Local Action Moves the World

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is a membership association of local governments committed to advancing climate protection and sustainable development. Since its inception in 1990, ICLEI has grown to include nearly 1,000 cities in the world, more than 400 of which are in the United States.  

At ICLEI USA our mission is to build, serve, and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

What does the ICLEI name mean?

ICLEI was established as the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives. The organization is now officially ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability.

• Clean Air Climate Protection (CACP) software and training

• Tools, publications and other resources

• Performance-based campaigns and initiatives
• State, regional, national and international peer networking

• Technical, policy and communications expertise and assistance

• Annual training and leadership events
• Recognition and awards
• Representation at international meetings

“Embarking on an environmental program sounds like a great idea. But if you’re a mayor trying to cut greenhouse gases, where do you begin? How do even know how to measure your current levels? That’s where an organization called ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability can help.”

Newsweek, Leadership and the Environment issue, April 16, 2007

Through this work, ICLEI helped local governments reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 23 million tons in 2005 alone. This translates into about $600 million in annual cumulative savings, largely on energy expenditures.

ICLEI will continue to empower local governments to set and achieve strong goals through the ongoing evolution of its programs, tools and other resources and through the establishment of comparative performance bench­marks for local action.

Local governments have led the effort in recent years to envision, accelerate and achieve strong climate protection goals, and ICLEI is proud to support and facilitate their efforts to create cleaner, healthier, economically viable communities.

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