ICLEI works across local, regional, national and global levels to support sustainable urban development. Its main focus is on creating integrated, systems‑based solutions along five interconnected development pathways. These are designed to help urban areas respond to major challenges such as climate change, ecosystem degradation, social inequity and rapid urbanisation

At the core of ICLEI’s mission is capacity building and peer exchange. Experts work directly with local and regional governments to anticipate and address complex challenges. They help design and implement interventions informed by data, scientific evidence and local realities. The organisation fosters city‑to‑city and city‑to‑region connections, enabling knowledge exchange and collaboration through global learning networks.

ICLEI also engages with national and international actors. At these levels it advocates for policy frameworks that reflect the interests of subnational governments and translate global commitments into local action. To do this, the organisation forms strategic alliances with international organisations, national governments, academic institutions, financial bodies, civil society and the private sector.

Governed democratically, ICLEI’s members elect regional Executive Committees (RexCom) and the ICLEI Council. Council members in turn elect the Global Executive Committee (GexCom), which guides ICLEI’s strategic direction through a six‑year plan. Leadership includes a President, Vice‑Presidents and a Secretary General.

Through its five development pathways, ICLEI supports nature‑based solutions, circular economy strategies and zero‑emission transition planning. It provides practical tools, operational manuals and guidelines to help local governments translate international frameworks into local realities. ICLEI’s programming includes initiatives such as resilient cities and ecomobility. These include campaigns like Cities for Climate Protection, EcoMobility Alliance and the Resilient Cities conference series, which guide municipalities in emissions inventory, action planning, resilience building and sustainable transport strategies.

Regarding sustainable finance, ICLEI collaborates with financial institutions and academic partners to support local governments in accessing climate finance. It provides data‑driven tools and knowledge networks aligning local sustainability priorities with investment needs, thereby connecting local action to funding opportunities .

In summary, ICLEI enables local and regional governments globally to develop scientifically informed, locally relevant urban sustainability strategies through expert assistance, peer connection and scalable tools.