This September 2020, ICLEI celebrated its 30th anniversary. Here are some reflections on ICLEI’s history globally and in the Oceania region, and we look forward to continuing to support local and regional governments for many years to come.

On September 5, 1990, local government officials from 200 cities and 43 nations met at the United Nations in New York. Regardless of international turbulence, leaders at the local government level were ready to collaborate and share solutions to create a fair, sustainable future for their cities and regions.

Three days later, on September 8, the Charter for this new group, co-developed by Jeb Brugmann and Nancy Skinner, was signed and ratified. Since that initial UN meeting 30 years ago, ICLEI  has grown to more than 1,750 local and regional governments of all sizes in more than 100 countries.

Those involved in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will appreciate that ICLEI accelerates localisation of the SDGs through 5 pathways towards urban sustainability with more than 200 active projects, annually. More than 50,000 local government staff have benefited from over 1,000 capacity-building events, and ICLEI remains the focal point of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments, in global processes related to climate, biodiversity and land degradation, thanks to its engagement in all the 3 Rio Conventions stemming from 1992 Earth Summit, as well as effective engagement and partnerships with numerous UN processes.

“As we align our voice to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UN, we can draw from  30 years of experience in sustainable urban development to accelerate the localisation of the United Nations Decade for Sustainability Action” says Gino Van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General.

"Bridging local and global action for sustainability was a brand new concept 30 years ago and now it is mainstreamed. ICLEI is a key player in this journey and we take pride in that as we continue to work towards a sustainable urban future. Today, ICLEI is working to ensure effective multilevel collaboration in the age of inclusive multilateralism as a key way to address growing social, economic and planetary emergencies."

Today, local action is acknowledged as a critical component to tackling the climate crisis and the role of local and regional governments is arguably more important than ever. During a recent conversation with the subnational community on the climate crisis, California State Senator Nancy Skinner, recounted her experiences during the pivotal moments surrounding the signing of the original ICLEI Charter when cities committed to a sustainable future. 

“When we launched back in 1990, we formed first in response to the destruction of the ozone layers. The major world gathering of national leaders around the question of sustainability had not yet happened... There was this big effort by cities” says Skinner. 

Hear more from California Senator Nancy Skinner was there when it all started and other ICLEI leaders such as current Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, Rodrigo Perpétuo. 

Here in Oceania, ICLEI’s roots were struck around the same time at ICLEI establishment in 1990. Through organisations  like the Municipal Conservation Association - which developed into Environs Australia, and the piloting of ICLEI programs in the early years—like Cities for Climate  Protection (CCP)—the global network of ICLEI offices worldwide became formally established. That formality was completed 23 years ago in Australia and New Zealand and is stronger than ever. We acknowledge the hundreds of committed people who have believed in local government environmental network and particularly those individual contributors to the success of ICLEI from this region.