Sydney kicks off the first ICLEI-hosted Town Hall COP in the build-up to COP 30

The successful Greater Sydney Region Town Hall COP, held last month, was part of a global movement that helps integrate local voices into global climate policies, particularly countries’ Paris Agreement ambitions and commitments, widely referred to as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Town Hall COP garnered robust discussion from sixteen Councils, and peak and federal representatives, on how local actions can be strengthened and mainstreamed into national policies, including Australia’s NDCs.

Sydney Climate Action Week (SCAW), held from 10-16 March 2025, featured a diverse program of community-led events to educate, inspire change, reduce emissions, and build resilience. ICLEI Oceania, supported by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, hosted a regional Town Hall COP, bringing together sixteen different Councils from the Greater Sydney Region.

A Town Hall COP is a dynamic community engagement platform bringing United Nations COP-style discussions to cities, towns and regions to assess climate progress, share insights, discuss how they can elevate their ambition and action, and collaborate with national governments.

Town Hall COPS worldwide set out three main priorities:

Local commitments towards 2030 and 2050: Are Climate Action Plans driving ambitious climate action?  How are local, and state governments acting on their climate emergency declarations and climate neutrality commitments, what are their needs to build their resilience to growing challenges?

Local and Urban components of counties's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Is it fit for purpose? What is included for cities and regions in the current national plans, how can these be operationalised?
Climate Justice: To what degree is climate justice represented in your community and national climate action plan? How can poor, disadvantaged or vulnerable communities enjoy engagement in this transformational change and globally, how can intergenerational equity issues can be addressed?

The call from the Town Hall COP for Australia to be bolder around our nationally determined contributions and seeing stronger Federal Government action for the transition to renewable energy by ceasing approval of new coal and gas license resonated with some of the other SCAW events including a "People's COP" event at Sydney Town Hall, which focussed on grassroots participation and climate action solutions. 

As part of promoting ICLEI's advocacy work across our network Clr. Dr. Anamczyk addressed a Daring Cities Webinar in December 2024 on key findings of the Town Hall Cop in Sydney and climate advocacy issues in Australia: