Any gathering that starts with a game promises to be anything but ordinary. Picture a room full of mobility advocates, chatting and laughing as they map out how long each person has been part of the Collective, creating a living timeline from newcomers to founding members. It wasn’t just an icebreaker. It was a moment of shared history, a celebration of how far we’ve come, and an early realization: We’re part of something powerful, and it’s only getting stronger.

The Clean Mobility Collective’s 2025 global gathering brought partners from all corners of the world into one room, each bringing their own unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas. At the heart of it all was our shared mission: accelerating the shift to clean mobility.

For three days, that room became a space to connect more deeply with one another’s work, share lessons in mobility advocacy across different contexts, and build relationships that will shape future collaborations.

Perhaps it was the regional snacks that gave us a literal taste of each other’s cultures, but we found ourselves more connected, more inspired, and more ready than ever to shape what comes next: a three-year plan with shared goals and cross-regional projects to bring them to life.

Learning exchange: Sharing stories, building knowledge

We began with stories. One session was dedicated entirely to listening and learning from one another’s campaigns. Storytellers shared insights, wins, and lessons learned from local, community-driven work—something we deeply value at CMC. This session gave us a chance to better understand the diverse approaches our partners are taking to advance zero-emission transport and mobility in different contexts.

We also created space to dive into the priorities, successes, and challenges each of our regions is facing. While the contexts vary, the gathering showed  just how interconnected our work really is, and participants were given the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of key initiatives happening in regions outside their own.

Planning for 2025–2028: From local efforts to global impact

A core purpose of the gathering was to advance our 2025–2028 planning process, including the development of cross-regional projects that bring together partners to tackle shared challenges in the movement of goods and people.

These initiatives address urgent issues like halting the export of polluting vehicles from the Global North to the Global South, pushing forward zero-emission deliveries, and sparking innovation through initiatives like the Mobility Awards and Innovation Challenges. Other ideas include testing region-specific solutions that promote active mobility and public transport, while building leadership by empowering youth and worker-led organizations.

Each project comes with its own key outcomes and next steps, but taken together, they allow us to collaborate across regions, align strategies, scale impact, and accelerate the global transition to clean mobility.

Strengthening leadership: Governance updates

Another key moment of the gathering was the decision-making around global governance. Participants voted on the process for updating our global steering committee. Regional coordinators will now work with core members to nominate regional representatives, ensuring the committee reflects a diverse mix of technical, communications, grassroots, and labor expertise. The new committee will hold its first meeting on August 5.

Beyond the meetings

Beyond the meeting room, we explored local mobility systems with a morning bike ride and urban site visit. But the experience went beyond just transport—it was about mobility in every sense, including moving our bodies on the dance floor at a drag show. It reminded us that this work isn't just about policies and planning; it's about culture, community, and the connections that bring us together.

Join the movement

The direction set at this gathering will guide the Clean Mobility Collective for the next three years. And whether you were in the room or are just learning about CMC, there’s a place for you in this movement.

Join us as we continue the journey toward zero-emission mobility. We’ll celebrate the wins, face the challenges, and build something powerful together.

Let’s keep smiling, keep collaborating, and keep moving toward streets for people, not pollution.