The GCoM World Secretariat decided to grant badges to 19 municipalities based on their reports for FY2021, and held a ceremony and seminar for the issuance of the GCoM on July 26.

The badges are intended to reward achievement and progression within the different phases of participation of a city in the GCoM initiative – from commitment, to planning, to implementation and monitoring. The badge system provides an overview of the engagement of a city “at a glance,” and can be used by signatories as communication and promotion tool. The badges can also connect cities with opportunities, resources, and with cities engaged in the same steps or processes.

Compliant Badges: Kitakyushu City, Kyoto City, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Hiroshima City, Yokohama City

Mitigation and Adaptation Badge: Toyama City, Toyota City

The Covenant was launched in 2014 by Michael Bloomberg, then UN Special Envoy for Climate Change Policy, and others. ICLEI has participated as a co-managing body along with the C40 and UCLG.

In 2016, it joined the Mayors for Climate Energy that EU led to become the GCoM. Togo Uchida, Executive Director of ICLEI Japan, serves on the GCoM Strategic Advisory Board.

The GCoM is an international mechanism for local governments to promote sustainable and resilient communities and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement by promoting sustainable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to climate change. Currently, eight ICLEI Japan’s members are participating in the GCoM.