Local governments that have made a commitment to either the Covenant of Mayors or the Compact of Mayors prior to the merger are automatically considered signatories to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the relevant Regional Covenant (where one exists).

Some adjustments to requirements can be expected as a result of the merger and will be announced in due course.

Cities and local governments committing to the GCoM as of 1 January 2017 will need to establish a target covering the territory of the local authority for GHG emissions reductions, make a commitment to tackle climate change adaptation and resilience, and increase access to clean and affordable energy.

Cities and local governments should strive to set targets that are at least as ambitious, and preferably more ambitious, than their respective government’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Further, they need to be in line with National Adaptation Plans (where these exist), and be consistent with the principles around energy access and urban sustainability embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The commitment will consider regional priorities on commitments to mitigation, adaptation and resilience and/or access to energy, maintaining an integrated approach to tackling climate change.

Cities and local governments are, therefore, encouraged to take an active part in consultative processes within each region to ensure the initiative best meets local needs.

To make a commitment operational, all cities and local governments joining the GCoM need to establish an action plan to meet their stated targets. This plan should be based on a thorough analysis of the local situation (e.g. main sources of emissions and their respective reduction potentials, main climate risks and vulnerabilities and their associated current/future challenges).

The impact of their actions will be measured and monitored over time.

Key data and plans will be made publicly available. This plan should set out how a city or local government intends to implement the commitments on climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience and/or access to sustainable energy.

Cities making new commitments to the Global Covenant of Mayors will have at least two years from initial commitment to submit a plan.

Cities and local governments will have to report progress against established commitments on a regular basis. Guidance will be made available to support signatories at the start and throughout the reporting process, as well as when any updates are made to the process.