At day three of London Climate Action Week, the conversation switched to collaboration and how cities work with national governments, businesses and each other to deliver change.
Extreme heat has also dominated panel discussions during the week as June temperature records have been broken across Europe, and today an event on extreme heat was cancelled due to temperatures.
London isn’t just calling, it’s cooking. – United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres
Bold climate action is saving lives
C40 Co-Chair and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has hailed the success of air pollution action as new data shows a reduction of around 40% in estimated deaths linked to toxic air.
New analysis by Imperial College London shows that, between 2019 and 2024, the estimated deaths associated with air pollution in London have reduced by around 40%
This new data reflects the impact of bold, sustained action to tackle air pollution in the capital, including the introduction of ULEZ, alongside long-term pollution concentration trends
“From electrifying the bus fleet to tackling construction emissions, I remain committed to going further and faster to tackle air pollution and to meeting the WHO’s latest guidelines for NO2 and PM2.5 as soon as possible to protect the health of all Londoners.” – Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
Elevating cities in global climate action
City, state and regional leaders gathered on day 3 of London Climate Action Week to help shape the future direction of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP).
The meeting marked an important step in establishing CHAMP’s new Subnational Advisory Council, which will provide a formal platform for local and regional leaders to advise the 77 national governments and the European Union participating in the coalition.
Chaired by the former mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, the group focused on how national governments can better support cities and regions in delivering climate action.
National climate goals can only be achieved when cities, states and regions are fully empowered to act.
Cities working with businesses to accelerate climate action
City leaders and businesses explored how stronger partnerships can help tackle some of the most pressing urban challenges of our time.
As energy security, affordability and climate resilience continue to dominate local agendas, participants discussed how collaboration between cities and businesses can unlock solutions and reduce emissions.
The mayors of Melbourne, Phoenix, Renca and Cluj-Napoca discussed how the recently launched Global Urban Data Centres Pact is a great example of how cities and businesses can work together to deliver benefits for communities.
Redesigning cities for a climate-safe future
City leaders and topic experts joined Community Jameel and Gensler to explore how urban planning can help create climate-safe cities, neighbourhoods and housing.
The discussion focused on how cities can use spatial data, nature-based solutions and long-term planning to strengthen resilience to growing climate risks.
The C40 & UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Urban Planning Accelerator stood out as a model for turning mayoral ambition into practical delivery through collaboration between city governments, businesses and technical experts.
Where housing meets climate
Housing and climate action are often presented as competing priorities. Today, C40 Cities was joined by Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, Urban Partners and Arup to highlight how cities can expand housing supply while advancing climate goals.
The mayor of Phoenix and Medellín joined the Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, Laia Bonet, to discuss how public-private collaboration can help deliver greener, more resilient neighbourhoods while addressing housing needs through initiatives like adaptive reuse, innovative financing models and brownfield redevelopment.
“We’re working with the private sector, because the city does not develop on its own. The way to do this is through public-private partnerships and to be productive. You need housing, you need land, and you need regulations for developers to carry out projects that are financially viable.” – Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez
Unlocking finance for climate action
At the Net Zero Delivery Summit, city leaders and financial institutions explored how greater investment can accelerate climate action in cities.
Hosted by the City of London Corporation in collaboration with C40 Cities, the discussion examined how cities are creating investable opportunities in sustainable infrastructure, resilience and urban regeneration.
The Deputy Mayor of London, Mete Coban MBE, highlighted innovative approaches to attracting private capital, and investors and experts from the Penn Institute for Urban Research and La Caisse shared how they are positioning themselves to support urban climate projects.
The session highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between financial institutions and cities to deliver the scale of investment needed for a net-zero future.
The power of collaboration
Cities cannot win the climate fight alone.
Working with national governments, investors, businesses, and community partners is essential to turn goals into tangible benefits for people.
As London Climate Action Week continues, mayors are demonstrating that the strongest climate solutions are built together.