Supporting cities to deliver rapid, transformative climate action
The C40 Climate Action Planning Framework and C40’s Deadline 2020 programme were created to support cities in developing climate action plans that have the level of ambition and action needed to play their part in meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement. To stay within the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, climate action planning needs must drive rapid, systemic change in cities around the world.
To remain within a 1.5°C rise, average per capita emissions across C40 cities need to drop from over 5 tCO2e per capita to around 2.9 tCO2e per capita by 2030. For wealthier, high-emitting cities, that means an immediate and steep decline in current emission levels. Many rapidly-developing cities can maintain their current levels for up to a decade, and, in a small number of cases, there is some scope for emissions per person to rise slightly before they fall to zero. In all cases, transformational change is a necessity – cities must diverge considerably from their current business-as-usual emissions trajectories.
Key components of climate action planning
Emissions neutrality
Developing a pathway to become an emissions neutral city by 2050 at the latest, and setting an ambitious interim goal and/or carbon budget (e.g. 2030 targets).
Resilience to climate hazards
Demonstrating how the city will adapt and improve its resilience to the climate hazards that may impact the city now and in future climate change scenarios.
Inclusivity and benefits
Engaging with the community to inform the plan, outline the social, environmental and economic benefits expected from implementing the plan, and establish ways to ensure equitable distribution of these benefits to the city’s population.
Governance and collaboration
Detailing the city’s governance structure, powers, and capacity, as well as identifying the partners who need to be engaged in order to accelerate the delivery of the city’s mitigation targets and resilience goals.
PROGRAMMES & INITIATIVES
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.
