An important organization, called C40, just released their annual report for 2022 a couple of weeks ago (March 30). The report contains a whole set of very impressive achievements and plans that are making a difference around the world. We should all know a little more about this group.
WHAT IS C40
C40 is a global organization of mayors from over 90 major cities around the world focussed on climate action and environmental justice. It was founded in 2005 by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. Starting out with just 18 “megacities” it has grown to 40 by 2006 and then to over 90 by 2023. C40 is now a leading global climate action organization for the municipal world, representing over 700 million people and one quarter of the global economy.
The example set by C40 shows that cities have a lot of influence and that they can rise to meet the challenge of the climate crisis.
In 2020, 54 C40 cities representing nearly 10 percent of the world’s economy completed and approved climate action plans in line with averting catastrophic climate change. The climate action plans invest in jobs, better energy for buildings, EVs, parks, and transit among other things. These local actions benefit hundreds of millions of people living in big cities.
And it works! According to the recent annual report: “Three quarters of C40 cities are now decreasing their per capita emissions at a faster rate than their own countries.”
The successes for the C40 growth are owed in part to some key governance milestones over the years. In 2011, the formal merger with President Bill Clinton’s Climate Initiative (CCI)’s Cities Program brought significant resources and infrastructure to make C40 a global climate action organization. In 2016, C40 made it a standard of membership that all participating cities commit to delivering an inclusive and resilient climate action plan in line with the 1.5°C ambition of the Paris Agreement by the end of 2020. And in 2021, C40’s Leadership Standards for 2021-2024 went into effect, setting an ambitious standard for C40 cities to ensure they are on a path to a zero-carbon future. This is the magic sauce. This created a peer-to-peer dynamic and mutual supports like frameworks and research to maintain momentum toward effective and bold climate municipal policies, programs and investments. Together, these things raise climate ambition, build equitable and thriving communities, foster innovation, facilitate access to finance, and scale up climate action.
Member cities get several kinds of supports for 1.5°C climate action plans and these help member cities build equitable and thriving communities. The C40 organization facilitates access to finance for investment in green jobs and projects that improve resilience in cities. They also share best practices across high-impact sectors like energy for buildings and transportation.
Member cities include three Canadian cities, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. There is a further Canadian connection to all of this. David Miller, past mayor of Toronto, served as C40 Chair from 2008 to 2010. Under his leadership, C40 hosted big events to involve more major cities and supported bold climate action through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. This included climate action planning, and research and case studies on buildings, transport, energy, and adaptation. Miller also convened C40 member cities at the 2009 UN climate talks in Copenhagen expanding global recognition for the role of cities in addressing the climate crisis.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE LEADERSHIP STANDARD
C40’s approach to governance is unique in that it is driven by cities and their mayors, rather than by nation-states. This allows member cities to take a customized approach to climate action programs, policies and investments that meet the unique needs of their communities. It also allows cities to learn from each other and to drive progress together through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and collaboration.
The effectiveness dimension is turned up a bit with a performance-based approach to membership. C40 membership performance-based requirements rather than fees, and all member cities are reviewed annually against C40’s Leadership Standards. The Leadership Standards set the minimum requirements for all member cities and safeguard the integrity of C40 as a network of climate leaders. Cities in the C40 network earn their membership through action, and the organization works to ensure that its members are committed to taking tangible steps to address the climate crisis. This is C40’s approach for promoting global climate action and supporting its members in leading the way in the fight against the climate crisis.
The Leadership Standard involves member cities agreeing to plan – develop plans trough local approvals, deliver – on action plan items that increase resilience, mainstream – uses the necessary financial, regulatory and other tools address the climate crisis, innovate – take inclusive and resilient action to address emissions beyond the direct control of the city government, lead – demonstrate global climate leadership and inspire others to act.
The standards set the minimum requirements for all member cities and safeguard the integrity of C40 as a global network of leaders. These standards ensure that all member cities are committed to using an inclusive, science-based, and collaborative approach to cutting emissions and building healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. This shared commitment helps to align the efforts of member cities and ensures that they are working towards common goals.
For example, Zhenjiang put in place a plan and then delivered on the plan concerning the Yangtze River and the need to renew older urban areas. They applied a science-based “sponge city” method to its ecological development and expanded green roofs and permeable pavements.
Another example underscores the benefits of collaboration. It’s estimated around 70% of Tokyo’s carbon comes from its structures so this city pioneered the world’s first emission-reduction program for buildings. They partnered with Kuala Lumpur to share knowledge and ideas for widespread energy efficiency. Both cities will benefit from more efficient structures and less carbon.
C40’s climate action planning guide provides a structured approach to climate action planning that can help cities to identify priority areas for action, set ambitious targets, and measure progress over time. By using a common framework, member cities can ensure that their climate action plans are comprehensive, well-organized, and aligned with best practices. This approach also helps to ensure that climate action plans are grounded in a deep understanding of local context and conditions.
C40’s international coordination efforts are critical to the success of member cities. Through C40’s advocacy work and diplomacy, member cities are able to coordinate their efforts and to advocate for stronger climate action at the provincial, state and global levels. This helps to amplify the voices of member cities and to drive greater ambition and action on climate change.
Together, these elements of C40’s approach work to put focus and momentum to local policy and program effectiveness. By providing member cities with a shared governance structure, minimum standards for climate leadership, a common approach to climate action planning, and a platform for international coordination, C40 helps to ensure that member cities are able to implement highly effective climate action plans.
CANADIAN CITIES PARTICIPATING IN C40
Three Canadian cities (Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal) are members of the C40 and this is important for several reasons.
It is standard setting as it signals that Canadian leadership in cities are taking the climate challenge seriously. As members of the C40, these cities are committed to cutting emissions in half by 2030, helping to limit global heating to 1.5°C, setting targets for net-zero by 2050, and building healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. This sends a strong signal to provincial and federal counter-parts that these major Canadian cities are making specific investments and committing to policy goals to address climate.
As a benefit to the C40 membership, Canadian cities get access to a wide range of resources and tools that can help them to develop and implement effective climate action plans. They get to leveraging the expertise and experience of other member cities as well as research resources, and best practices to develop data-driven climate action plans. This has obvious spill over benefits to other Canadian cities during their planning exercises.
This kind of membership in global organizations like C40 helps to amplify the voices of Canadian cities on the world stage. Through C40’s advocacy work and diplomacy, member cities are able to coordinate their efforts and to advocate for stronger climate action at the global level. With the C40 membership, Canadian cities are part of a global movement towards more ambitious and effective climate action.
C40 IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR CITIES
The network provides access to a vast collection of resources, case studies, data, and information exchanges to support cities in developing effective climate plans. The climate planning that cities do have done already has had a significant positive impact for people living in the member cities and also globally. This is good news for everyone.
Like other climate efforts, the work of the C40 is not easy. To their credit, they’ve taken an inclusive, science-based and collaborative approach This will make the world-wide effort see more positive results. The network’s goals of raising climate ambition, influencing the global agenda, building a movement, and scaling up the response to the climate crisis are being achieved effectively through high-impact accelerators, innovation, advocacy, and diplomacy.
To learn more about the C40 and its work, visit the C40 website. Also, check out the climate plans published at the Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto city websites.
NOTES:
https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/
https://fcm.ca/en/resources/mcip/building-legacy-local-climate-action
https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-GCoM-Impact-Report.pdf
https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/
https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/jccpe/contact-us
https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/jccpe.2022.1.issue-1
https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/jccpe-2022.1.1.0005
