Welcome to C40’s coverage of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). We are on the ground at COP26 to bring you the latest news, key announcements and proceedings from Glasgow, for what is being penned as our best and last chance to stop runaway climate change.
Our Last, Big Chance
C40 hosted its flagship event — Our Last, Big Chance — today. Featuring mayors and thought leaders from around the world, Our Last, Big Chance outlined the steps required to achieve a sustainable and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and advance C40’s vision of a just, green future.
The event opened with a speech from the outgoing C40 Chair, who highlighted how the coalition’s work had saved millions of lives before calling for a “decade of exponential action.”
This was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by award-winning journalist Edie Lush, on how cities are driving bold, systemic changes.
Watch a recording of the event – available in English; French/Français; Portuguese/Português; Spanish/Español; and Mandarin/普通话.
C40 will welcome a new Chair next month
At today’s event, the outgoing chair passed the baton to C40’s chair-elect. He outlined his agenda for concrete action on the climate crisis during his term:
- Directing two-thirds of C40’s funding to the Global South, who have contributed the least to climate change, but are bearing the brunt of its worst impacts.
- Tackling air pollution by rolling out air quality measures to nearly 100 cities worldwide under the Breathe Global initiative.
- Expanding C40’s Global Green New Deal programme, to boost partnerships between cities, trade unions, young people, business and community organisations.
The unified voice of 1,000 cities
C40’s event also included a showcase of over 1,000 cities and local governments that signed up to the Race to Zero campaign — committing to halving global emissions by 2030.
The C40 Chair-elect acknowledged the scale of ambition shown by signatory cities, marking it as “a historic commitment to make this decade one of exponential action toward a green and just future.”
Representing over 722 million people worldwide, these cities are showing the kind of bold leadership that is needed to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C, and help build greener, stronger and more equitable cities that work for everyone.