Latin American cities consolidate climate leadership at the end of the “From Paris to Belém” campaign and ahead of COP30 in Brazil

Local government actions reinforce the urgency of a just transition, transforming recognition into a global call for cities to take center stage in the climate agenda.

December 2025 – The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in Latin America, funded by the European Union and Bloomberg Philanthropies, concludes the campaign “From Paris to Belém: a decade of climate action” by celebrating the engagement and climate actions of 15 Latin American cities, currently members of the Mayors Forum. This closure comes at a time of unprecedented recognition for the role of local governments.

The campaign demonstrated the strength of regional climate actions, focusing on adaptation, climate mitigation, and a just energy transition. The mobilization of 15 mayors, members of the Mayors Forum, reached its peak with the launch of the printed publication “The strength of cities: Latin America’s call to action at COP30” and its delivery during the Local Leaders Forum, an event funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The document, which celebrates, recognizes, and reinforces the importance of these actions for the future of cities and the planet, was delivered to global and local authorities and to each of the participating mayors, reinforcing the message that cities are key players in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

COP30: some points of interest for Latin American cities

• Advances in just transition: the conference adopted the Belém mechanism for just transition, a new instrument that aims to ensure that the transition to sustainable economies is fair and inclusive. Cities, where the weight of climate change and the potential for solutions are felt, are essential for the implementation of this mechanism.
  Financing for adaptation: the tripling of financing for adaptation is a milestone in supporting vulnerable populations. In cities, where the most urgent demands (health, housing, mobility) are concentrated, this resource will be vital for building resilience.
  Global collective action and implementation: The historic call for global collective action and the launch of the Global Implementation Accelerator require that cities’ climate solutions, such as emissions reduction, renewable energy, and carbon removal through nature-based solutions, be prioritized to achieve scale and speed.

Urgent call: cities at the heart of global climate ambition

The message from the campaign’s closing and the results from Belém is unified: cities have the solutions. The elevation of the debate on fossil fuels in Brazil, with the launch of the Roadmap for the Transition from Fossil Fuels and the overall strengthening of the Paris Agreement at COP30, marks a new phase focused on real transformations in economies and societies.

For the Global Covenant of Mayors, this new decade of climate action will only be successful if Latin American cities are effectively at the center of national and global climate ambition. The recognition in Belém is the first step toward making regional engagement and solutions the foundation for a secure, fairer, more resilient, and sustainable future.