What is the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy?
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) is the world’s largest alliance for city climate leadership. Built on the commitment of more than 13,500 cities and local governments across six continents and 147 countries, the alliance represents over 1.2 billion people working to cut emissions, build resilience and advance clean, affordable energy.
GCoM’s Global Board is co‑chaired by Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary‑General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, and Teresa Ribera, European Commission Executive Vice‑President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. Ex‑officio members include the UNFCCC Executive Secretary (currently Simon Stiell), the UN‑Habitat Executive Director (currently Anacláudia Rossbach), and GCoM’s Co‑Managing Directors. Elected in 2025, Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece serves as the Oceania representative on the GCoM global board. Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds complements this leadership role as Regional Ambassador for Oceania, leveraging her deep and long-standing engagement with the Covenant to advance city climate action across the region.
By joining the alliance, local governments help deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement by accelerating emissions reductions, strengthening climate resilience and ensuring equitable access to clean energy while collaborating with regional networks, national governments and international institutions.
Our mission
We serve cities and local governments to raise the bar on climate. We envision a world where committed mayors and local governments – in alliance with partners – accelerate, ambitious, measurable climate and energy initiatives that lead to a low-emission and climate-resilient future.
History
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy formally brings together the Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors,
The Covenant of Mayors was created in 2008 to implement the EU’s ambitious climate and energy targets by bringing together local governments voluntarily committed to address climate change. In 2015, Covenant signatories have voluntarily pledged action to support the implementation of the EU’s 40% greenhouse gas reduction target by 2030 and have adopted a joint approach to tackling climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Compact of Mayors is a global initiative supporting mayors and city officials who pledge to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate change, and track their progress transparently. The Compact was launched in September of 2014 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael R. Bloomberg.
In June 2016, the Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors, came together to form the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, bringing together global city networks that are committed to fighting climate change and providing sustainable energy for all.
Why Join?
Encouragement & inspiration
GCoM helps cities maintain a long-term vision on climate action through collective ambition and achievement.
A roadmap to climate action
The Global Covenant of Mayors provides a roadmap to implementing your council’s climate action ambitions, outlining a step-by-step guide to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
A universal reporting method
GCoM follows an established methodology known as the Common Reporting Framework, which allows cities to report their climate change efforts in a manner which is consistent and comparable between cities, allowing for the amalgamation of city data.
Networking and collaborating opportunities
GCoM councils have unique opportunities to network, share resources and collaborate to address the challenges of climate change. Learning from one another and sharing best practices and developing effective strategies to implement climate actions, they inspire each other to achieve.
Visibility & recognition
GCoM gives councils recognition for their climate achievements, publicising your council’s innovations and sharing your best practices to inspire others.
Guidance & Practical Support
GCoM ensures that Councils receive step-by-step guidance and gain access to tools, materials and the ongoing support of the GCoM Oceania helpdesk.
Contribute to global climate reporting and to the UN Conference of Parties
By contributing to GCoM reporting, you are contributing to an overall understanding of the role of cities in climate action and informing policy decisions.
Shaping the future
GCoM envisions a world where committed mayors and local governments – in alliance with partners – accelerate ambitious, measurable climate and energy initiatives that lead to an inclusive, just, low-emission and climate-resilient future, helping to meet and exceed the Paris Agreement objectives.