Our Activities
Cities are complex systems. The components of urban systems, from food distribution networks and energy grids to transport and greenways, are interconnected and dynamic. Intervening to create change in any one of these components may impact others, creating systemic change. Designing solutions that take these interconnections into account is critical to sustainable development.
The five ICLEI pathways towards low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development are designed to create systemic change. When these pathways guide local and regional development, urban systems becomes more sustainable. The pathways provide provide a framework for designing integrated solutions that balance the patterns of human life and the built and natural environments. They encourage holistic thinking. For instance, working together, the local and regional governments and global experts of ICLEI consider how nature-based development contributes to resilience, or how to bring equity into low emission development.
We design our work to integrate as many pathways as possible. Each individual pathway is multidimensional, incorporating numerous strategies for sustainable development. When more pathways are integrated into any given activity, such as a project, partnership or initiative, a greater degree of change can occur. Often, our activities are guided by a predominant pathway or set of pathways. In any given city or region, multiple activities may be implemented along each pathway.
This searchable digital collection of our activities worldwide includes technical resources, including digital platforms, methodologies and tools, as well as networks, projects, programs, partnerships, events and initiatives that guide action along the pathways, spark new partnerships and create city-to-city and city-to-region connections.
Each entry in this digital collection is marked with predominant pathways, keywords and related Sustainable Development Goals.
ICLEI USA provided technical advisory services at the request of the Climate Smart citizen task force of Philipstown New York. ICLEI contributed to the development of a baseline estimate for "net" GHG emissions after removals. The object of the analysis was to inform the development of a Climate Action Plan to outline the policies and […]
Carbon Neutrality: Sink, Store, Reduce, Offset
ICLEI USA partnered with Azavea, a beneficial corporation and software developer in Philadelphia and Dr. Missy Stultz, a former ICLEI USA staff member to create TEMPERATE to help local governments with limited resources to develop climate change adaptation plans and align those plans with the reporting requirements of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate […]
Climate Vulnerability Assessment
ICLEI annually provided the following services: Support local sustainability efforts in 10 cities and towns in Rhineland-Palatinate; Organize 3 training workshops with varying topics for municipal staff and local civil society groups; Share relevant knowledge and best practice through a newsletter and website; Advise the Ministry of Economics on strategic matters of local sustainability transition
Nachhaltigkeit Kommunal (Local Sustainabilty)
Within the project, ICLEI Europe was rersponsible for: – a preliminary meta study on the multitude of campaigns and networks of the urban, peri-urban and rural endeavours for sustainability and climate change on the European level; – managing and co-ordinating large cross-case studies in the European regions – analysing the field research data and merging […]
ICLEI was the dissemination and communication partner in the EnerLOG consortium. Main task was the design of a knowledge transfer strategy and its implementation. The transfer strategy consisted of various workshops, one large transfer conference and numerous publications aimed at a variety of audiences. Additionally an online training module was created and uploaded on the […]
With the main topic 'Urban Sustainability' the ETC-ULS Action plan 2020 forsees the following tasks for ICLEI: Support for the finalisation and publication of a study Supporting integrated urban sustainability management: – Finalisation of the publication of Urban SDG indicatiors – Distilling good practice examples that illustrate innovative governance approaches of cities and urban areas […]
ICLEI led a consortium of partners, which developed the Berliner Nachhaltigkeitsprofil on behalf of the city. The main tasks in the project were: Coordination of the activities of the project consortium; Advise the city administration on strategic questions regarding local sustainability strategies; Analyze key strategic documents of urban development in the city in order to […]
Berlin Sustainablility Profile
ICLEI was responsible for the integration of five “reference cities” invited to take part in the Berliner Mobilitätskonferenz (Berlin Mobility Conference): Beijing, London, Los Angeles, Moscow and Paris. ICLEI identified suitable projects/initiatives from each of the five cities that could fit well into the envisaged conference programme. Further ICLEI led the communication with these cities […]
Berlin Mobility Conference
ICLEI strongly has been involved in the tasks related to integration and translation to practice of lessons learnt, particularly with regards to the local government community. ICLEI further supported project partners to identify the practical and operational policy needs of the key target end users from the macro (global), meso (EU and national), and micro […]
Through GrowSmarter ICLEI worked to develop a comprehensive understanding and guide for the replication of smart and sustainable urban solutions. ICLEI also led the communications work of GrowSmarter and has shared the good examples provided by the project. ICLEI’s work on the replication of smart solutions concluded with the report ‘ROAD TO REPLICATION – GUIDING […]
ICLEI supports the communications effort of the EIP-SCC Marketplace and will seek to ensure the inclusion of cities and others to strengthen the ‚explore-shape-deal‘ approach of the matchmaking. ICLEI supports the matchmaking events and brings in its sustainable procurement expertise. In particular ICLEI will ensure the EIP SCC Marketplace engages with other European initiatives and […]
ICLEI's aim in the project is to maximise consumers’ and specifically procurers involvement via specific campaigns, via retailers, cities and manufacturers’ service network. ICLEI is creating awareness amongst European public and business procurement personnel (PPP) through targeted and tailormade campaigns to inform public procurement actors and their organisations. The consortium wants to empower PPP to […]
UNEP and ICLEI Europe are working jointly on supporting the implementation of component 2 of the project, and in particular the activities in the electronics sector. These activities aim to help governments and value chain actors in the electronics sector track and manage chemicals of concern (CoC) in their products. This work is focussed on […]
ICLEI is compiling a guidance document for "Buying Social". It provides guidance for procurers on how to include socially responsible considerations in their tenders. The European Commission will publish the final guidance document. To develop the guidance ICLEI is also compiling a range of good practice examples to illustrate the guidance provided.
The six cities involved in the project will go through a Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) process. PCP is an innovation procurement tool to stimulate market innovation as it enables the public sector to steer the development of new solutions directly towards its needs. The six cities will define the needs and requirements of the energy and […]