What are the Climate Action Explainers?
Cities are leading the response to the climate crisis. Yet many of the issues they face, such as climate migration, the role of nature in cities, green jobs, or the need to redirect finance away from fossil fuels, can be difficult to communicate quickly and clearly.
Created with animator Rosanna Wan, these videos bring key climate issues in cities to life, showing why city climate action matters and what mayors are doing about it.
How they can be used
The Explainers are free to use and share. These resources work well for:
- City communications teams looking for ready-made content on climate topics
- Educators introducing climate policy to students
- Campaigners and advocates building public support for climate action
- Anyone who wants a quick, visual introduction to these issues
What is climate migration?
The devastating impacts of the climate crisis often force people to abandon the place they call home and seek refuge in new locations. This can be due to extreme weather events, such as floods, wildfires, and droughts, or gradual changes, such as sea level rise or land and forest degradation. Cities are taking urgent, inclusive climate action that supports people displaced by environmental change and strengthens community resilience.
C40 supports cities’ response to climate-related displacement through the Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration, created with the Mayors Migration Council. It focuses on addressing the impact of the climate crisis on migration in cities, ensuring that all urban policies, including environmental ones, are inclusive of migrants and do not exacerbate existing discrimination.
Why do cities need nature?
Preserving and expanding nature in cities strengthens community health, supports local ecosystems, and provides effective protection against climate impacts like extreme heat and flooding. Green and blue spaces also offer daily benefits for residents, creating more liveable and resilient neighbourhoods.
C40 cities are scaling up this work through the Urban Nature Accelerator. Cities that join the Accelerator commit to increasing and enhancing urban nature by 2030 by delivering policies and actions that help cities cool neighbourhoods, improve air quality, manage stormwater, support biodiversity, and create good, green jobs. Through these commitments, more residents will have access to high-quality green and blue spaces, and nature will play a central role in managing climate risks.
What is a green job?
To build a future where everyone can thrive, we need more good, green jobs. A well-managed just transition to a green economy can strengthen local economies, improve public health and support greater social inclusion.
Mayors and cities are driving this transition by creating good green jobs, working together with unions, businesses, and many other sectors to ensure people have the skills and training needed for emerging sectors. Good, green jobs also address long-standing inequalities, ensuring decent, secure work that supports both climate and community goals.
Divest from fossil fuels, invest in our future
Meeting C40’s mission to halve emissions by 2030 requires a rapid shift in how cities invest their capital. Redirecting finance from fossil fuels to climate-safe industries accelerates action, boosts the green economy, and strengthens resilience.
C40 supports this work through the Clean Investment Accelerator, which helps cities drive this change by supporting commitments to divest from fossil fuel companies and scale investment in climate solutions.
Related
A digital campaign to accompany the C40 Urban Nature Accelerator – a commitment by cities to establish ambitious nature targets to achieve climate resilience and create an agenda for people and nature to support one another.
A global campaign of over 1,000 cities committing to net-zero by mid-century through science-based targets and inclusive action.
An ongoing collaborative project organised by C40, showcasing the work of artists from around the world.
