- The fund will support cities in delivering transformative projects benefitting urban dwellers and vulnerable communities.
- The first round of funding will benefit Bogotá, Dar es Salaam, Los Angeles, Quezon City, Vancouver and Warsaw.
- C40 Chair and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced the fund during London Climate Action Week.
Today, C40 Cities is launching a new fund for cities to deliver inclusive and transformative climate action.
The Inclusive Climate Action Cities Fund (ICA Fund) will support science-driven, locally led climate initiatives in cities around the world, starting with Bogotá, Dar es Salaam, Los Angeles, Quezon City, Vancouver and Warsaw.
The ICA Fund is supported by the Open Society Foundations and builds directly on the ongoing success of C40’s Global Green New Deal pilot programme. It is C40’s first-ever fund for cities specifically focused on facilitating inclusive climate action and a just transition to a green economy, and a response to unmet challenges C40 cities are calling for support on.
Each grantee city will receive up to US$60,000 to implement projects over the next 12 months that address specific socio-economic barriers to accelerate climate action that is just, fair, inclusive and benefits all residents, especially communities vulnerable to the effects of global heating. The six inaugural beneficiary cities were selected following a rigorous process that saw applications from more than 30 cities globally.
By bringing inclusivity and equity to the forefront of climate action, these cities will work to heal social inequalities, improve decision-making processes by ensuring voices of vulnerable communities are heard, and foster truly inclusive economies, thereby ensuring equitable access to the benefits of climate action for all while inspiring more cities in the process.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and Chair of C40, said: “Mayors recognise that there can be no climate justice without social justice and are already leading the way to achieve both in their cities. However, more support is needed. The C40 Inclusive Climate Action Cities Fund will provide more support to cities to implement specific projects that address social justice and the climate emergency in tandem. The six cities receiving the first round of funding reflect my commitment to expanding the Global Green New Deal programme and supporting Global South cities in prioritising climate action that tackles inequality.”
Caterina Sarfatti, C40’s Managing Director of Inclusion and Global Leadership, said: “With the rising cost of living globally and the increasing injustices of climate breakdown, residents around the world have a huge need for healthier, fairer, more sustainable and inclusive societies. Inclusive and equitable climate action has never been so urgent and mayors are leading the way in showing what a just, green transition looks like in practice. By providing the necessary financial and technical support, C40’s ICA Fund is a concrete mechanism for them to further scale and accelerate delivery of inclusive climate action that specifically addresses the needs of vulnerable people.”
With the funding, the cities will implement the following projects:
- Bogotá will promote the creation of good, green public sector jobs by training and working with women e-bus operators.
Claudia López Hernández, Mayor of Bogotá, said: “La Rolita, our first public transportation operator, represents a milestone for Bogotá and the region as it integrates two fundamental pillars of our city’s vision: caring for people and caring for the planet. More than half of its operators are women, making it the most gender-inclusive system in the city and ensuring equal opportunities for them in a traditionally male-dominated sector. With La Rolita, we are contributing to a cultural transformation and contributing to tackling the climate crisis by operating a fully electric fleet, practising eco-driving techniques, and delivering a high-quality service to one of the most underserved areas in our city.”
- Dar es Salaam will strengthen collaboration with informal workers in the organic waste management sector.
Omary S. Kumbilamoto, Lord Mayor of Dar es Salaam, said: “Dar es Salaam recognises the importance of working with and empowering informal communities and informal workers to co-create with the city sustainable waste management policies and plans. Thanks to C40’s ICA Fund, we can accelerate the work needed to reach Dar es Salaam’s vision of waste-free streets within its informal settlements, by working with these communities, strengthening collaboration, promoting ownership of climate action and enhancing access to wider benefits.”
- Los Angeles will create a Workers Advisory Council to support the city’s efforts to phase out oil extraction in line with its vision of a “fossil fuel-free Los Angeles” and its Just Transition Strategy.
LA Mayor Karen Bass said: “I want to express my gratitude to C40 for awarding the City of Los Angeles an Inclusive Climate Action Cities Fund grant to further support our work with the LA City-County Just Transition Task Force. Together, we will navigate our city’s transition away from fossil fuels, uplift our workforce, engage our frontline communities and lead the way towards a greener, fairer and more prosperous future for all of Los Angeles.”
- Quezon City will make information on the city’s climate action plans more accessible to people of all backgrounds, abilities and age groups, including through the creation of an interactive storybook for children with disabilities and other youth.
Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City, said: “I am proud to join other world-leading mayors in advancing inclusive and equitable climate action with the support of C40’s new Inclusive Climate Action Cities Fund. In Quezon City, we recognise the need for inclusive and accessible information dissemination that caters to all residents of all backgrounds, educational attainment and age groups, to better engage all residents in our climate action initiatives. This project will help to deliver on this priority, putting the needs of youth and residents with disabilities at the forefront of its design and delivery.”
- Vancouver will work to ensure people with disabilities are protected from extreme heat vulnerability through community-led and equity-centred approaches to climate resilience.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said: “Vancouver is proud to be a leader in accessibility and with this announcement, we are excited to be recognised for the hard work done by our city to improve extreme heat support to those most at risk. This grant will enable our city to expand our work in providing low-cost, low-barrier support to people with disabilities to reduce the impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke.”
- Warsaw will address energy poverty for low-income groups through its Carbon-neutral and Affordable Retrofits for Everyone in Need (CARE) project.
Rafal Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw, said: “Tackling climate change for the safety and well-being of residents is a priority for Warsaw. One of the climate challenges we face as a city is the high-carbon emissions from municipal residential buildings, with over 77% of them requiring immediate retrofitting. We want the energy transition of these buildings to be equitable. This is why we prioritise renovating low-income and social housing to support residents who experience energy poverty. The CARE project will help the city establish rules for selecting buildings where renovations should be carried out as a matter of priority.”