Ten mayors or local government officials have been appointed to the Board to be representative of the global city networks and provide regionally specific perspectives – ensuring that the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is truly led by mayors. This will ensure that a bottom-up/city-led approach is embedded in the governance system of the initiative. European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and former New York Mayor and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael Bloomberg co-chair the Board. Former UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres, serves as Vice-Chair. Current UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, joins the Board as an Advisor and Observer.

- Increasing their visibility as leaders responding to climate change; - Demonstrating their commitment to an ambitious global climate solution, particularly as nations convene around a new climate agreement in Paris in December 2015; - Encouraging direct public and private sector investments in cities by meeting transparent standards that are similar to those followed by national governments; - Building a consistent and robust body of data on the impact of city action; and - Accelerating more ambitious, collaborative, and sustainable local climate action.

1) Register Commitment by mayor; 2) Take Inventory within one year of commitment (overall GHG inventory with Compact standard; identify climate risk; report); 3) Create Targets and Establish A System of Measurement within two years (update GHG inventory including breakdown by sources and sectors; set target to reduce GHG emissions; conduct "climate change vulnerability assessment" using the Compact standard; and report ) 4) Establish Action Plan within 3 years (how to deliver commitment to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change) 5) Issuance of "Compliant" badge on annual basis to signify commitment and progress