Bogotá, Colombia – Within the framework of the World Cities Day celebrations today, a high-level discussion will be held at the Hilton Corferias Hotel in Bogotá to present the results of the Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme.
As a result of this initiative, which is funded by the UK Government and implemented in collaboration with C40 Cities, Bogotá has made significant progress in implementing strategic projects that integrate sustainable mobility, clean energy, and urban planning with an equity and inclusion approach. These efforts are reflected in the concrete results achieved, such as the Public Pedestrian Policy, the urban energy governance model, and the operation of La Rolita, an electric transport system with a focus on gender equity and care.
The Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán; the British Ambassador to Colombia, George Hodgson; and Hélène Chartier, Director of Urban Development at C40 Cities, are expected to attend the event, which aims to highlight the political and technical commitment of the city and its allies to reduce emissions, strengthen capacities, and build a more sustainable and inclusive urban future. It will bring together municipal authorities, diplomatic representatives, international organisations, partners, beneficiaries, and key local stakeholders.
The event will showcase the key achievements of a collaboration cycle initiated in 2022 with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and support from the British Embassy in Colombia, aimed at implementing priority climate actions in the city. It is also a commemoration of the bicentenary of relations between Colombia and the United Kingdom, reaffirming the importance of solid and continuous cooperation among partners and allies.
During the discussion, projects highlighting Bogotá’s progress in inclusive climate action will be presented, including La Rolita, the 100% electric public transport system with a gender equity focus. Featuring 195 electric buses and a workforce with 63% women drivers, the system is a milestone in equitable, sustainable mobility that actively cuts 8,580 tons of CO2 each year and is being replicated in other cities in the region.
The implementation of the Public Pedestrian Policy (PPP) will also be highlighted. It seeks to guarantee safe and inclusive spaces in a city where walking accounts for 36% of daily trips. With C40’s support, eight strategic circuits of more than 20 km were defined, connecting public transport stations – including the future Line 1 of the Bogotá Metro – with the District Care System and other urban facilities such as schools, kindergartens, health centers, parks, and community spaces.
In the energy sector, Bogotá is advancing in the consolidation of an urban energy governance model, which will allow for an increase in the use of clean sources and ensure the integration of climate action with a gender perspective in planning and decision-making. The capital is the first city in Latin America to have a formal urban energy governance model, aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This model opens the door to strategic investments in energy efficiency and clean energies, in addition to generating replicable learnings for other cities in the region.
The interventions recognised Bogotá’s advances in implementing public policies that integrate active and sustainable mobility, long-term urban planning, and the generation of green jobs with a gender focus, highlighting the city as a benchmark for global climate leadership. These results are a testament to what can be achieved by aligning public policy, financing, gender focus, and technical capacity to face the climate crisis and build a more sustainable and just future.
George Hodgson, British Ambassador to Colombia said: “Congratulations to Bogotá and C40 for the successes of their programmes to make Bogotá one of the greenest cities in Latin America. From the United Kingdom, we have been working with Bogotá on different fronts to support its commitment to sustainability. We remain committed to supporting climate action in Bogotá so that it becomes an increasingly inclusive, resilient, and, of course, more sustainable city.”
Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá said: “Bogotá is today a global benchmark in climate action because we have shown that sustainability and equity can advance hand in hand. Being the host city for World Cities Day commits us even further to this vision. Thanks to the joint work with the United Kingdom and C40, we continue to promote projects that transform urban life and show how cities can lead the fight against climate change, and how international cooperation accelerates the transformations the world needs.”
Hélène Chartier, Director of Urban Development at C40 Cities said: “Bogotá’s results show the impact that can be achieved by aligning policy, finance, and technical capacity in the fight against the climate crisis,” said Hélène Chartier, C40 Director of Urban Planning and Design. “Bogotá is a regional leader, driving ambitious, replicable, and inclusive climate measures that promote a just energy transition and the creation of good green jobs through multiple C40 programs, and demonstrates leadership through concrete actions towards the fulfillment of its NDCs, in line with what science defines.”
The event reaffirms the commitment of the UK Government and the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá to climate action and highlights the importance of continued international cooperation through high-impact projects that integrate active mobility, clean energy, and sustainable and equitable urban planning. Bogotá thus consolidates itself as a leader in climate and social innovation in Latin America, promoting a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future for its inhabitants.