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As the world looks toward COP30 in Belém this November, Brazil and Bloomberg Philanthropies have jointly announced a major gathering aimed at elevating local climate action on the global stage.

From November 3 to 5, Rio de Janeiro will host the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, convening hundreds of mayors, governors, and regional leaders from around the world.

Co-hosted by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Forum aims to demonstrate how cities, states, and regions are not just participants in climate dialogue but central actors in achieving global climate goals.

Unveiled during London Climate Action Week, the Forum marks a strategic pivot in COP30, shifting the focus from negotiation to delivery. The announcement followed a meeting between UN Climate Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg, COP30 CEO Ana Toni, and subnational leaders from major international coalitions.

With the Global Stocktake setting the pace for urgent implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Forum seeks to bridge the gap between national commitments and on-the-ground realities by spotlighting ambitious local policies.

These include tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, doubling energy efficiency, phasing out fossil fuels, and mobilizing $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support climate-vulnerable developing countries.

The gathering in Rio will also serve as a platform to reinforce subnational diplomacy, connect local governments to international finance, and explore strategies to integrate climate into urban development.

As COP30 President-Designate Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago remarked that local leadership is essential to the success of global climate action.

“As we prepare for COP30 in the heart of the Amazon, we are inspired by the spirit of mutirão — a collective effort where every voice contributes to a common goal,” he added.

Elevating Local Climate Solutions in COP30

The Forum’s core message is clear: local governments are not peripheral actors; they are indispensable to turning ambition into action. A high-level plenary and a series of partner-led events will highlight key sectors such as clean energy, transportation, urban infrastructure, adaptation, and just transition.

The C40 World Mayors Summit, hosted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, will mark two decades of city-led climate action. Sessions will focus on practical solutions, peer exchanges, and innovation, with a special emphasis on Brazilian urban leadership.

Alongside this, the Global States and Regions Summit, organized by the Under2 Coalition, will spotlight how regional leaders are driving climate progress across land use, industry, and energy. The CHAMP High-Level Political Dialogue, co-organized with C40, WRI, and the Global Covenant of Mayors, will promote deeper cooperation between local and national governments.

Other highlights include the Local Leaders Awards Ceremony, recognizing champions of subnational climate leadership, and the America Is All In Exchange, showcasing U.S. state- and city-level progress in the absence of consistent federal policy.

Voices from across continents have affirmed the importance of this forum. “To hit the Paris targets, cities and states must lead,” said Michael R. Bloomberg. Ana Toni echoed this, noting that local leaders are at the frontline and must be empowered to scale solutions.

Jader Barbalho Filho, Brazil’s Minister of Cities, called for “climate justice rooted in urban justice,” insisting that housing, sanitation, and green infrastructure must be at the center of climate negotiations. “We are not talking about emissions in the abstract,” he said. “We’re talking about people, and most of them live in cities.”

From Rio to Belém—and Beyond

Following the Forum, a delegation of local leaders will travel to Belém to officially represent a unified subnational climate agenda at COP30. This effort will be coordinated by the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, with support from ICLEI, UN-Habitat, and Brazil’s Ministry of Cities.

The Cities & Regions Hub, located in the COP30 Blue Zone, will serve as a central meeting point for subnational actors and a place to amplify their contributions to the UNFCCC process.

The Forum builds on momentum from last year’s COP28 Local Climate Action Summit in Dubai, the first to formally integrate cities and regions into the COP program.

Since then, over 70 countries have pledged to work more closely with local governments, representing one-third of the global population, 35% of global emissions, and 58% of global GDP. Brazil’s leadership in embedding “climate federalism” in its NDC sets a strong precedent for how multilevel cooperation can become a national policy cornerstone.

The event has drawn praise from key international figures. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and Global Covenant of Mayors Ambassador, emphasized that “mayors are now central to the COP process.”

According to European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera, the Forum is a vital opportunity to show how local action is delivering a just, sustainable future.

U.S. state and city leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Kate Gallego, and Governor Tony Evers, also highlighted the essential role of subnational actors in driving implementation, equity, and resilience.

As COP30 approaches, the message from Rio is unmistakable: implementation must be front and center, and local leaders are ready to deliver.

“Cities are already ahead of the curve,” said Laurence Tubiana, architect of the Paris Agreement. “Now it’s time for the global climate regime to catch up and follow their lead.”