The much-anticipated 2024 iteration of Australia’s Local Government review saw ICLEI Oceania, supported by the Global Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy; Ironbark; and the Better Futures Australia local government working group stepping up to shine a light on the incisive climate action local and subnational governments are steering towards Australia’s National Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Read MoreIn a national first, a project leveraging data innovation and technology involving a consortium of universities, research bodies and the Wellington City Council is underway. The project will build capacity to integrate climate, disaster and resilience indicators into city planning.
Read MoreThe City of Darebin and City of Yarra, as leaders in the climate emergency declaration space, have both recently updated their climate emergency plans after their first plans expired. These are the first two Councils we know of that have been through this process.
Read MoreIn the Meta City, people and organisations are linked in a web that operates as a distinct unit following industry and business expertise. They are attached to a major — often global — economic hub. This research investigated city-to-city flows such as finance workers leaving New York for Miami; tech workers leaving the Bay Area for Austin, Texas; and workers in London decamping for Portugal or Spain. Melbourne and Sydney are positively highlighted in this Meta City research and are given equal standing to Hong Kong as “significant global hubs”. For these two cities, the challenge will be continuing to strengthen ties with the only major “global talent hubs” in our region - Singapore and Bangalore which have leveraged cost, business friendliness and skills to rise up the ranking of Meta Cities.
Read More16 October is World Food Day, an international day to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). For ICLEI Oceania, it is a day to reflect on the significant challenges we see across our member cities and regions on issues like waste, nutrition and food sovereignty.
Read MoreThe City of Stirling is conducting trials for Australia's first Trackless Tram and hopes that this sustainable mid-tier technology will become the future of public transport. This new innovation is geared to deliver on positive economic, transport and net zero outcomes - once again proving that Cities are at the forefront of innovating sustainable and regenerative future.
Read MoreICLEI Oceania recently hosted a webinar about key global and national drivers of biodiversity and nature improvement, including the GBF.
Read MoreICLEI Oceania recently worked with church parishioners on Betio, a densely populated island facing critical climate threats, and through mapping and storytelling, identified key environmental risks. An animated digital map will aid future adaptation efforts and government discussions.
Read MoreAs we approach the city election on 14 September, I spoke to Willow Aliento at the FifthEstate about how cities are practicing the ESG mantra through civic leadership. Global cities like Sydney have added responsibilities as the heartbeats of our society – they're where we make urban transformation and sustainable liveability happen.
Read MoreThe ICLEI World Congress, which took place in São Paulo, Brazil, last month, demonstrated the collective power of cities and regions to address sustainability. With over 1 500 urban leaders from 96 countries participating in critical issues on climate action and urban resilience, this also set the stage for significant city and region input at COP30 in Belém, Brazil in 2025.
Read MoreInnovative engagement events can foster meaningful dialogue and transform community needs into policy. ICLEI’s “Town Hall COP” initiative, piloted in 2023 as “local stocktakes” and continuing into 2024 and beyond, elevates the voices of those experiencing climate impacts on-the-ground by delivering city-level needs to global policy professionals.
Read MoreThe ICLEI World Congress, held last month in São Paulo, Brazil, reinforced ICLEI’s strategy towards zero emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development, and gave rise to a number of key initiatives of importance for Oceania and small coastal cities and regions.
Read MoreWorld Ocean Day serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between healthy oceans and a stable climate. We can see the close relationship between climate and oceans in Kiribati, one of the most vulnerable atoll nations facing the brunt of climate change.
Read MoreICLEI Oceania has collaborated with Ironbark Sustainability, Better Futures Australia, Climate Emergency Australia and a number of local government associations and greenhouse alliances to produce an updated version of the Australian Local Government Climate Review survey.
Read MoreAt ICLEI we advocate for and deliver projects that support the transition to a circular economy. Local governments across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific Island nations are at different levels in their transformative journeys to investment in the circular economy, but they share one trait in common: the need to promote and embrace the circular economy.
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