Argentina, July 2025. The International Climate Conference (CCI25), held in Córdoba, Argentina, from July 1st to 3rd, consolidated an agenda leading up to COP30 in Belém. Through the Regional Commitment – signed by five governors, one vice-governor, and representatives from the environmental departments of 15 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires – the strategic role of subnational governments in climate leadership and multi-level governance for integrated, ambitious, and cooperative action was reaffirmed, in the face of the national government's climate denialism.

Organized by the Government of Córdoba and co-organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – Latin America and the Municipality of Córdoba, CCI25 brought together more than 40 international experts, top authorities from six provinces, 120 mayors and 90 exhibitors from Argentina and 20 other countries. More than 6,000 people participated in the event, including 600 students from schools throughout the province, as well as representatives from the business sector, cooperatives and urban waste pickers.

Subnational governments heading towards COP30

One of the milestones of CCI25 was the signing of the Regional Commitment by the governors of Santa Fe (Maximiliano Pullaro), La Pampa (Sergio Ziliotto), Jujuy (Carlos Sadir), Chubut (Ignacio Torres), Córdoba (Martín Llaryora) and the vice-governor of Entre Ríos (Alicia Aluani).

Llaryora, host of CCI25, highlighted that, despite belonging to different political spectrums, the governors share common interests in favor of Argentina. “Our focus is on the environment, but it’s also a productive one. We are not deniers; we understand the new opportunities,” stated the governor of Córdoba.

“Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world and has disappeared from the climate agenda. We, the provinces, will represent the country at COP. This effort that we are making in the provinces cannot be ignored,” he added.

Regional Commitment

The signed Regional Commitment highlights that subnational states are key actors in the international system and fundamental protagonists in building a just and sustainable climate future, with unique biodiversity, enormous natural capital, and a high level of political protagonism.

The signatory provinces thus unite in a political declaration that seeks to position the voice of Latin America in global climate negotiations, recognizing the role of subnational governments in climate leadership for integrated, ambitious, and cooperative climate action.

The key points of the Commitment aim to strengthen multi-level governance and climate finance for Latin America; protect biodiversity for the well-being of people and promote the adaptation of ecosystems to climate impacts; accelerate the transition to a circular economy; invest in a just and equitable energy transition; enhance the gender and diversity perspective in climate policies; and foster Environmental Education and Public Awareness.

During the CCI25 High-Level Ministerial Roundtable, the document was also signed by the Minister of Environment and Circular Economy of Córdoba, Victoria Flores; the Minister of Climate Change of the Government of the Province of Misiones, Gervasio Malagrida; the Minister of Ecology of Misiones, Martin Recaman; the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Jujuy, María Inés Zigarán; the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Santa Fe, Enrique Estévez; the Secretary of the Environment of Entre Ríos, Rosa Mirta Hojman; the Secretary of the Environment of the Government of La Rioja, Santiago Azulay Cordero; the Secretary of the Environment and Climate Change of La Pampa, Vanina Basso; the Secretary of the Environment and Climate Change of Rio Negro, María Judith Giménez; the Secretary of the Environment and Sustainable Development of San Luis, Federico Cacace; and the Secretary of the Environment and Control of Sustainable Development of Chubut, Juan José Rivera. by the Undersecretary of the Environment of Mendoza, Nuria Ojeda; by the Undersecretary of the Environment of Formosa, Natalia Lupia; by the Undersecretary of the Environment of Chaco, Mariano Sebastián Moro; by the Undersecretary of Sustainable Development of the Government of San Juan, Hector Bustamante; by the Director of Sustainable Development and Circular Economy of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Analia Flores; and by the General Administrator of the Correntino Institute of Water and the Environment, Mario Antonio Salvia.

Furthermore, within the framework of the High-Level Legislative Committee, more than 20 parliamentarians signed the "Federal and Regional Pact for Environmental Sustainability," as a concrete agenda for legislative action and the definition of public policies committed to sustainable development and environmental protection.

COP30 in the Amazon

The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) will be held in November 2025 in Belém, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. It will be a key moment to review and reinforce international commitments in the face of the climate emergency.

The Brazilian presidency promotes an ambitious and transformative vision based on the concept of a global effort: a large collective mobilization of governments, communities, and social sectors in defense of the climate, nature, and people.

The climate emergency demands accelerating the implementation of commitments already made, promoting new initiatives that guarantee climate justice, and strengthening integrated action at the local, national, and global levels. This requires recognizing the strategic role of subnational governments and building roadmaps that reflect the diversity and needs of each territory.

The voice of Latin America must be strongly projected in this process. Therefore, initiatives like the Town Hall COPs—local climate dialogues driven by ICLEI that connect communities with global processes—are fundamental to translating the realities of the territory into concrete proposals for action towards COP30.

In this sense, the signing of the Regional Commitment during CCI25 represents a firm step by Latin American subnational governments to position their leadership and build a common agenda towards Belém.