Asia—Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) for Climate and Energy

Climate change is a global challenge but one that particularly affects urban life. Urban activities are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, but cities are also profoundly affected by climate change in terms of their basic services, infrastructure, housing, livelihoods, and health. And as hubs of innovation and creativity, they also have an important role to play in preparing for and adapting to the risks posed by climate change.

A global alliance of cities, the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) for Climate and Energy aims to strengthen the role of cities on the wider international scene and provide operational tools for effective climate action. Regional and national covenants serve as local chapters of the broader GCoM alliance. Our team supports the GCoM in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, assisting signatory cities and partners in their commitments while encouraging new cities and urban stakeholders to join the GCoM alliance in pursuit of a shared vision for a resilient and low-emission future.

Photo: Asih Busiadi, GCoM Asia Team Leader and Thunpicha Pinniam, GCoM Asia Project Assistant, Thailand Climate Action Conference 2022.

Sample Activities

• Support the national and regional covenants in prioritized countries by providing funding in line with the approved Strategies of the EU Support to the GCoM and all relevant procedural, administrative, and quality control criteria.
• Support the secretariats in Asia through the provision of dedicated resources, technical assistance, and methodological guidance and supervision, including help desk services.
• Develop solid, long-term GCoM strategies in each regional and national covenant.
• Enhance synergies between national and regional covenants, the GCoM Asia framework and global secretariat, and other geographical GCoM contracts, ensuring effective knowledge capitalization, exchange, and networking.
• Implement communication, knowledge sharing, visibility, and awareness-raising activities to enhance GCoM outreach and promote EU local climate change diplomacy.
• Support select cities in the GCoM Asia region in implementing ambitious climate and energy commitments, focusing on “translating” these commitments into actions through the target and priority-setting process, based on their Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans.
• Link municipalities with businesses and promote EU business, innovation, and technologies, as well as international value chains.

Select Results

• More than 200 Asian cities confirmed and signed the GCoM commitment for more ambitious climate action.
• Extended the operations of four GCoM regional and national helpdesks or secretariats in Japan, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Republic of Korea to continue supporting Asian cities in achieving climate goals.
• Engaged cooperation with eight national ministries in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Provided direct technical assistance to more than 500 government officials from 40 pilot cities through 23 hands-on training sessions and focus group discussions in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam for the development of climate action plans.