Some 95% of new city climate targets set in the last decade found to exceed

Cities and local governments are leading global climate ambition, with 58% of Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) signatories – more than 8000 local authorities – setting more ambitious emissions reduction targets than their national governments, according to the alliance's 2026 Impact Report, launched today at COP31. Another 28% aim to achieve their targets sooner than their national governments.

Marking GCoM's tenth anniversary, the report highlights a decade of growing local climate leadership. Since 2016, the alliance has doubled in size, reaching more than 14,000 cities and local governments and representing one in seven people worldwide.