Supporting cities to deliver rapid, transformative climate action
Transforming climate goals into specific actions, clear governance, and accountability for delivery
To limit global warming and prevent climate breakdown, cities must halve their fossil fuel use by 2030. This requires redesigning cities in ways that create opportunities for workers and communities while cutting emissions.
Climate action planning is the foundation for everything that cities need to do to address the climate crisis. A comprehensive plan sets targets to cut emissions and build resilience, translating ambition into measurable action. It identifies the steps needed to achieve these targets, establishes governance structures for implementation, and ensures that benefits reach all residents, especially those most affected by climate impacts.
C40’s Cities Climate Transition Framework helps cities develop these comprehensive climate action plans. Drawing on over ten years of experience, the framework is aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals and provides practical guidance cities can use to plan and deliver transformational change.
Explore climate action plans from C40 member cities that have been verified as aligned with Paris Agreement goals.
Why cities need comprehensive climate action plans
Climate action happens across many city departments and involves multiple partners beyond city governments. Without a comprehensive plan, efforts can become fragmented. Departments may operate in isolation, making it hard to track progress on climate goals or understand how benefits reach different communities.
Climate action planning addresses this issue. It creates a unified strategy that ties emissions targets to specific actions. The process establishes clear responsibilities, transparent monitoring systems, and ensures community and stakeholder involvement throughout the process.
This approach delivers practical benefits:
Delivering impact to residents, businesses, and stakeholders
Mayors can demonstrate exactly what the city is working towards, how this is delivering important impacts, and how progress compares to targets.
Ensuring climate action is fair and equitable
Planning frameworks help cities ensure climate actions improve quality of life, tackle injustices, and avoid harmful unintended impacts. For example, cities can identify which communities face the greatest climate risks and ensure they receive priority in adaptation investments, green job creation, and other benefits from climate action.
Departments working together instead of in silos
When departments align their work, it leads to more effective implementation tactics and minimises wasting resources doing the same work twice.
Focusing resources on actions that deliver results
Cities can identify which climate actions deliver the strongest results and prioritise investments accordingly.
Building public support through meaningful involvement
Regular consultation ensures residents understand climate plans, contribute ideas, and hold cities accountable for delivering benefits equitably.
How C40 supports cities with climate action planning
C40 provides cities with comprehensive frameworks and practical resources to develop ambitious climate action plans. All C40 member cities’ climate action plans are reviewed by a cross-disciplinary expert group for alignment with the Cities Climate Transition Framework as part of the C40 Leadership Standards.
Cities Climate Transition Framework
This framework outlines the five essential components of climate action planning: emissions neutrality, building resilience, inclusivity and benefits, governance and mainstreaming, and monitoring progress. This provides cities with comprehensive guidance for plan development.
Climate action planning resources
Step-by-step guides and sectoral strategies. Access detailed resources on setting emissions targets, mainstreaming climate across government, establishing monitoring systems, and developing strategies and actions for transport, buildings, waste, and energy.
Key components of climate action planning
C40’s Cities Climate Transition Framework outlines five essential components that comprehensive climate action plans should address:
Emissions neutrality
Setting a pathway to reach net zero
Developing a route to becoming an emissions-neutral city by 2050 at the latest, with ambitious interim targets. Targets reflect the Paris Agreement principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, acknowledging historical emissions and capacity for action.
Building resilience to climate hazards
Preparing for climate impacts now and in the future
Demonstrating how the city will adapt and improve its resilience to climate hazards affecting the city now and projected in future scenarios, based on evidence aligned to IPCC and national technical studies.
Inclusivity and benefits
Ensuring climate action works for everyone
Engaging communities to inform the plan, outlining social, environmental, and economic benefits expected from implementation, and establishing ways to ensure equitable distribution of these benefits whilst mitigating risks to vulnerable populations.
Governance and mainstreaming
Integrating climate across all city processes
Detailing the city’s governance structure, powers, and capacity, while working towards systematic integration of climate commitments into city processes to institutionalise delivery of mitigation targets and resilience goals.
Monitoring and demonstrating progress
Tracking what’s working and what needs adjustment
Understanding and communicating progress on actions set out in the plan is vital for maximising implementation success. Regular monitoring fosters learning, enables informed adjustments, and enhances internal and external accountability.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get started with climate action planning in my city?
Start by understanding your city’s current emissions profile and climate risks. You can also review plans from similar cities in the C40 network to understand different approaches. C40 provides technical resources, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and frameworks that guide cities through each stage from initial assessment through plan development, approval, and implementation.
How do other cities balance climate ambition with other city priorities?
Comprehensive climate action plans connect climate goals with wider city priorities like economic development, public health, housing, and social equity. Actions that reduce emissions often deliver co-benefits like improved air quality, new employment opportunities, reduced energy costs, and enhanced community spaces.
How do we ensure our climate plan actually gets implemented rather than sitting on a shelf?
Implementation requires clear governance structures, assigned responsibilities, adequate resources, and regular monitoring. Successful cities integrate climate commitments into budget processes, establish cross-departmental coordination mechanisms, engage community partners in delivery, and create transparent reporting systems that track progress. C40’s frameworks guide cities through designing governance and monitoring systems that drive implementation.
How do we engage communities in climate planning to ensure benefits reach everyone?
Inclusive planning starts early, involves communities in identifying priorities and designing solutions, and creates mechanisms for ongoing participation in implementation. Cities conduct targeted outreach to communities most affected by climate impacts, work with trusted community organisations, use accessible communication formats, and establish feedback channels throughout plan development and delivery. The framework’s inclusivity component outlines specific approaches cities use for meaningful community engagement.
How long does it take to develop a comprehensive climate action plan?
Development timelines vary based on city capacity, governance structures, consultation processes, and existing climate work. Cities typically spend 12 to 24 months developing comprehensive plans, including technical analysis, community engagement, and political approval processes. Some cities begin with focused plans addressing key sectors and expand over time. C40 supports cities at all stages, from initial planning through implementation and plan updates.
Resources
Related
Supporting 15 cities in the Global South to implement Climate Action Plans and halve their carbon emissions by 2030, become carbon neutral by 2050, and secure a green, fair and equitable future for their residents.
How C40 helps cities access the evidence and insight they need to accelerate climate action and create local opportunity.
Helping cities accelerate climate action by integrating climate into budgeting and governance systems
