DARING CITIES 2025

The Daring Cities 2025 Report: Stronger national climate plans through multilevel action captures the insights, outcomes, and practical experiences that emerged from one of the most impactful global forums for climate leadership in 2025. Co-convened by ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and the  Federal City of Bonn, this annual initiative brought together city, regional, and national leaders to accelerate climate action by bridging local innovation with national climate planning.

What is Daring Cities?
Daring Cities is a global platform designed to empower urban decision-makers including mayors, governors, public officials, researchers, and community leaders to tackle the climate emergency through bold, collaborative, and solution-driven action. Its events and dialogues emphasize inclusive multilevel governance, practical solutions, and greater integration of local voices in national and global climate agendas.

The 2025 Conference & Virtual Forum
Held from 16-18 June 2025 in Bonn, Germany, alongside the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference, and supported by a Virtual Forum between July and October, Daring Cities 2025 focused on strengthening national climate plans (NDCs 3.0) by connecting subnational climate leadership with national policy makers.

Key Highlights

• Multilevel Partnerships in Action: The Bonn Dialogues featured high-level panels, country deep dives, and roundtable discussions exploring how cities, regions, and nations can work together more effectively to achieve climate goals.
• Practical Solutions & Knowledge Exchange: The Virtual Forum showcased real case studies, workshops, and trainings that linked locally led climate solutions to broader national strategies.
• Spotlight on Town Hall COPs: The report highlights Town Hall COPs — an innovative initiative that elevates local voices in global climate decision-making — including South Africa’s endorsement as the first nation to adopt the model nationally.
• Leadership Perspectives: Thought leaders and government representatives shared insights on funding, governance, and the urgency of equipping cities to deliver real impact on the ground.

What’s Inside the Report
The report combines analysis with actionable insights and links to the Compendium of Good Practices – a collection of 30+ real-world examples demonstrating how locally led climate action can influence national and global outcomes.