Recent Posts

Nine out of ten people worldwide breathe polluted air, according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organisation this month. 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air, the vast majority of them in the world’s cities. These pollutants released from vehicles, industry, open burning of trash and polluting fuels, are also contributing towards climate change.  

As urbanisation increases, more food is being produced and more food is being wasted. Particularly for cities, wasted food creates severe environmental and public health consequences. But it also presents opportunities to make a positive impact. It has been estimated that managing food waste sustainably could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 518 million tonnes per year globally, which is the equivalent of taking all the cars in the European Union off the road.

Paris, Mexico City and C40’s City Diplomacy Programme recently participated in the United Nations’ Talanoa Dialogue, an unprecedented opportunity for cities and all other members of civil society to assess our global efforts in relation to the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Read more from C40's City Diplomacy team about how cities are demonstrating leadership by collaborating with national leaders and engaging in UN dialogues.

By Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities

In cities across the world, from London to Los Angeles, Sydney to Sao Paulo, commuters on serious racing bikes and Lycra outfits previously only seen during the Tour de France have become a common sight. I confess to being one of them and recognise that we may not be universally loved! But along with the growing wave of hipsters on fixed gear machines, and millennials making quick trips on dock-less hire bikes, these highly visible modern cyclists are a symbol an important global trend that is putting the bicycle back at the centre of urban transport.