Why City Diplomacy is Crucial for Achieving Climate Ambitions
In today’s increasingly urban and interconnected world, diplomacy has evolved beyond national governments. Cities, too, are stepping onto the global stage, utilizing city diplomacy to engage with political actors and shape international agendas that reflect their local priorities. As cities grapple with the immense challenges of climate change, city diplomacy has emerged as an indispensable tool for advancing their climate goals.
Shaping Global and National Agendas to Serve Local Interests
City diplomacy allows local governments to influence national and global policy frameworks, ensuring their unique needs are recognized and prioritized. By working collaboratively, cities amplify their impact on the global stage, enabling them to shape regulatory changes, secure vital financial support, and drive climate policies that directly benefit urban populations.
Global city networks—where cities collectively lobby for their interests—have gained unprecedented influence. Research shows that these networks are increasingly replacing nation-states as leading advocates for climate action. In some cases, cities are even stepping in where national governments falter. An example is the 2017 movement in the United States, where over 350 mayors opposed President Trump’s decision to exit the Paris Agreement, committing instead to continued climate progress. These collective efforts allow cities to create global momentum that fuels local action, accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future.
Cities as Drivers of International Climate Initiatives
Cities have been at the forefront of some of the most significant global climate efforts. Through the #urbanSDG campaign, cities helped secure the inclusion of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11—dedicated to sustainable cities and human settlements—in the 2030 Agenda. Similarly, initiatives like the Compact of Mayors and Climate Summit for Local Leaders mobilized cities in support of the 2015 Paris Agreement, demonstrating the critical role cities play in shaping international climate accords. As cities prepare for future summits like COP26, their collective voice through movements such as Cities Race to Zero continues to push for bold global climate action.
Peer-to-Peer Learning: A Pathway to Faster, Smarter Climate Action
One of the most valuable aspects of city diplomacy is the opportunity for peer-to-peer learning. Cities around the world face similar challenges—whether it’s reducing emissions, enhancing resilience, or managing natural resources—and can benefit enormously from sharing knowledge and solutions. Engaging in transnational networks like C40 or ICLEI provides cities with a confidential space to exchange strategies, successes, and setbacks, inspiring them to accelerate their own climate initiatives.
Moreover, diplomatic collaborations between cities often open doors to direct partnerships that drive concrete outcomes, from joint pilot projects to shared procurement of sustainable technologies. By banding together, cities create governance structures that are more suited to addressing the scale and complexity of global climate challenges, enabling more rapid and impactful climate action.
Elevating Ambition and Securing Support for Local Climate Leadership
Through city diplomacy, local leaders can gain international recognition for their climate efforts, attracting investments, talent, and new economic opportunities. Such global recognition can also bolster support for ambitious climate policies at home. Mayors who face opposition to initiatives like closing roads to car traffic or investing in renewable energy can cite successful examples from other cities, strengthening their case and winning over skeptics. This external validation helps city leaders navigate local political resistance, ensuring that progressive climate policies are not only implemented but sustained.
Cities are increasingly being honored for their climate leadership through prestigious awards like the C40 Bloomberg Philanthropies Climate Leadership Awards or CDP’s annual Cities A List. These accolades spotlight cities that are leading the way in sustainable urban development, inspiring others to follow suit and fostering a healthy competition for climate innovation.
The Time to Act Is Now
For cities committed to tackling climate change, diplomacy is not an optional strategy—it’s essential. By engaging in city networks, influencing global policy, and fostering direct collaborations, cities can unlock the resources, expertise, and recognition they need to meet their climate ambitions. As the world looks to keep global temperature rise within safe limits, cities will continue to play a pivotal role, not only as local actors but as global leaders in the fight against climate change.
In this crucial decade for climate action, cities must seize the opportunity to deepen their diplomatic engagement, secure their place at the global table, and drive the transformative change needed to create a sustainable future for all.
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