Now in its sixth edition, Daring Cities 2025 launches from 16 to 18 June in Bonn, Germany, running in parallel with the UNFCCC SB62 Climate Talks. Co-convened by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Federal City of Bonn, this year’s edition brings together leaders from across all levels of government to accelerate climate ambition through inclusive, multilevel governance.

Under the theme “Stronger national climate plans through multilevel action,” the Daring Cities 2025 Bonn Dialogues will host a packed three-day agenda featuring high-level discussions with key actors in the urban climate space. Speakers include:

• Niels Annen, State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
• Dan Ioschpe, UN COP30 High-Level Climate Champion
• Antonio da Costa e Silva, Ambassador, Ministry of Cities, Brazil
• Katja Dörner, Mayor of Bonn, ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member, and Vice President of the Association of German Cities

On 16–17 June, Daring Cities will actively support SB62 sessions, including the second CHAMP UNFCCC Focal Points Dialogue, providing a platform that enables national government endorsers and their strategic partners to assess progress and guide CHAMP’s implementation toward COP30.

On 18 June, the full-day event “Insights for Multilevel Action” will open at 09:30 CEST with high-level dialogues discussing insights and strategies for multilevel climate action. Subnational leaders, private sector, academia, and civil society will focus on multilevel partnerships and how to ensure ambitious national climate plans are effectively implemented at all levels of government towards and after COP30. Join the livestream here.

The day will continue with Country Deep Dives, highlighting how countries like Canada, Kenya, and South Africa are localizing their NDCs. A dedicated session will spotlight Town Hall COP, ICLEI’s new global initiative that connects local communities to all levels of climate action, offering them a unique opportunity to help shape climate policy from the ground up.

The afternoon program, will feature four interactive roundtable discussions, diving into key topics:

• Feeding local grey literature into the IPCC Special Report
• Data-driven decision making
• Scaling energy efficiency for cities
• Financing pathways to COP30 through nature-based solutions

The event concludes with a closing plenary, offering reflections and forward-looking insights, including a special intervention from the Brazilian perspective, setting the tone for COP30.

Can’t make it to Bonn for the SB62?
Select sessions will be live-streamed and open to virtual participants worldwide.
Check out the Daring Cities 2025 Bonn Dialogues full agenda here.