ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is an environmentalist advocacy organization consisting of member local governments. ICLEI organizes members to fund public programs that eliminate the use of conventional energy, seek to eliminate waste production, and incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. ¹

ICLEI offers “zero emission services” to its members through which they pay ICLEI to develop plans for the member governments to pursue eliminating carbon emissions, and it offers services where members can purchase “inventories” that reduce carbon. ² The inventories include tree and forest ownership that ICLEI reports on its tax returns are purchased in foreign countries through wire transfers. ^{3 4 5}

Background

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability was founded in 1990 through a meeting of local government officials at the United Nations, leading to a charter created by Jeb Brugmann and Nancy Skinner that formally created ICLEI. It was originally named the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and the founding charter allowed member local governments of ICLEI to have an “official role” with the United Nations to promote environmentalist initiatives. ⁶

In 2007, ICLEI partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council and Center for American Progress to create the Green City Index, which later became known as the STAR Communities Program. ⁶ The program evaluates participating cities and localities for their compliance with what it claims are environmentalist initiatives. Its criteria evaluates the types of food sold, whether or not certain food vendors are subsidized in “underserved” neighborhoods, if localities are subsidizing housing developments, if localities are “making progress” towards eliminating solid waste production by 2050, and if localities are subsidizing reductions in energy consumption. ⁷

In 2014, ICLEI developed its “Global Protocol for Community Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories,” and in 2018, it developed five “pathways” for local governments to adopt its protocol. As of June 2025, ICLEI has over 1,750 member governments in over 100 countries that use its protocol to comply with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ⁶

ICLEI São Paulo Strategic Vision 2024 – 2030

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability’s report titled, “The ICLEI São Paulo Strategic Vision 2024 – 2030,” outlines what environmentalist initiatives ICLEI is pursuing between 2024 and 2030. It makes claims that record weather events that occurred in 2023 will only worsen if carbon emissions are not reduced, stating that the responsibility largely falls on urban areas. It also claims that there is an increasing trend of so-called “climate migrants,” individuals migrating to developed nations because of an alleged increase in extreme weather events that environmentalists claim is a result of failures to decrease carbon emissions. The report also encourages member organizations to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in their efforts to eliminate carbon emissions. ¹

The report states that its members will continue to use and amplify the efforts of its “Five Pathways” to achieve its desired compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Amongst its “pathways” include transitioning from conventional energy sources to ending their use altogether or replacing them with weather-dependent energy sources. It also includes publicly funding infrastructure developments that address perceived issues of a worsening climate. ¹

ICLEI’s “Equitable Development” pathway includes creating policies that institute equity social and economic standards by providing publicly subsidized loans and jobs for individuals who would not have otherwise obtained such opportunities, particularly through their environmentalist programs. It also includes funding socialized transportation, health, food, and recreation programs. ^{8 1}

Leadership

Gino Van Begin is the secretary general and executive director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, where he has worked since 2000. He has also served as a member of the European Sustainable Cities and Towns from 2000 to 2012, as a member of the jury of the EU Green Capital Award between 2006 and 2011, as a board member of Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) from 2012 to 2021. He is the co-chair of the Making Cities Resilient 2030 Initiative. ⁹

Financials

In 2023, ICLEI-Local Government for Sustainability reported receiving $571,480 in government grants, representing 20.8 percent of its $2.7 million in total revenue, and it reported receiving an additional $595,243 in membership dues from local governments, representing 21.7 percent of its total revenue. Additionally, it reported receiving $875,050 in program service fees. ¹⁰

In 2023, ICLEI also reported $1.9 million in grants and other assistance to foreign organizations and individuals that was distributed under its climate program where it holds “inventories” and provides training on greenhouse gas emissions for local governments. ⁴ Its total expenses reported on its 2023 tax return were $4.0 million, which also included $1.2 million in salaries and compensation for its employees. ¹¹ Its website reports that “inventories” include tree and forest ownership. ³

1. “The Power of Our Network in a Changing World.” ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://e-library.iclei.org/uploads/ICLEIStrategy2024-2027EN_web.pdf
2. “Fee-Based Services.” ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://icleiusa.org/fee-based-services/.
3. “Forest and Trees Carbon Accounting Cohort.” ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://iclei.org/activity/forest-and-trees-carbon-accounting-cohort/.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Iclei Local Governments For Sustainability Usa Inc. 2023. Part III.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Iclei Local Governments For Sustainability Usa Inc. 2023. Schedule F.
6. “Who We Are.” ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://icleiusa.org/about/who-we-are/
7. “STAR Communities Ratings System.” Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://sustainableconsumption.usdn.org/measurement/star-communities-rating-system.
8. “Equitable and People Centered Development.” ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://e-library.iclei.org/uploads/Equitable_and_people-centered_development_V5.pdf.
9. “Gino Van Begin.” United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Accessed June 1, 2025. https://unhabitat.org/gino-van-begin.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Iclei Local Governments For Sustainability Usa Inc. 2023. Part VIII.
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Iclei Local Governments For Sustainability Usa Inc. 2023. Part IX.