COP28: IFRC and international local government association seal ‘already strong relationship’
By the Climate Centre
The IFRC yesterday formalized a cooperation agreement with ICLEI – the 2,500-strong global network of local and regional governments working for sustainable urban development in at least 125 countries.
It was signed COP28 by IFRC Under Secretary General Xavier Castellanos and Gino van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General, and concretizes “an already strong relationship,” an ICLEI statement said.
“Our commitment to collaborate is well timed with the historic agreement to operationalize the loss and damage fund and funding arrangements on Day 1 of this COP,” said Gino van Begin.
“This is an area that we would like to explore with IFRC so that we may jointly, and with other actors in our respective networks, work towards ensuring that these funds reach the most affected local governments and communities.”
Xavier Castellanos said on X/Twitter that the new partnership “reaffirms our commitment for urban resilience and the need of greater engagement between city governments and the IFRC network of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to work together. From now on we move from words to action.”
The partnership focuses on empowering communities and scaling up climate action, prioritizing the reduction of climate-induced risks in urban areas, with special attention to vulnerable groups and critical infrastructure.
‘From now on we move from words to action’
Under the agreement, the two organizations will advocate for local and regional governments to implement climate- and disaster-related actions for “an equitable, nature-positive, and sustainable future” that protects local communities and vulnerable groups.
They will promote collaboration between local government and National Societies, strengthening existing partnerships and leveraging capacities to reduce climate and disaster risks, improve early warning, and “unlock additional resources through coalitions with further stakeholders and engagement across sectors,” the ICLEI statement added.
From its founding in 1990 until 2003, the association bore the name International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).
Recent Climate Centre engagement with ICLEI has included joint development of specialized briefs and publicity on extreme heat in the cities of Nepalgunj in Nepal and Rajshahi in Bangladesh, to improve their resilience and preparedness.
The centre also developed a guidance note on early warning early action in other cities in South Asia with support from CDKN Asia and the German and Norwegian Red Cross to help city authorities, emergency service providers, and community-based organizations.
ICLEI co-authored the Heatwave Guide for Cities and the Climate Centre has jointly organized the Rise Africa conference led by ICLEI.
The new partnership between the IFRC and ICLEI was signed at COP28 by IFRC Under Secretary General Xavier Castellanos (L) and Gino van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General (R), and concretizes “an already strong relationship”. (Photo: social media)