The C40 Blog provides a platform for sharing important, diverse perspectives on
current issues from C40 mayors, experts, partners and international thought leaders.
One of the more accessible, economically inviting and impactful actions cities can take to address climate change involves making existing buildings more energy efficient. Here, the Director of CCI’s Building Retrofit Program shares her perspective on the opportunities and barriers to large-scale climate action in the building sector. Arah has been with CCI for over three years, and previously worked in real estate development in the private and public sectors. At the C40 Cities Mayors Summit in Sao Paulo, she will participate in the session on Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings, which looks at a range of retrofitting options from across the C40, with an emphasis on funding mechanisms and policy drivers.
C40 Chair, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, appeared on BBC News yesterday to discuss the upcoming C40 Cities Mayors Summit in Sao Paulo and discuss the crucial role that Mayors play as leaders on climate issues.
The cities of Bogota, Curitiba, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have come together under the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) Hybrid & Electric Bus Test Program to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon buses in Latin America, where road transportation accounts for 90% of transportation emissions. The program is supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). In the coming months, the environmental performance and economic benefits of hybrid and electric buses from several manufacturers will be tested under real traffic conditions in each city. CCI is also collaborating with the World Bank in a parallel initiative in Mexico City, where hybrid buses will be tested along conventional routes and in bus rapid transit (BRT) applications.
The C40 Mayors Summit will cover topics from energy efficiency to green investment to urban design. Check out the tentative agenda and stay tuned for updates.