From November 9 to 20, 2026, the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change took place in Antalya, Türkiye. During the conference, ICLEI played an active role in international exchanges and cooperation, collaborating with partners from Central Asia, East Asia, and other regions. Together, they discussed key topics such as multi-level climate governance, building urban resilience, and financing climate adaptation, aiming to turn global climate commitments into concrete local actions.

 

Kyrgyzstan Side Event: Forging Urban Climate Resilience Through Multi-Level Partnerships

On November 13, the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat and the Climate Finance Center (CFC) under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic jointly hosted a side event titled Multilevel Partnerships and Synergy for Climate-Resilient Cities at the Kyrgyz Republic Pavilion during COP31. This was the first time ICLEI organized a thematic side event at a Central Asian national pavilion during a COP, marking a milestone in ICLEI’s collaboration with Central Asia on local climate action and climate finance.

Side event, Multilevel Partnerships and Synergy for Climate-Resilient Cities, at the Kyrgyz Republic Pavilion

The event gathered representatives from national and local governments, research and financial institutions, and international organizations from East Asia, Central Asia, and Europe. Participants discussed advancing urban climate resilience and local climate action through multi-level governance, cross-regional cooperation, and innovative financing mechanisms.

At the opening ceremony, Aibek Asanov, Director of CFC, and Zhu Shu, Director of the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, delivered welcoming remarks. The two parties exchanged a memorandum of understanding, formally establishing a partnership in climate finance, project development, sustainable urban development, and capacity building. This collaboration will deepen ICLEI’s ties with Kyrgyzstan and the wider Central Asian region, laying the groundwork for promoting local climate projects, connecting financial resources, and facilitating cross-regional knowledge exchange.

Aibek Asanov, the Director of the Climate Finance Center, delivered opening remarks.

Shu Zhu, the Regional Director of the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, delivered the opening remarks.

The Climate Finance Center and the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

In the thematic presentation session, CFC expert Dastan Abdyldaev highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s progress in advancing the global mountain agenda and shared key initiatives in climate finance, project development, and international cooperation. These efforts include moving forward with the National Climate Investment Plan, mobilizing climate finance, promoting carbon market cooperation, and building climate resilience in mountain regions at COP31.

Dastan Abdyldaev, an CFC expert, delivered a keynote speech

Ariel Dekovic, Head of Global Communications and Engagement at the ICLEI World Secretariat and UNFCCC Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency Focal Point, presented the shared policy demands of local and regional governments at COP31. Speaking from the perspective of global, multi-level climate governance, she emphasized the importance of strengthening local government participation in climate decision-making, improving access to local climate finance, and promoting the integrated implementation of the three Rio Conventions—on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification prevention.

Ariel Dekovic, Head of Global Communications and Engagement at ICLEI World Secretariat and UNFCCC Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency Focal Point, delivered a keynote speech

Later, Zhu Shu, Director of the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, moderated a panel discussion on “Financing Local Climate Action and Urban Resilience.” The panel brought together representatives from national and local governments—including the Guizhou Provincial Academy of Environmental Sciences and Department of Ecology and Environment (China), the Climate Environment & Forestry Bureau of Chungcheongnam-do (Republic of Korea), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Mongolia), and CFC (Kyrgyzstan)—as well as experts from financial institutions such as the Turkish Municipal Infrastructure Development Bank and KfW German Development Bank. Panelists shared hands-on experiences in advancing local climate initiatives, strengthening urban resilience, and developing innovative financing models. They also explored opportunities to enhance multilevel cooperation, build capacity for designing and funding local climate projects, and foster cross-regional knowledge exchange and practical collaboration.

Panel Discussion on Financing Local Climate Action and Urban Resilience

Participants look forward to building on this event to deepen dialogue and practical cooperation among East Asia, Central Asia, and other regions in climate resilience, sustainable development, and climate finance. They also aim to leverage key international platforms—including the Second Global Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25” in Kyrgyzstan in 2027, the ICLEI World Congress in Pohang, South Korea, and the Eco Forum Global Guiyang—to continually strengthen the exchange of experience, build partnerships, and develop collaborative projects, ultimately turning the outcomes of multi-level cooperation into tangible local climate actions.

 

Mongolia’s Strategy: Bridging Early Warning, Local Adaptation, and Climate Finance

On November 9, the opening day of COP31, Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) and the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, in partnership with ICLEI and others, organized a special session titled “Scaling Up Climate Adaptation Finance: Harnessing Impact-Based Early Warning Systems and Forecast-Based Financing” at the World Green Economy Organization Pavilion.

The event brought together representatives from government agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, and research institutions to discuss effective ways to link climate risk early warnings with proactive measures, adaptation financing, and investment decisions. Mongolian representatives provided a detailed overview of the country’s progress and financing needs for climate risk monitoring, impact-based forecasting, and the development of early warning systems. They emphasized the importance of shifting disaster response from post-event relief to preemptive prevention by establishing risk trigger conditions, action mechanisms, and funding arrangements in advance.

Group photo of the speakers

Zhu Shu, Director of the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, participated in a panel discussion titled “Local Implementation & Innovation: Integrating Radars, AI, and Smart Urban Adaptation Solutions”, where he exchanged views on local adaptation actions and financing pathways with representatives from organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization, MECC, and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research.

Zhu Shu emphasized that the true value of early warning systems lies in enabling local governments to respond promptly, turning climate risk information into practical adaptation measures and investment projects. He stressed the need for stronger cooperation among national and local governments, financial institutions, and international partners to enhance the capacity of local governments for project development and financing. ICLEI will continue to leverage its global network of local governments to promote collaboration among cities in East and Central Asia in climate adaptation, technical exchange, and project development, advancing the shift from early warning to proactive action and from climate information to climate investment.

Zhu Shu participated in the panel discussion titled “Local Implementation & Innovation: Integrating Radars, AI, and Smart Urban Adaptation Solutions”

 

Empowering Global-Local Partnerships for Transformative Climate Action

The year 2026 marks a milestone, with the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the three Rio Conventions—on climate change, biodiversity, and combating desertification—taking place consecutively. From COP17 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia, and COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, ICLEI has continued to promote coordinated governance within the framework of these conventions, highlighting the essential role of local and regional governments in achieving global climate and sustainable development goals.

Through cooperation and exchanges with Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and other international partners at COP31, ICLEI further deepened its partnerships with Central Asian countries, helping to align climate policies, technical support, and financing resources with local implementation. Looking ahead, ICLEI will continue to connect local governments and partners in East Asia, Central Asia, and globally to promote cross-regional knowledge sharing, capacity building, and climate project development, thereby contributing to the creation of more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities and communities.