I am happy to introduce another CityLinks team member, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, an international association of cities that addresses climate change effects by providing consulting, training, and programmatic resources. ICLEI strives to connect cities that have taken an interest in sustainable development, and provides valuable resources that explain how to become more resilient.

ICLEI’s 14 regional offices are located in six continents and tailor their offerings to local needs in each region. A major focus of the European Secretariat is green procurement, for example, while the South African office  is very active on biodiversity and climate change adaptation. ICLEI USA, which represents ICLEI on the Citylinks team, offers tools and resources to local governments for both climate mitigation and adaptation, including software tools for conducting GHG inventories and developing climate action plans.

In May, ICLEI and the World Mayor’s Council on Climate Change hosted the Resilient Cities 2012 conference in Bonn, Germany. This annual conference connects business leaders and NGOs from all parts of the globe who network and brainstorm about how to create more resilient cities. The main themes for the 2012 conference included Resilient Integrated Urban Design: Water, Food Security, and Biodiversity, Resilient Urban Logistics, and Resilient Urban Renewable Energy.

ICLEI believes that remarkable work happens at the local level of government. Local leaders and communities are creating innovative and effective solutions designed to solve both national and global problems, and ICLEI is excited to support their work through the CityLinks program. ICLEI’s Director of Climate Programs, Brian Holland, commented “We are thrilled to be part of a great team helping cities to confront some of their most pressing challenges.  Climate change is intensifying, and communities around the globe share many similar vulnerabilities.  ICLEI is looking forward to helping them share solutions through CityLinks."