ICLEI

{{Infobox organization

| name = ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

| logo = ICLEI-mainlogo-RGB.jpg

| logo_caption =

| type = International organization

| formation = 1990, New York City, U.S.

| location = Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 7, 53113 Bonn, Germany

| purpose = Sustainable Development at the local level

| region_served = International

| num_employees = approximately 400 (worldwide)

| homepage = {{url|www.iclei.org}}

| leader_title = Secretary General

| sec_gen = Gino Van Begin

| leader_title2 = President

| leader_name2 = Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh{{cite web |title=Our leadership |url=https://iclei.org/our-leadership/ |website=ICLEI |access-date=28 May 2025}}

| former_name = International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives

}}

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI, originally International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) is an international non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable development.{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100040165 |url-access= |title=Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=Union of International Associations |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= |trans-quote= }} ICLEI provides technical consulting to local governments to identify and meet sustainability objectives.{{cite book |last1=Bell |first1=David V. J. |last2=Cheung |first2=Yuk-kuen Annie |title=Introduction to Sustainable Development - Volume I |date=16 June 2009 |publisher=EOLSS Publications |isbn=978-1-84826-222-5 |pages=40–42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n2O0CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Macedo |first1=L.V. |last2=Bellezoni |first2=R.A. |last3=de Oliveira |first3=J.A.P |last4=Salehi |first4=P. |last5=Currie |first5=P. |last6=Jones |first6=A. |title=Innovating in Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure to Improve the Food Water Energy Nexus: An Implementation Guide for Cities and Subnational Governments |date=2022 |publisher=IFWEN Consortium |isbn=978-6500422900 |url=https://iclei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IFWEN-Implementation-Guide_2022_FINAL.pdf}}{{cite book |last1=ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability |title=ICLEI in the Urban Era: Our Vision for a Sustainable Urban World |date=2021 |publisher=ICLEI |location=Bonn, Germany |url=https://e-lib.iclei.org/publications/ICLEI_in_the_Urban_Era_2021.pdf}}

It has a strong focus on biodiversity and has worked across local, national, and global levels.

ICLEI was the first and is the largest transnational network of local governments engaging in climate action.{{cite book |last1=Heijden |first1=Jeroen van der |last2=Bulkeley |first2=Harriet |last3=Certomà |first3=Chiara |title=Urban Climate Politics: Agency and Empowerment |date=9 May 2019 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-49297-3 |pages=60–79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbWQDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 |language=en}}

ICLEI is considered a bridging organization, playing important roles in knowledge sharing{{cite journal |last1=Frantzeskaki |first1=Niki |last2=Buchel |first2=Sophie |last3=Spork |first3=Charlie |last4=Ludwig |first4=Kathrin |last5=Kok |first5=Marcel T.J. |title=The Multiple Roles of ICLEI: Intermediating to Innovate Urban Biodiversity Governance |journal=Ecological Economics |date=October 2019 |volume=164 |pages=106350 |doi=10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.06.005|s2cid=197788377 |url=https://pure.eur.nl/en/publications/e8cb38d4-e3a5-49c8-a868-26280cd7ba7e }} and in intermediation processes between local initiatives and regulatory actors.{{cite journal |last1=Bothello |first1=Joel |last2=Mehrpouya |first2=Afshin |title=Between regulatory field structuring and organizational roles: Intermediation in the field of sustainable urban development |journal=Regulation & Governance |date=June 2019 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=177–196 |doi=10.1111/rego.12215 |language=en |issn=1748-5983|doi-access=free }} It has recognized the significance of cities for urban sustainability and helped to support their activities for over three decades.{{cite journal |last1=Bulkeley |first1=Harriet |title=Cities and the Governing of Climate Change |journal=Annual Review of Environment and Resources |date=21 November 2010 |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=229–253 |doi=10.1146/annurev-environ-072809-101747 |language=en |issn=1543-5938|doi-access=free }}

The international association was established when more than 200 local governments from 43 countries convened at its inaugural conference, the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future, at the United Nations in New York in September 1990.

As of 2020, more than 1,750 cities, towns, counties, and their associations in 126 countries are a part of the ICLEI network.{{cite web|url=https://iclei.org/en/About_ICLEI_2.html|title=ICLEI - About|website=www.iclei.org|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706100242/http://www.iclei.org/en/About_ICLEI_2.html|access-date=2020-02-14}}

As of 2023, over 2,500 cities towns and regions were listed as members.

Membership

According to the organization's website, the ICLEI members "steer the direction of our work, shape our strategy and support the mission, mandate and principles set in our statutes. They are eligible to vote and take part in our network-wide governing bodies."{{cite web|title=ICLEI|url=https://iclei.org/members/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=www.iclei.org}}

The only requirements for ICLEI membership are a self-defined commitment to climate protection and the payment of annual membership dues. Dues are determined through a fair share model, based on the type of organization and its population size and income level.{{cite web |title=What it means to be an ICLEI Member |url=https://iclei.org/about_iclei_2/join/ |website=ICLEI}}

Cities and municipalities are recognized as key stakeholders with a significant role to play in implementing climate change policies and reducing emissions, through energy, transportation, land use, construction, waste management and education.{{cite book |last1=Zeppel |first1=Heather |title=Climate Change and Global Policy Regimes: Towards Institutional Legitimacy |date=2013 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |isbn=978-1-137-00612-7 |pages=217–231 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137006127_15 |language=en |chapter=The ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Programme: Local Government Networks in Urban Climate Governance|doi=10.1057/9781137006127_15 }}{{cite book |author1=ICLEI |author2=UNEP |author3=UN-Habitat |title=Sustainable Urban Energy Planning A handbook for cities and towns in developing countries |date=2009 |publisher=ICLEI |url=https://www.mypsup.org/library_files/downloads/Sustainable%20Urban%20Energy%20Planning.pdf}} Participation in city networks like ICLEI, with their potential for sharing of best practices, peer exchange, and joint projects, rose significantly in the 2000s.{{cite book |last1=Grandi |first1=Lorenzo Kihlgren |title=City Diplomacy |date=23 November 2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-60717-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7QcLEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |pages=13, 113– |language=en}}

{{As of| 2020}}, ICLEI counted more than 1,750 local governments within its network.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Kale |title=Three Decades of Sustainability: ICLEI at 30 Enters Next 'Decade of Local Action' {{!}} ICLEI USA |url=https://icleiusa.org/iclei-at-30/ |work=icleiusa.org |date=4 September 2020}}

As of 2023, over 2,500 cities towns and regions were listed as members.

History and structure

ICLEI was founded in September 1990 as the "International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives" when over 200 local governments from 43 countries met at the inaugural World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future at the United Nations in New York.{{cite book |last1=Hoornweg |first1=Daniel |last2=Freire |first2=Mila |last3=Lee |first3=Marcus J. |last4=Bhada-Tata |first4=Perinaz |last5=Yuen |first5=Belinda |title=Cities and Climate Change: Responding to an Urgent Agenda |date=2 June 2011 |publisher=World Bank Publications |isbn=978-0-8213-8667-5 |pages=163–164 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I9yyBhqPXuQC&pg=PA163 |language=en}}

ICLEI's World Secretariat headquarters were initially located in Toronto, Canada.{{cite book |last1=Brunner |first1=Ronald |last2=Lynch |first2=Amanda |title=Adaptive Governance and Climate Change |date=6 January 2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-935704-01-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MVtHAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA97 |language=en}}

ICLEI went on to create an international training center in Freiburg, Germany{{cite book |last1=Mather |first1=Alexander |last2=Bryden |first2=John |title=Area Studies (Regional Sustainable Development Review): Europe |date=17 November 2009 |publisher=EOLSS Publications |isbn=978-1-84826-068-9 |pages=144–145 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d_CyCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144 |language=en}} and has added further secretariats such as the Latin America and the Caribbean Secretariat in Brazil in 2001. ICLEI now has more than 20 offices around the world.{{cite book |last1=Powell |first1=Martin |title=The Climate City |date=16 May 2022 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-74627-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IO56EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA96 |language=en}} The ICLEI World Secretariat is located in Bonn, Germany.{{cite web |title=Get in touch |url=https://iclei.org/contact_us/ |website=ICLEI}}

The United States branch, ICLEI USA, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization of the international organization of the same name. The U.S. office opened formally in 1995.{{cite web |title=ICLEI CORPORATE REPORT 2018 – 2019 |url=https://urban-leds.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/resources/guidance_and_tools/ICLEI_intro/ICLEI_Corporate_Report_2018-2019.pdf |website=Urban-LEDS |page=38 |access-date=25 July 2023}}

ICLEI USA's Executive Office is based in Denver, Colorado.{{cite web |title=Contact ICLEI USA |url=https://icleiusa.org/about/contact-us/ |website=ICLEI USA |date=9 February 2021}}

U.S. local government members include cities, towns, and counties of all sizes, from New York City and Los Angeles County to Dubuque, Iowa, Austin, Texas, Oberlin, Ohio and Burlington, Vermont.{{cite web |title=Cities discloser - CDP |url=https://www.cdp.net/en/cities-discloser |website=CDP Worldwide |access-date=25 July 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=The Future of Climate Action: Innovative Ideas from ICLEI Members {{!}} ICLEI USA |url=https://icleiusa.org/the-future-of-climate-action-innovative-ideas-from-iclei-members/ |work=icleiusa.org |date=4 May 2023}}{{cite news |title=Burlington: 100% renewable electricity city - CDP |url=https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/cities/burlington-100-renewable-electricity-city |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=CDP Worldwide |language=en}}{{cite web |title=History of Climate Action Planning in Burlington {{!}} City of Burlington, Vermont |url=https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Sustainability/History-of-Climate-Action-Planning-in-Burlington |website=www.burlingtonvt.gov |access-date=25 July 2023}}

In 2003, ICLEI's local government members voted to revise the organization's mission, charter and name to better reflect the current challenges local governments face, and the broader topic of sustainability. The "International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)" was renamed "ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability", with a broader mandate to address sustainability issues, not only environmental issues.{{cite book |last1=Dauvergne |first1=Peter |title=Historical Dictionary of Environmentalism |date=9 September 2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-6961-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oovpDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109 |language=en}}{{cite journal |last1=Bothello |first1=Joel |last2=Mehrpouya |first2=Afshin |title=Between regulatory field structuring and organizational roles: Intermediation in the field of sustainable urban development |journal=Regulation & Governance |date=June 2019 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=177–196 |doi=10.1111/rego.12215 |language=en |issn=1748-5983|doi-access=free }}

For its 30th anniversary, ICLEI adopted a new logo (released officially in February 2021) which emphasizes the organization's connections in terms of its members, offices and elements (represented by the logo's colors: water, air and climate (blue), nature (green) and cities (yellow)).{{cite news |last1=Kariem |first1=Hiba |title=A New Year Ahead |url=https://icleicanada.org/february-2021-newsletter-a-new-year-ahead/ |work=ICLEI Canada Newsletter |date=February 2021}}{{cite web |title=Brand |url=https://iclei.org/brand/ |website=ICLEI}}

Programs

ICLEI promotes programs for local-level adoption and implementation, providing tested, practical advice{{cite book |last1=Bartlett |first1=Sheridan |last2=Hart |first2=Roger |last3=Satterthwaite |first3=David |last4=Barra |first4=Ximena de la |last5=Missair |first5=Alfredo |title=Cities for Children: Children's Rights, Poverty and Urban Management |date=29 April 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-94145-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KWsWDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA284 |language=en}} for connecting international agreements and targets with initiatives and actions at local levels. The network develops and shares operational manuals, guidelines, best practices, and methods for monitoring and assessing progress.{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Adriana |last2=You |first2=Nicholas |title=Sustainable Urbanisation: Bridging the Green and Brown Agendas |date=2002 |publisher=UN-HABITAT |isbn=978-1-874502-40-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yC2nAGtHuLQC&pg=PA244 |pages=41, 242–244 |language=en}}

ICLEI is unique in having held observer status as a local government network for all three of the Rio Conventions. This contributed to the formation of

the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,

the UN Convention on Biological Diversity,

and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.{{cite book |last1=Heyvaert |first1=Veerle |last2=Duvic-Paoli |first2=Leslie-Anne |title=Research Handbook on Transnational Environmental Law |date=27 November 2020 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-78811-963-4 |page=222 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fzsIEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA222 |language=en}}

ICLEI supports Agenda 21, from which it developed the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) framework for use by local governments. ICLEI's Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide (1996) discusses formation of "partnerships, community-based issue analysis, action planning, implementation and monitoring, and evaluation and feedback."{{cite journal |last1=Diaz-Sarachaga |first1=Jose Manuel |title=Analysis of the Local Agenda 21 in Madrid Compared with Other Global Actions in Sustainable Development |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |date=30 September 2019 |volume=16 |issue=19 |pages=3685 |doi=10.3390/ijerph16193685 |pmid=31575013 |pmc=6801493 |doi-access=free }}

The LA21 framework is "grounded in a broad inclusive process of consultation" which can help local stakeholders to identify common goals, reconcile differences and create working partnerships. Sharing of information throughout the network enables members to learn from both successes and failures of other local initiatives.{{cite journal|last=Smardon|first=Richard|title=A comparison of Local Agenda 21 implementation in North American, European and Indian cities|journal=Management of Environmental Quality|year=2008|volume=19|issue=1|pages=118–137|doi=10.1108/14777830810840408|access-date=9 October 2013|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/86583203/A-Comparison-of-Local-Agenda-21-Implementation-in-North-American-European-and-Indian-Cities|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611110931/https://www.scribd.com/doc/86583203/A-Comparison-of-Local-Agenda-21-Implementation-in-North-American-European-and-Indian-Cities|archive-date=11 June 2015|url-access=subscription}}{{cite book |last1=Forte |first1=Bruno |last2=Cerreta |first2=Maria |last3=Toro |first3=Pasquale De |title=The Human Sustainable City: Challenges and Perspectives from the Habitat Agenda |date=4 June 2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-77338-6 |page=213 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yD73DwAAQBAJ&dq=iclei+%22Habitat+Agenda%22&pg=PA213 |language=en}}

ICLEI has also supported the Habitat Agendas (I, II and III){{cite journal |last1=Espey |first1=Jessica |last2=Parnell |first2=Susan |last3=Revi |first3=Aromar |title=The transformative potential of a Global Urban Agenda and its lessons in a time of crisis |journal=npj Urban Sustainability |date=11 March 2023 |volume=3 |issue=1 |page=15 |doi=10.1038/s42949-023-00087-z |pmid=36936645 |pmc=10006553 |language=en |issn=2661-8001}}

the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,{{cite book |title=European Common Indicators Towards a Local Sustainability Profile |date=2003 |publisher=Ambiente Italia Research Institute |location=Milano, Italy |pages=159–160 |url=https://www.gdrc.org/uem/footprints/eci_final_report.pdf}}{{cite web |title=ICLEI Europe •• Projects |url=https://iclei-europe.org/projects/?c=search&uid=LXOGvdlc |website=iclei-europe.org}} and

the Millennium Development Goals, which were succeeded in 2015 by the Sustainable Development Goals.{{cite book |title=Getting Started with the SDGs in Cities |chapter=Chapter 1: Cities and a territorial approach to the SDGs |date=July 13, 2016 |publisher=SDG Cities Guide |url=https://sdgcities.guide/chapter-1-cities-and-a-territorial-approach-to-the-sdgs-22c2660644e3 |language=en}}

ICLEI provides oversight for the Compact of Mayors, a global coalition of city leaders founded to address climate change at the local level,{{cite book |last1=Mayer |first1=Benoit |title=The International Law on Climate Change |date=28 June 2018 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-32958-3 |page=257 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=461eDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA257 |language=en}}{{cite web|title = New alliance on city finance unveiled at UN Summit on climate change {{!}} Cities Today - Connecting the world's urban leaders|url = http://cities-today.com/new-alliance-on-city-finance-unveiled-at-un-summit-on-climate-change/|website = cities-today.com| date=22 September 2014 |access-date = 2016-01-04}} as well as acting as the focal point for the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, which has represented networks of local and regional governments at the UNFCCC process since 1995.{{cite news |last1=Appleby |first1=Kyra |title=Why should cities, states and regions disclose through CDP? Here are five top reasons - CDP |url=https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/citiesannouncements/why-should-cities-states-and-regions-disclose-through-cdp-here-are-five-top-reasons |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=CDP Worldwide |date=June 4, 2018 |language=en}}{{cite web|title=About the LGMA – Cities & Regions Pavilion – LGMA|url=https://www.cities-and-regions.org/about-the-lgma/|access-date=2021-03-02|language=en-US}}

=Resilient cities=

ICLEI is recognized for realizing the significance of cities for urban sustainability and for supporting their initiatives through ongoing efforts for over 30 years.{{cite journal |last1=Kok |first1=Marcel T. J. |last2=Ludwig |first2=Kathrin |title=Understanding international non-state and subnational actors for biodiversity and their possible contributions to the post-2020 CBD global biodiversity framework: insights from six international cooperative initiatives |journal=International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics |date=March 2022 |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=1–25 |doi=10.1007/s10784-021-09547-2|s2cid=237218839 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Otto-Zimmermann |first1=Konrad |title=From Rio to Rio + 20: the changing role of local governments in the context of current global governance |journal=Local Environment |date=May 2012 |volume=17 |issue=5 |pages=511–516 |doi=10.1080/13549839.2012.686564|s2cid=153751273 }}

ICLEI launched the campaign "Cities for Climate Protection" in 1993, following an earlier project on urban CO₂ reduction.{{cite journal |last1=Betsill |first1=Michele M. |title=Mitigating Climate Change in US Cities: Opportunities and obstacles |journal=Local Environment |date=November 2001 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=393–406 |doi=10.1080/13549830120091699 |s2cid=154116644 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/13549830120091699 |language=en |issn=1354-9839|url-access=subscription }}{{cite journal |last1=Lindseth |first1=Gard |title=The Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (CCPC) and the framing of Local Climate Policy |journal=Local Environment |date=August 2004 |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=325–336 |doi=10.1080/1354983042000246252 |s2cid=56048368 |url=https://wiki.santafe.edu/images/a/a2/Lindseth2004-TheCitiesforClimateProtectionCampaignCCPC.pdf}}

The campaign identified five milestone steps for cities attempting to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions:{{cite book |last1=O'Lear |first1=Shannon |title=Environmental Politics: Scale and Power |date=19 August 2010 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-49114-3 |pages=42–45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vgw33lMezV4C&pg=PA42 |language=en}}

Conduct a baseline emissions inventory and a forecast for one year, for use as a benchmark
Identify an emissions reduction target for the forecast year
Engage with stakeholders to develop an action plan
Implement policies and actions from the action plan
Monitor and verify results

In 2002, ICLEI coined the term "resilient cities" and launched the Resilient Cities initiative.{{cite journal |last1=Wu |first1=Chengwei |last2=Cenci |first2=Jeremy |last3=Wang |first3=Wei |last4=Zhang |first4=Jiazhen |title=Resilient City: Characterization, Challenges and Outlooks |journal=Buildings |date=May 2022 |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=516 |doi=10.3390/buildings12050516 |language=en |issn=2075-5309 |doi-access=free }} They identified resilience as the city's ability to respond "creatively, preventively and proactively to change or extreme events, thus mitigating crisis or disaster".{{cite book |last1=Otto-Zimmermann |first1=Konrad |title=Resilient Cities 2: Cities and Adaptation to Climate Change – Proceedings of the Global Forum 2011 |date=4 May 2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-007-4223-9 |pages=101–103 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JOTkV17GayUC&pg=PA101 |language=en}} Consideration of resilience can include not only climate change mitigation and adaptation and disaster risk reduction but also issues like food security and housing.{{cite web |author= European Commission-Joint Research Centre |title=The Future of Cities |url=https://urban.jrc.ec.europa.eu/thefutureofcities/the-resilien-city#the-chapter |website=European Commission}} In 2010, ICLEI and the city of Bonn, Germany hosted the first Resilient Cities conference.{{cite book |last1=Wamsler |first1=Christine |title=Cities, Disaster Risk and Adaptation |date=23 January 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-61495-0 |page=187 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ne-nAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA187 |language=en}}

ICLEI is a proponent of the Cities Race to Zero campaign, encouraging cities to actively engage in planning to become Zero-carbon cities.{{cite web |last1=Owen-Burge |first1=Charlotte |title=From innovation to implementation: Cities driving the Race to Zero |url=https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/from-innovation-to-implementation-cities-driving-the-race-to-zero/ |website=Climate Champions |access-date=26 July 2023 |language=en |date=1 June 2023}} They are actively involved in gathering and analyzing data to assess changing conditions and the impact of initiatives.{{cite journal |last1=Ramaswami |first1=Anu |last2=Chavez |first2=Abel |title=What metrics best reflect the energy and carbon intensity of cities? Insights from theory and modeling of 20 US cities |journal=Environmental Research Letters |date=1 September 2013 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=035011 |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035011 |bibcode=2013ERL.....8c5011R |s2cid=56310710 |issn=1748-9326|doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Yetano Roche |first1=María |last2=Lechtenböhmer |first2=Stefan |last3=Fischedick |first3=Manfred |last4=Gröne |first4=Marie-Christine |last5=Xia |first5=Chun |last6=Dienst |first6=Carmen |title=Concepts and Methodologies for Measuring the Sustainability of Cities |journal=Annual Review of Environment and Resources |date=17 October 2014 |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=519–547 |doi=10.1146/annurev-environ-012913-101223 |language=en |issn=1543-5938|doi-access=free }}

=Ecomobility=

Ecomobility means travelling through integrated, socially inclusive, and environmentally friendly transport options, including and integrating walking, cycling, public transport and other climate and people friendly innovative modes of transport. By enabling citizens and organizations to access goods, services, and information in a sustainable manner, ecomobility supports citizens' quality of life, increases travel choices, and promotes social cohesion.{{cite news |last1=Valmero |first1=Anna |title=After hosting 'ecomobility' festival, cars are back but less loved in Suwon |url=https://www.eco-business.com/news/after-hosting-ecomobility-festival-cars-are-back-but-less-loved-in-suwon/ |work=Eco-Business |date=27 October 2015 |language=en}}

ICLEI's agenda promoting ecomobility in cities is titled the EcoMobile City (sustainable transport) Agenda.{{cite web |title=EcoMobility Alliance {{!}} Movement of cities committed to ecomobility |url=https://sustainablemobility.iclei.org/ecomobility-alliance/ |website=ICLEI Sustainable Mobility}} Under this agenda, ICLEI supports activities such as the EcoMobility Alliance,

the EcoMobility World Festival

and the EcoMobility World Congress.{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Tsu-Jui |title=Sustainable Urban Development through Innovative Public Transport Solutions |url=https://www.uncrd.or.jp/content/documents/7033Presentation%202_ICLEI%20EcoMobility_EST_Tsu-Jui%20Cheng%2003102018(1).pdf |website=United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)}}{{cite web |title=EcoMobility Alliance |url=https://climateinitiativesplatform.org/index.php/EcoMobility_Alliance |website=Climate Initiatives Platform}}

The EcoMobility Alliance was formed in October 2011 in Changwon, Korea at the World Congress on Mobility for the Future of Sustainable Cities. The first chair of the alliance was Wan-su Park, then Mayor of Changwon.{{cite web |last1=Shanahan |first1=Brian |title=Council Report: Agenda Item 6.3 Post Travel Report by CR Brian Shanahan: South Korea, October, 2011|date=20 December 2011 |url=https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/MeetingAgendaItemAttachments/557/9498/CCL%206.3.pdf |website=City of Melbourne, Australia}}

The EcoMobility Alliance was a transformation of the earlier Global Alliance for EcoMobility, which was a non-governmental organization founded and launched in Bali on 10 December 2007, on the occasion of the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC-COP-13).{{cite press release |last1=Muqbil |first1=Imtiaz |date= 11 Dec 2007 |title=Watch This New Trend: EcoMobility |url=https://www.travel-impact-newswire.com/2007/12/watch-this-new-trend-ecomobility/ |website=Travel Impact Newswire}}

The first EcoMobility World Festival occurred in Suwon, South Korea in 2013 where a neighborhood in the city was transformed and became largely car-free for a month. At mid-festival, the area of Haenggung-dong was reported to be 95% car-free, and local businesses reported that the number of customers had increased, reflecting additional foot traffic and the presence of visitors.{{cite web |title=Putting ecomobility to test in Suwon |url=https://slocat.net/1050-2/ |website=SLOCAT |date=23 September 2013}}

It was followed by events in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015{{cite news |title=Success of EcoMobility effective when urban design and planning for a pedestrian friendly environment is a forethought - eProperty News |url=https://eprop.co.za/commercial-property-news/item/19220-success-of-ecomobility-effective-when-urban-design-and-planning-for-a-pedestrian-friendly-environment-is-a-forethought |work=eprop.co.za |date=23 September 2015 |language=en-gb}} and Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2017.{{cite web |title=EcoMobility World Festivals |url=https://www.theurbanidea.com/en/ecomobility-world-festivals |website=The Urban Idea |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Appleyard |first1=Bruce |title=Livable Streets 2.0 |date=13 November 2020 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-12-816028-2 |page=503 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_AFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA503 |language=en}}

Governance

ICLEI is a democratic organization whose governing bodies are the ICLEI Council and the Global Executive Committee (GexCom), two groups of local leaders elected by ICLEI Members every three years.{{cite book |last1=Popovski |first1=Vesselin |title=The Implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change |date=Oct 3, 2018 |publisher=Routledge |page=xxx |isbn=9781351815789 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gVBtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT259}}{{cite journal |last1=Fraundorfer |first1=Markus |title=The Role of Cities in Shaping Transnational Law in Climate Governance |journal=Global Policy |date=February 2017 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=23–31 |doi=10.1111/1758-5899.12365 |url=https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/138940/1/Accepted%20Version_The%20role%20of%20cities%20in%20shaping%20transnational%20law%20in%20climate%20governance__.pdf}} The ICLEI Council is formed by elected members from the Regional Executive Committees (RexCom) for the ICLEI regions. As of 2023, these are Africa; East Asia; Europe; Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; North America (Canada and the USA); Oceania; South America; South Asia; and Southeast Asia.{{cite web |title=Elections – Members |url=https://members.iclei.org/index.php/elections/ |website=members.iclei.org}}{{cite web |title=About {{!}} ICLEI Canada |url=https://icleicanada.org/about-iclei/ |website=ICLEI Canada}}

One representative from each RexCom is then elected as a regional representative to the ICLEI Global Executive Committee (GexCom), along with portfolio holders who are elected to the GexCom by the members of the ICLEI Council based on their thematic expertise. The ICLEI GexCom and Council have the power to represent ICLEI on the global stage and steer the organization by setting ICLEI global strategy and policies.{{Cite web|title=Elections – Members|url=https://members.iclei.org/index.php/elections/|access-date=2021-03-02|website=members.iclei.org}}

The Council convenes every three years at an ICLEI World Congress and establishes ICLEI's priorities and direction through the adoption of a six-year Strategic Plan. The most recent ICLEI World Congress was held in Montreal from 19 to 22 June 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICLEI World Congress will be held in two parts: the first one held virtually from 13 to 15 April 2021, while the second one will take place in Malmö, Sweden, in 2022. Members elect 21 representatives to serve on the Executive Committee, which oversees the implementation of the Strategic Plan and ICLEI operations.

File:Frank Cownie (51262694540) (1).jpg, President of ICLEI, 2021-]]

Image:Seoul_Kimchi_Making_Sharing_Festival_03.jpg, President of ICLEI 2015–2018{{cite news |title=Mayor Park Won Soon Elected President of ICLEI - |url=http://english.seoul.go.kr/mayor-park-won-soon-elected-president-iclei/ |work=Official Website of the |date=29 April 2015}}{{cite news |title=In Memoriam: Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul (1956 – 2020) |url=https://talkofthecities.iclei.org/in-memoriam-park-won-soon-mayor-of-seoul-1956-2020/ |work=CityTalk |date=17 July 2020}}]]

Every three years, ICLEI elects a Presidium, consisting of a President, First Vice-President, and two further Vice-Presidents. As of 2018,

Ashok Sridharan, the Mayor of Bonn, Germany, was elected as ICLEI President.{{cite news |title=ICLEI elects new global leadership |url=https://iclei.org/news/iclei-elects-new-global-leadership/ |work=ICLEI |date=1 June 2018}} In 2021, Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, was elected President.{{cite news |title=ICLEI elects new global leadership and launches year-long event program with host city Malmö, Sweden – ICLEI World Congress 2021-2022 |url=https://worldcongress.iclei.org/update/iclei-new-global-leadership/ |work=ICLEI World Congress |date=13 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://eastasia.iclei.org/leadership/ |website=ICLEI East Asia |access-date=31 July 2023 |date=18 May 2020}}

The founding Secretary General of ICLEI, Jeb Brugmann, served from 1990-2000.{{cite book |title=GIZ and ICLEI, 2014, Operationalizing the Urban NEXUS: towards resource efficient and integrated cities and metropolitan regions |date=2014 |publisher=GIZ |location=Eschborn |page=100 |url=https://www.thegpsc.org/sites/gpsc/files/urbannexus_publication_iclei-giz_2014_kl_0.pdf}} He was succeeded by Sean Southey (2001), Konrad Otto-Zimmermann (2002 - 2012), and Gino Van Begin (2013-).{{cite web |title=The ICLEI Story |url=https://www.iclei-story.org/iclei-leaders |website=www.iclei-story.org |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Forster |first1=Richard |title=ICLEI announces new Secretary General |url=https://cities-today.com/iclei-announces-new-secretary-general/ |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=Cities Today |date=16 January 2013}}{{cite book |last1=Rydin |first1=Yvonne |title=Governing for Sustainable Urban Development |date=2012 |publisher=Earthscan |isbn=978-1-84977-508-3 |page=33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ihOI9D6qRRoC&pg=PA33 |language=en}}

Conspiracy theories

ICLEI has been a target of conspiracy theories related to its support for Agenda 21, a nonbinding United Nations initiative that seeks to promote responsible resource and land conservation.{{cite book |last1=Gulyas |first1=Aaron John |title=Conspiracy Theories: The Roots, Themes and Propagation of Paranoid Political and Cultural Narratives |date=8 February 2016 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9726-3 |page=144 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=afcEDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA144 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=Andrew |last2=Reus-Smit |first2=Christian |title=Culture and Order in World Politics |date=9 January 2020 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-48497-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kIHCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA170}}

Agenda 21 is used worldwide and considered favorably for city planning. The framework encourages local communities to develop concrete strategies to meet their needs, through public involvement, open decision-making, partnerships and networking.{{cite journal |last1=Diaz-Sarachaga |first1=JM |title=Analysis of the Local Agenda 21 in Madrid Compared with Other Global Actions in Sustainable Development. |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |date=30 September 2019 |volume=16 |issue=19 |page=3685 |doi=10.3390/ijerph16193685 |pmid=31575013 |pmc=6801493 |doi-access=free }}

The Tea Party movement, the John Birch Society, and others have promoted a variant of the New World Order conspiracy theory, in which they claim that ICLEI and Agenda 21 are part of a secret UN conspiracy, "something sinister and dark", that seeks to undermine private property rights and individual liberties. They have opposed sustainability planning efforts at local city and regional government levels, claiming that local planning prevents "genuine citizen input". They have introduced legislation to cancel membership in ICLEI{{cite journal |last1=Yi |first1=Hongtao |last2=Krause |first2=Rachel M. |last3=Feiock |first3=Richard C. |title=Back-pedaling or continuing quietly? Assessing the impact of ICLEI membership termination on cities' sustainability actions |journal=Environmental Politics |date=2 January 2017 |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=138–160 |doi=10.1080/09644016.2016.1244968 |s2cid=157670997 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2016.1244968 |language=en |issn=0964-4016|url-access=subscription }} and to block smart city planning in many US states.{{cite journal |last1=Frick |first1=Karen Trapenberg |last2=Weinzimmer |first2=David |last3=Waddell |first3=Paul |title=The politics of sustainable development opposition: State legislative efforts to stop the United Nation's Agenda 21 in the United States |journal=Urban Studies |date=2015 |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=209–232 |doi=10.1177/0042098014528397 |jstor=24855630 |s2cid=153565957 |issn=0042-0980|doi-access=free }}

They have opposed measures such as the expansion of public transportation, creation of bike lanes and bike share programs, and the preservation of open green space in cities.{{cite news |first=Leslie |last=Kaufman |author2=Kate Zernike |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/us/activists-fight-green-projects-seeing-un-plot.html |title=Activists Fight Green Projects, Seeing U.N. Plot |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 4, 2012}}{{cite news |last1=Voorhees |first1=Josh |title=Conspiracy, In Theory |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/05/agenda-21-how-right-wing-conservatives-have-used-an-nwo-conspiracy-theory-to-block-smart-growth-and-mass-transit-plans.html |work=Slate |date=5 May 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Andrew |title=Is the UN Using Bike Paths to Achieve World Domination? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/02/is-the-un-using-bike-paths-to-achieve-world-domination/252572/ |work=The Atlantic |date=7 February 2012 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Harman |first1=Greg |title=Agenda 21: a conspiracy theory puts sustainability in the crosshairs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jun/24/agenda-21-conspiracy-theory-sustainability |work=The Guardian |date=24 June 2015}} While the peak period of activity around the Agenda 21 conspiracy theory was in 2012-2013, the COVID-19 pandemic was quickly incorporated into false narratives about Agenda 21, helping the conspiracy theory to regain visibility.{{cite news |title=COVID-19 conspiracy theories that spread fastest focused on evil, secrecy |url=https://phys.org/news/2023-01-covid-conspiracy-theories-fastest-focused.html |work=Washington State University |date=January 25, 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Schroeder |first1=Jackson |title=Research analyzes spread of COVID-19's most common early conspiracies |url=https://grady.uga.edu/research-analyzes-spread-of-covid-19s-most-common-early-conspiracies/ |work=Grady College |date=18 January 2023}}

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.iclei.org}}

Category:International organisations based in Bonn

Category:International sustainability organizations

Category:Municipal international relations

Category:Organizations established in 1990

Category:1990 establishments in New York (state)