In a move that will help deliver meaningful climate action around the world, the UK government has announced £27.5 million in funding over the next four years for a new Urban Climate Action programme (UCAP) to support cities and regions in developing countries most impacted by climate change to accelerate their transition to net zero.
The UCAP programme will be implemented through C40 and its partner, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Renewed support from the UK will allow C40 to accelerate the implementation of climate action plans in 15 C40 cities across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America, from Quezon City to Nairobi and Bogota.
These plans focus on policies and projects that can deliver the most significant emissions and risk reductions, along with the widest benefits in support of a green and just recovery from COVID-19. The funds will also help the C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF) to facilitate access to finance for the development of mitigation and resilience projects in cities.
“This is the single most important decade for climate action, and every commitment we make to boost our ambition needs to be backed with the resources to make it possible,” said C40 Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This new funding agreement from the UK government will put policy into practice for our boldest climate goals — from cleaning the air and creating new economic opportunities for our residents to improving access to sustainable solutions for cities most impacted by the climate crisis.”