On 1 January, 2021, C40’s new Leadership Standards for 2021-2024 went into effect. These new mandatory membership criteria were unanimously approved by us at our last Steering Committee meeting on 3 December, 2020 and apply to all 97 C40 member cities, setting a new global benchmark for climate ambition and leadership.
The commitment of our 97 cities representing 700 million residents to the Leadership Standards demonstrates the resolve of the world’s mayors to deliver the urgent action needed to tackle the climate crisis. In this unprecedented moment in human history, we know that we must act without hesitation to save our planet and create a more equitable, prosperous, and healthy future for our children and grandchildren.
In the crucial years ahead, these Leadership Standards set us on a path to achieve a zero-carbon future, build meaningful and broad coalitions, and set a global model for cities around the world to follow suit. This work is grounded in the principles of the Global Green New Deal as the cornerstone of a green and just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the foundation of global efforts to address the climate emergency.
C40 Leadership Standards 2021-2024:
- Plan. City has adopted a resilient and inclusive climate action plan aligned with the 1.5˚C ambition of the Paris Agreement, and updates it regularly;
- Deliver. In 2024, city remains on track to deliver its climate action plan, contributing to increased resilience, equitable outcomes and halving C40’s overall emissions by 2030;
- Mainstream. City uses the necessary financial, regulatory and other tools at their disposal to address the climate crisis and mainstreams their equitable climate targets into the most impactful city decision-making processes;
- Innovate. City innovates and starts taking inclusive and resilient action to address emissions beyond the direct control of the city government, such as associated with goods and services consumed in their city;
- Lead. Mayor and the city demonstrate global climate leadership and inspire others to act in support of the Paris Agreement.
These Leadership Standards will guide our collective action until at least 2024.
Supported by:
Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti (Chair)
Mayor of Accra, Adjei Sowah
Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López
Mayor of Boston, Martin J. Walsh
Chief of Government of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta
Acting Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Lars Weiss
Mayor of Dhaka North, Md. Atiqul Islam
Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Dubai, H.E. Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti
Mayor of Durban, Mxolisi Kaunda
Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan
Secretary for the Environment, Hong Kong, China, KS Wong
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala
Mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan
Mayor of Stockholm, Anna König Jerlmyr
Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike
The data included in this article were accurate at the time of publishing (6 January 2021). For the latest data on C40 member cities and the populations they represent, please check the C40 Annual Report.