through the 100% Renewables Cities and Regions initiative, helping local governments advance sustainable energy solutions

These achievements reflect the Center’s role as a connector, linking data with decision-making, projects with finance, and local action with global ambition.

Our work is made possible through partnerships with key organizations and generous support from funders who believe in the power of local action to address global challenges.

2012-2015: The carbonn Climate Center’s GreenClimateCities program developed: The carbonn Climate Center’s GreenClimateCities program, launched in 2015, evolved directly from ICLEI’s Urban-LEDS experience, which began in 2012 and supported cities in Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa in developing low-emission development strategies. This practical work highlighted the need for a structured, scalable approach to climate planning. In response, ICLEI created GreenClimateCities as the operational vehicle for integrated climate action. Its step-by-step Analyze, Act, Accelerate methodology now supports cities around the world in embedding emissions reduction, resilience, equity, and circularity into urban development.

2015: The Transformative Actions Program (TAP) launched: The Transformative Actions Program (TAP), launched by ICLEI in 2015, is a global initiative that helps local and regional governments access climate finance by developing bankable, investment-ready project proposals. Within the carbonn Climate Center, TAP supports cities through technical assistance and project profiling to connect climate action plans with funding and implementation partners.

2019: ICLEI and CDP join forces for a unified climate reporting platform: In 2019, CDP-ICLEI Track, a unified climate reporting platform for cities, was established with CDP. Building on CDP’s expertise in environmental disclosure and ICLEI’s deep relationships with local governments worldwide, the platform has continued to expand and evolve. CDP-ICLEI Track enables cities to report consistently on their climate actions while gaining access to tailored technical support, peer exchange, and visibility in global climate processes. Through this partnership, the carbonn Climate Center helps cities transform data into action as they respond to the growing impacts of the climate emergency.

2020 -2021: ICLEI’s Climate Neutrality Framework introduced: To strengthen this approach, ICLEI introduced the Climate Neutrality Framework in 2020, offering a clear pathway for local and regional governments to reach climate neutrality and resilience by mid-century. The framework serves as the foundation for the carbonn Climate Center’s work, ensuring that all activities are aligned with ICLEI’s five development pathways and global climate goals. Together, the GreenClimateCities program and the Climate Neutrality Framework enable the Center to translate strategic vision into local action, guiding cities and regions toward transformative, measurable climate progress.

2020: Daring Cities launched: Daring Cities was launched by ICLEI in 2020 as the next evolution of the Resilient Cities Congress, which ICLEI hosted annually in Bonn from 2010 to 2019. Building on a decade of experience convening urban resilience leaders, Daring Cities expands the focus to showcase and accelerate climate ambition, equity, and leadership from local and regional governments worldwide. The carbonn Climate Center plays a central role in curating and delivering the event’s climate content, highlighting ICLEI’s broader leadership in advancing multilevel governance.

2020: Race to Zero comes to life: Launched in June 2020, the Race to Zero campaign mobilizes non-state actors to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Cities Race to Zero, launched in 2021, brings this ambition to the urban level. The carbonn Climate Center supports cities in joining the campaign by guiding them through target-setting, planning, and reporting via CDP-ICLEI Track. It provides technical support, builds local capacity, and ensures city commitments are visible in global climate processes, helping translate ambition into accountable, inclusive action.

2022 – Present: Leadership in the multilateral climate agenda: The carbonn Climate Center supports ICLEI’s leadership in global multilevel governance through two major initiatives: the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) initiative and the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP). SURGe, co-led by ICLEI, UN-Habitat, and the COP28 Presidency, brings cities and regions into the heart of climate negotiations by highlighting urban solutions across five key action tracks. It demonstrates how local implementation is essential to achieving national and global climate goals.CHAMP, launched at COP28, calls on national governments to formally commit to working in partnership with subnational actors on climate planning and implementation. ICLEI has played a key role in advancing CHAMP by leading engagement with national and local stakeholders in countries such as Bangladesh and Canada and by helping to secure additional national signatories. Through these efforts, the carbonn Climate Center strengthens the recognition of cities and regions as essential partners in global climate action.