Paris Agreement

The new Paris Climate Plan outlines a common future for a carbon-neutral city by 2050, which is adapted to extreme climate events and resilient in response to crises and shocks. It conveys a positive message for a sustainable and equitable city for everyone. 

As we gear up for 2018, which will be an important turning point for staying on track with the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is interesting to look back to 2017 and take stock of the strong commitments that our C40 cities have made to climate action. Together and individually, we are “the new face of leadership” – as described by former US President Barack Obama at the North American Climate Summit in Chicago earlier this month. Together we offer hopes that we can and will address one of the greatest challenges of this century. The work has started in our cities and this month’s announcements in Chicago, Accra and Paris are raising the bar for 2018.

Full coverage of the first edition of a new event series, C40 Talks, held at The New York Times during Climate Week NYC 2017.

See the best photos from the first edition of C40 Talks held at The New York Times building during Climate Week NYC.

To fully understand how cities contribute to overall emission reductions, I believe that cities need to measure and report emission reductions from their climate change mitigation projects. Measurement and reporting help us understand potential cost savings from our projects, inform our decision-making processes and help us to identify risks and opportunities of projects. As the old adage goes, ‘You cannot manage what you cannot measure.’

Mayors of 52 of the world’s greatest cities representing more than 275 million citizens, have raised the pressure on G20 leaders to address climate change at their Summit this weekend.