Happy Holidays from the Global Local team!

2021 was another challenging year for local governments around the globe, who had to cope with uneven recovery attempts, service pressures, and transitions between virtual, hybrid and in-person working. COP26 spotlighted growing climate issues, while the Afghanistan government's collapse sparked another humanitarian crisis.

We launched the Global Local Recap in July to highlight how local governments were meeting these challenges. Since then, we’ve focused on sharing innovative policy, showcasing local innovation, and encouraging learning and collaboration between local governments around the world.

We hope you’ve appreciated the fresh perspectives we’ve provided on headline topics, and the attention paid to often-overlooked ones. For this edition, we’ve curated a selection of Recap highlights for you, plus some brand new pieces.

Thanks for sticking with us throughout our first year, and we look forward to continuing our journey in 2022. We always love to hear from you, so please get in touch with us with any comments, questions or suggestions for next year.

COP26 dominated environmental discussions this year. The conference inspired both hope and frustration about the urgent international actions needed to prevent the most extreme impacts of climate change. We produced monthly COP26 newsletters in the run up to and post-conference, examining the implications for local climate action beyond political headlines.
 
Our COP26 newsletters included a short video explainer series on key local issues: climate adaptation, just transition and the circular economy.
 
We also examined local flood resilience solutions, such as floodable parks and nature-based infrastructure, and hydrogen’s potential value as a sustainable energy source.

The Recap focused on local government’s key social justice role from a number of perspectives this year, as pandemic impacts continue to reverberate. We examined how community gardens can empower citizens and improve food security, as well as how municipal initiatives can support at-risk people and help to prevent crime. We also explored how municipalities are building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.
 
The humanitarian crisis following the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan this year left local governments with the responsibility of helping more refugees to settle and integrate into their areas. We highlighted local policy that supports and empowers migrants and asylum seekers.

Local arts and culture are a significant, but often undervalued, way of bringing communities together and helping people to work through challenges from a fresh perspective. Libraries, an essential frontline service, have been forced to adapt and broaden their remit after sustained threats from funding cuts and Covid-19 disruption. We shared examples of global library innovation, from creating a spice donation bank to loaning air quality testing equipment.

We also highlighted how local governments can create a platform for place-based regional and rural creative industries by developing community assets, offering targeted grants and supporting artist residencies.

The LGIU podcast went from strength to strength this year, as we featured amazing international guests and officially launched the Global Local podcast. Here are some highlights to enjoy over the festive season:

Our brand new episode is on [true] crime and local government. In the first half, Heather Wilson from Bradford Council, UK, discusses how they’re working to help young people avoid crime, before we borrow from the true crime genre with a localgov whodunnit.

We talk rubbish and carbon confusion this episode, with insights from Melbourne, Australia, on waste reduction and how to add a fun circular economy twist to your seasonal festivities.

In our Indigenous communities and local government episode, we interview councillor Sherri Rollins from Winnipeg, Canada, about being an Indigenous woman in local government and why representation matters.

We’re really proud of what we’ve produced this year and couldn’t have done it without you reading and engaging with the Recap. So, thank you. If you’ve been inspired by the Recap this year, we’d love you to get involved in Global Local. You can take part in three ways:

1. We're always looking for your stories of innovation and improvement – on any topic. Drop us a line at ingrid.koehler@lgiu.org or fill in this simple form on our website.
2. We’d love you to participate in our virtual Global Local Executive panels!
   Find out more on our website or contact hannah.muirhead@lgiu.org.
3. Help us to spread the word!
   Share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues or follow us on Twitter.

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