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Municipality Membership
Join KIMO
KIMO brings together municipalities that share a commitment to healthy seas, clean beaches and thriving coastal communities. Membership gives your municipality a place within a network of local governments working together to prevent pollution, exchange knowledge, develop practical projects and influence decision-making at national, European and international levels.
Why join KIMO?
- A stronger voice for coastal municipalities
- Marine pollution does not stop at municipal boundaries. By joining KIMO, your municipality becomes part of a collective voice representing the interests and experiences of coastal communities in discussions about marine environmental policy.
- KIMO represents its members at national, European, regional and international levels, including through its participation in the OSPAR and HELCOM Regional Seas Conventions and engagement with the European Union and International Maritime Organization.
Your municipality can therefore contribute local knowledge and concerns to discussions taking place far beyond its own boundaries.
Learn from municipalities facing similar challenges
KIMO is a municipality-focused network. Members share experiences, practical solutions and knowledge about the environmental challenges affecting their communities.
Membership provides opportunities to connect with like-minded municipalities across Europe, exchange best practice and learn from approaches being developed elsewhere. KIMO also organises conferences, workshops, meetings and webinars to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Turn local challenges into practical action
KIMO combines policy work with practical projects that can have a direct impact in member communities.
Members have opportunities to develop and participate in projects addressing issues such as marine litter, ghost gear, microplastics, PFAS, maritime safety and pollution from shipping. KIMO also develops research, reports and best-practice guidance to help municipalities implement practical solutions.
Recent examples include Fishing for Litter, work on net-cutting waste, action on PFAS and advocacy on lost shipping containers.
Connect local experience with international policy
KIMO’s strength lies in connecting what municipalities experience locally with decision-making at higher levels.
KIMO members agree the organisation’s policy through resolutions at the Annual General Meeting. These resolutions address issues affecting the marine environment and are communicated to the relevant decision-making bodies.
As a member, your municipality can therefore help identify emerging issues, contribute to KIMO’s collective positions and support advocacy for change.
Benefits of joining KIMO
- Strengthen your municipality’s influence at national and international level.
- Learn from and connect with like-minded coastal municipalities.
- Access project funding opportunities and communication resources.
What does membership give your municipality?
Influence
Help strengthen the collective voice of coastal municipalities in national, European and international decision-making.
Knowledge
Exchange experience and practical solutions with municipalities dealing with similar marine and coastal challenges.
Representation
Have your municipality’s interests represented through KIMO’s national networks and international advocacy.
Collaboration
Develop relationships with municipalities, organisations and other stakeholders working on marine environmental issues.
Projects
Access opportunities to participate in or develop projects with practical local impacts and potential funding opportunities.
Information
Stay informed about developments in environmental legislation, policy and international marine governance.
A network shaped by municipalities
KIMO is a democratic local government network. Its agenda is driven by its member municipalities, with members represented through national networks, the International Board and the Assembly of Delegates.
Each municipality has a vote in the Assembly of Delegates, while the International Board consists of representatives from KIMO’s member networks. The International Secretariat, hosted by Aalborg Municipality in Denmark, coordinates the organisation’s day-to-day activities and implementation of the agreed work programme.
This structure means membership is not simply about receiving services from KIMO: municipalities help determine what KIMO works on and how the organisation represents their interests.
Membership and national networks
Where a KIMO national network exists, municipalities normally join through that network. KIMO currently has national networks in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, Sweden and the United Kingdom, alongside independent members in other countries.
National networks provide an important local and national dimension to membership, while KIMO International connects these networks and members to European and international decision-making.
Where a national network is not established, municipalities can become Independent Members of KIMO International.
What does KIMO expect from members?
Membership is a two-way relationship. KIMO asks member municipalities to:
- Take steps to prevent, reduce and eliminate litter and pollution within their municipality.
- Act as ambassadors for KIMO by promoting the organisation and its key agendas.
- Collaborate across local and national boundaries where relevant.
- Participate in KIMO projects and share local knowledge and best practice.
- Participate actively in national network meetings where applicable.
These commitments are designed to ensure that KIMO’s international work remains connected to practical experience and priorities at municipal level.
What does membership cost?
Membership fees are based on municipality population size, with contributions made to the relevant national network and KIMO International. We keep our membership fees low to encourage participation.
The precise fee structure varies according to the national network and membership arrangements. Prospective members should contact their National Coordinator or the KIMO International Secretariat for current fees applicable to their municipality.
Who can join KIMO?
KIMO membership is open to municipalities in the North-East Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea regions. Municipalities join to support KIMO’s mission of uniting local governments, preventing pollution and protecting, preserving and enhancing seas and coastal waters.
KIMO’s current membership spans nine northern European countries and represents more than seven million citizens.
Harlingen is a port city and is aware that we must take care to make the seas cleaner. You cannot do this alone, but by joining KIMO, you can work together on this task. Together we can make a difference; the environment does not stop at the municipal border.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact usKIMO membership is open to municipalities in the North-East Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea regions. Coastal and riverine municipalities are particularly relevant to KIMO’s work because they experience many of the environmental challenges addressed by the organisation.
No. Where a national KIMO network exists, municipalities normally join through that network. Municipalities in countries without an established national network can join KIMO International as Independent Members.
Members have opportunities to develop and participate in KIMO projects, although participation in individual projects is not necessarily required. KIMO’s work includes practical projects addressing marine litter, chemical pollution and maritime safety and pollution.
Yes. KIMO is a democratic, municipality-focused organisation. Members contribute to the development of KIMO’s priorities and policy, with each municipality represented in the Assembly of Delegates.
KIMO represents member interests through engagement with institutions and bodies including the European Union, OSPAR, HELCOM and the International Maritime Organization. KIMO also participates in stakeholder consultations and international policy processes.
Members are expected to support positive action on pollution, promote KIMO’s work, share relevant knowledge and best practice, collaborate across municipal and national boundaries, and participate in national network activities where applicable.
If there is a KIMO network in your country, contact the relevant National Coordinator. If there is no national network, contact the KIMO International Secretariat directly.