On the second day of Climate Week NYC, mayors from around the world continued to show the bold progress being made in cities.
While some national leaders may choose to spread disinformation or roll back action, mayors and city leaders are on the front lines, seeing the impacts of climate change in our communities every day.
C40 Cities X Ramboll Foundation
Yesterday evening, C40 Co-Chair and Freetown Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, C40 Cities Executive Director Mark Watts and Søren Nielsen of the Ramboll Foundation met to celebrate C40 Cities’ strategic partnership with the Ramboll Foundation.
Ramboll’s unrestricted funding to C40 Cities is an example of great leadership in the sector in the current political climate and a real vote of confidence in resilient cities where communities and nature thrive.
This new strategic partnership builds on our long-standing relationship with the Ramboll Group. The collaboration will help cities embed resilience and climate adaptation into long-term planning, governance and policy.
Climate finance
Mayor of Phoenix and C40 Cities Steering Committee member Kate Gallego joined The Climate Group Hub Live for the panel ‘Betting on a Breakthrough – Where Should the Smart Money Go Now?’. Joined by The Economist, RMI, Amalgamated Bank and BCG, Mayor Gallego underlined the role of cities in directing investment.
Cities are where climate risks hit hardest, but they’re also where so much innovation starts – from transit to infrastructure.
Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix
Cities are already investing in adaptation and resilience, but they cannot do it alone. Achieving global climate goals means directing significantly more public and private finance toward city-led solutions that protect people, create jobs, and reduce long-term risk.
The future of clean transport
Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London and C40 Board Member, joined a vital conversation on the future of clean transport in cities.
Coban highlighted the tangible progress London has made, particularly in expanding electric vehicle access and rethinking transport systems at a local level. But he also acknowledged the steep road ahead and the urgent need for bold, coordinated policymaking to drive further change.
He called for faster action from national governments, more support for local authorities, and a sharper focus on equity to ensure the transition benefits everyone.
As cities around the world grapple with similar challenges, the message is clear: the clean transport revolution is underway, but breaking down the final barriers will require bold leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and a commitment to long-term, systemic change.
Tackling climate disinformation
At the Solutions Dialogue on Information Integrity. C40’s Director of Political Strategy and Campaigns, Donna Hume, addressed the tide of disinformation that threatens climate action.
The event showcased best practices of tackling disinformation, evidence-based policy interventions, and explored how to accelerate the implementation of initiatives that align with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Discussions on disinformation and information integrity will continue at the Secretary-General’s Special High-level Event on Climate Action, building momentum and support for this crucial topic, leading into COP30.
Cities step up
At a time when global challenges are growing, cities are stepping up.
From cutting fossil fuels and scaling up clean energy to creating good green jobs and protecting communities, local leaders are proving what’s possible when action meets ambition.