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Last weekend, 200 million people from 28 different countries went to vote for the European Parliament. The election’s 50.5% voter turnout rate was the highest in 20 years.

Cities around the world are critical to addressing the climate crisis and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C: the only viable “science-based” target we have. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC released last October made it clear that even 2°C of warming would massively increase food insecurity, water shortages, poverty and take a devastating toll on human health. Equipped with a strong network of leading cities around the world, C40 mayors are committed to creating a more sustainable future for all and are ready for the task ahead. 

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently launched the city’s Green New Deal, providing a template for a new era of climate leadership. Like many other C40 climate action plans from the world’s leading cities, it is built on hard data and sets goals to reduce emissions in line with the science-based target of constraining global average temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial average. L.A.’s plan is also deeply rooted in climate justice, with a strong focus on how action to reduce pollution can also reduce inequality, create new and better jobs, develop a stronger, more sustainable economy, and improve the health and well-being of Angelenos. In short, it is a strategy to benefit the whole of society and thus moves climate change from a peripheral issue to the central organising principle of government.

Inspired by the Adaptation Conference and hearing about other cities' climate adaptation efforts, Dubai has developed the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Although Dubai is generally adapted to climate extremes, with many measures implemented throughout its history given its location, the strategy is a first step in aligning and enhancing the adaptation measures undertaken.

We know that cities are key to a green and resilient future – however, many cities around the world are currently unable to finance the bold and ambitious climate action that will keep us on the right track. Significantly more investment in cities is needed, but even if existing development finance institutions, funds and investors offered more support, cities - particularly in low- and middle-income countries - would still face an uphill battle to finance the transition to a low-carbon future.