Education
Local leadership takes centre stage at SB64 as groups call for community‑driven climate action – EnviroNews
– Advertisement –
At the UNFCCC SB64 Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, local and international civil society organisations issued a call for climate governance that places frontline communities at the heart of decision‑making.
The press conference, held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, under the theme “Voices from the Ground: Advancing Local Leadership for Climate and Environmental Action,” brought together representatives from Connected Advocacy, the Charter 4 Change (C4C) Climate, Environment Working Group, and the Clean Climate and Environment Campaign.
Moderating the event, Clifford Erhiyodavwe Edevbie, Director of the Clean Climate and Environment Campaign, welcomed delegates, media, development partners, and community representatives. He emphasised that the session followed the official launch of the Charter 4 Change Climate and Environment Memorandum, a landmark document outlining commitments to strengthen localisation in climate governance.
The Memorandum, he said, represents a collective pledge to ensure that local actors are recognised as equal partners in climate decision‑making, financing, and implementation.
‘Communities Must Shape Climate Solutions’
Delivering the opening statement, Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy and a member of the C4C Climate and Environment Working Group, underscored the urgency of elevating local voices. He described Connected Advocacy’s work at the intersection of climate governance, humanitarian reform, environmental action, and localisation.
Orekha noted that while climate impacts are global, they fall disproportionately on the poorest and most marginalised communities – those with the least capacity to adapt.
“Communities most affected by climate change must also be those shaping climate solutions,” he said.
He highlighted that the newly launched Climate and Environment Memorandum provides a framework for action, reinforcing the critical role of local communities, civil society, and humanitarian actors in climate response. The Working Group, he added, has become a rallying platform for coordinated action, stronger partnerships, and meaningful localisation.
Local Knowledge as a Foundation for Resilience
Speaking on behalf of Success Hands Tanzania Initiative, Hannah Konrade emphasised that communities across Africa and beyond continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite mounting climate pressures. However, she warned that resilience cannot be built through top‑down approaches.
“Local organisations possess deep contextual knowledge, trusted relationships, and innovative solutions essential for effective adaptation and environmental stewardship,” she said.
The Memorandum, she added, recognises that local leadership is not optional but fundamental to inclusive and sustainable climate action.
Konrade called on governments, donors, and international partners to invest in community‑led solutions that deliver tangible impacts where they are needed most.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
Representing the Clean Climate and Environment Campaign, Joshua McField, Programme Officer for Europe, stressed that the climate crisis demands collective responsibility and collective action. He noted that the humanitarian sector faces a dual obligation: responding to climate‑induced humanitarian impacts while reducing the environmental footprint of its own operations.
McField urged governments and donors to support mechanisms that prioritise local leadership and ensure direct access to climate resources. Accountability, transparency, and local ownership, he said, must guide all climate and environmental interventions.
Five Pillars for Strengthening Local Leadership
The organisations outlined five coordination pillars that underpin their advocacy:
- Local Leadership as Central – Recognising local actors as agenda setters in climate governance and ensuring their inclusion in National Adaptation Plans and COP processes.
- Equitable and Predictable Finance – Calling for transparent financing mechanisms and a commitment that at least 25% of climate and humanitarian funding reaches local actors directly.
- Capacity and Knowledge Recognition – Strengthening local capacities and valuing Indigenous and community knowledge alongside scientific evidence.
- Accountability and Transparency – Establishing systems to track funding flows and partnership quality, promoting complementarity rather than subcontracting.
- Policy Advocacy – Ensuring local voices influence national and global climate priorities.
A Strong Call to Action on Climate Finance
Konrade reiterated the need for direct, predictable, and flexible climate financing for local actors. She urged Parties and donors to invest in financial management systems, cover operational and compliance costs, and establish locally agreed triggers for releasing emergency resources. She also stressed that the Loss and Damage Fund must reflect true country ownership by including local NGOs and affected communities in governance structures.
‘Nothing about Us Without Us’
In his closing remarks, Orekha delivered a clear message to SB64 participants: climate engagement, policy development, and financing must reflect local priorities. “The climate crisis is local before it becomes global,” he said. “The solutions already exist within communities. What is needed now is recognition, resources, trust, and meaningful partnership.”
He urged governments and institutions to move beyond consultation toward genuine power‑sharing with local actors. Only then, he said, can the global climate movement become truly inclusive, accountable, and grounded in the realities of those most affected.
