ICLEI World Secretariat, Kaiser Friedrich Str. 7, 53113 Bonn, Germany, E-mail: urban-leds@iclei.org

This new phase addresses integrated low emission and resilient development in more than 60 cities in 8 countries: Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa (from Phase I) and countries added in Phase II: Bangladesh, Colombia, Lao PDR and Rwanda. In addition to these countries, 16 European cities act as source cities and support peer-to-peer exchange and cooperation.

An Urban Low Emissions Development Strategy (Urban LEDS) defines a pathway to transition a city to a low emission, resilient, green, and inclusive urban economy, through its integration into existing city development plans and processes.

1. Support and guide selected local governments in the newly added project countries to phase II in developing and approving their Urban Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS); 2. Consolidate Urban LEDS in phase I countries; 3. Promote multi-level governance cooperation on integrated urban climate action, leading to an increase in urban stakeholders' capacity to implement climate action; 4. Enhance vertical and horizontal integration of climate action in support of national and local strategies and policies; 5. Support the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) implementation, following the pillars of climate change mitigation and adaptation and acess to secure, affordable and sustainable energy.

In 2018, the in-country project focus was on establishing key relationships with national government ministries, project cities, and other stakeholders, formalized through the creation of National Project Advisory Groups. The current systems of climate finance, reporting, and governance have been analyzed in four countries, and pilot activities to strengthen multi-level governance have been identified. Local governments have been welcomed into the project, their current challenges examined, their needs and opportunities identified, and capacity building through staff training has begun.

Globally, project partners have showcased Urban-LEDS and its core messages on multi-level governance and finance at various international events, including submitting a paper to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in collaboration with GIZ (German Development Agency). The project is in discussions with international finance partners, also in collaboration with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), to push for increased availability of finance for Urban-LEDS local governments.

In 2019, city-level project implementation is accelerating. New data to inform decision-making is being produced in the form of greenhouse gas emissions inventories and climate risk & vulnerability assessments. Pilot implementation projects will be scoped and project proposals for larger climate projects will be developed. Local government officials were provided the opportunity to meet each and learn from each other during a study tour of European cities.