"...Since 1990, city and regional leaders have come together through organizations like ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability to serve as counterparts to national governments and the United Nations. As many local governments become concerned about the increasingly discussed failure of global governance, leaders across cities and towns are looking for opportunities to strengthen their impact. ?To the extent that national interests have allowed, UN organizations and the global processes under their influence have been supportive of this newly born movement in civil society,? says Zimmerman. ?Local actors…have mirrored global efforts at nearly every stage and have often stimulated the debate among nations with their own commitments.?..."