Unleashing the power of urban just transitions
With nearly 16 million green jobs worldwide, mega-cities are key to driving inclusive growth and breaking with past economic inequalities. This demands people-centred policies at all levels, open dialogue with workers and unions, investment in social protections, and funding for a locally-led just transition.
Inequality is rising fastest in cities and mayors are taking action—delivering jobs, closing skills gaps, and cutting emissions through local Green New Deal projects. Yet, more investment is essential to accelerate progress.
At U20 and COP29, mayors are urging national governments to boost urban climate finance, dedicate at least 40% of climate funds to local projects supporting low-income communities, workers, and vulnerable groups, and deepen collaboration with subnational leaders on policy design and implementation through initiatives like CHAMP.
C40 Cities’ resources show how cities can partner with governments, unions, businesses, youth, and communities to create good, green jobs for all.
The urban just transition
The issue brief provides an introduction to policy solutions for cities pursuing a fair transition and green job creation.
For more like this, see C40’s Just Transition Toolkit and the ILO’s Guidelines on Just Transition.
Download the map to see real-world examples, from Accra’s social protection for informal waste workers to Boston’s Worker Empowerment Cabinet.
Bengaluru is developing inclusive systems for a just transition in waste management. Discover how the city leads climate action by engaging stakeholders, mapping roles and vulnerabilities in the bulk waste value chain, and focusing on targeted engagement, upskilling, and training for frontline workers.
Closing the skills gap
Only 13% of the global workforce is green-job-ready. Without significant investment in reskilling, 78 million jobs could be at risk, impacting the shift to a greener economy. In this issue brief, explore how cities are working hard to bridge this skills gap, especially for young people.
No country currently has a domestic workforce fully prepared for the green transition. Consultations by C40, partners and cities show that migrant communities already play a vital role in key green sectors, particularly in areas with labour and skills shortages. This contribution needs greater recognition and support at the local level.
The urban just transition
This issue brief explores the challenge of high levels of informal workforces and settlements in many C40 cities. These cities recognise the crucial role informal workers play in key climate-related industries—from waste management to transport—and are working to improve resilience, working conditions, and training.
Measures for a just transition—like upskilling, social protections, and access to green jobs—are often overlooked in climate funding. This study finds that only 3 of 63 climate funds are accessible to local governments and designed specifically for just transition initiatives.
To close the policy and funding gap for urban just transitions, cities are collaborating with national governments. Learn more about the South African Cities Dialogue, convened by C40 Cities, the South African Presidential Commission, and the South African Local Governments Association, which highlights examples of urban just transitions and provides recommendations for municipalities, national governments, financial institutions, international organisations, and philanthropies.