Supporting Global South cities to deliver inclusive climate action at scale
The UCAP Climate Action Implementation Programme supports 15 cities across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia to implement climate projects that reduce emissions, create jobs, improve public services, and benefit communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Led by C40 Cities and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the programme provides technical assistance, capacity building, and peer learning. Cities receive support to design policies, engage stakeholders, access finance, and overcome the practical barriers that slow implementation.
City projects are projected to avoid 0.49 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, while policies and strategies designed through the programme could avoid 10 million tonnes annually, when fully implemented. Together, that’s equivalent to 40% of Greater London’s yearly emissions.
The programme runs from 2022 to 2026 with £15 million in funding. Explore the full programme structure, including the five dimensions of transformational change, priority focus areas, and how cities are building long-term capacity for climate action.
Delivering transformational change across 15 cities
The programme is delivering transformational change across five critical dimensions:
Policy design and project structuring
Cities are developing sector-specific strategies and roadmaps that integrate climate and equity goals. 26 sector-specific strategies, plans, or roadmaps have been co-created with UCAP cities, providing concrete pathways for implementation.
Stakeholder engagement and community inclusion
Cities are building genuine partnerships with communities, civil society, and the private sector. Over 4,100 local and national stakeholders have been engaged for knowledge sharing and exchange, ensuring diverse voices shape climate action.
Equity integration and institutionalisation
Cities are embedding equity principles into governance systems and decision-making processes. 34 city policies, processes, and governance systems have been informed or updated to advance inclusive outcomes.
Mainstreaming climate across departments
Cities are breaking down silos by establishing cross-departmental coordination mechanisms. 17 cross-departmental bodies have been established or strengthened to drive integrated climate action.
Knowledge exchange and finance readiness
Cities are building the capacity and partnerships needed to access climate finance and scale solutions. Over 620 city officials have benefited from targeted training and capacity building, strengthening their ability to deliver transformational projects.
Inclusive climate action in practice
Learn how UCAP CAI is driving transformational change across 15 Global South cities and accelerating the delivery of climate action aligned with the 1.5°C targets. From Accra to Quezon City, find out how these cities are turning plans into action.
A quiet revolution has been underway in Accra. Recognising the urgent need to address climate change, the city has launched a pioneering effort to embed climate action into its governance. Today, Accra stands as a beacon of climate resilience in West Africa.
The diversion of solid waste relies on collaborative action between the city’s cleansing agency and small and medium enterprises engaged in compost production. A support package was developed to scale up organic waste diversion by building awareness and strengthening their capacity to produce high-quality compost and improve the compost value chain in the city.
Taking climate action in Dar es Salaam marks a shift from traditional practices to collaboration that ensures climate change integration. The city has advanced key recommendations that have strengthened cross-sectoral capacity, allowing it to better respond to climate challenges and embed resilience into its broader urban development efforts.
Informal settlements lack access to the city’s grid and rely on burning fuel and illegal connections, creating serious health and safety risks. To address this, a city-led solar micro-grid pilot has been launched in Amarasta, with three more projects underway, bringing clean, reliable energy to communities and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
At Ikosi fruit market, a new biogas project is set to show the viability of waste-to-energy models. Meanwhile, community-based initiatives, like organic waste composting and local stakeholder engagement, are beginning to deliver results. The next phase will build on this success by expanding the initiative’s reach across Lagos State.
To cut organic waste in Nairobi’s markets, a 10-tonne solar-powered cold storage system is being piloted at City Park Market. It’s designed to reduce high electricity costs and unreliable grid supply, providing sustainable storage for 165 traders, saving 841 tonnes of food waste annually.
Through a series of engagements, including site visits and awareness campaigns in communities across seven regions, the city is making a concerted effort to explore sustainable waste management solutions for informal settlements. Grounded in sustainable waste management practices, the project will help improve service delivery, reduce waste, and support a circular economy.
More than 430 women broke historical barriers to become electric bus drivers in the city’s first inclusive public transport operator. They received technical training, psychosocial support, and inclusive policies designed to remove the obstacles they faced, empowering them to lead a fleet of 195 e-buses in Bogotá’s La Rolita, where 60% of the drivers are now women.
Guadalajara has developed a first-of-its-kind roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon public buildings by 2050. The plan aims to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable sources in public buildings, boost the city’s energy performance, create green jobs, and support a just energy transition.
Lima is undergoing a transformation to tackle rapid urbanisation, severe transport challenges, and air pollution. Through its Cyclo-Inclusive Strategy and the construction of new cycle lanes, the city is rethinking how people move. Low- & middle-income women and young students were involved in the process to ensure their needs were addressed. By 2040, the number of new cyclists could reach approximately 1.8 million.
Medellín is taking bold steps to clean up its air and cut climate pollution. A new strategy is being developed to strengthen the Clean Air Urban Zone (ZUAP), launched in 2018, ensuring it stays effective for decades to come. At the same time, a transition plan to have an e-bus fleet is moving ahead, supported by new financial alternatives.
The very first technical guidelines for e-buses and trolleybuses were developed to support the diesel-electric transition. While created for Mexico City, the tool also serves as a replicable model for other cities, helping reduce fossil fuel use in public transport across the country.
Jakarta is actively combating climate change through innovative strategies centred on sustainable building practices. At the heart of its efforts is a drive to accelerate energy and water efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A new, more ambitious city regulation is now in place, supporting national green building standards.
A user-friendly technical guide to support the implementation of a new Low-Carbon Building Checklist was launched on 1 June 2024. It helps promote the adoption of green building regulations, reducing energy use and the impacts of extreme heat.
Quezon City has approved a new Green Building Code with more ambitious targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and electricity use from both existing and new buildings. The projected impact is equivalent to 120,000 cars off the road. The new law is also expected to create good green jobs, particularly for youth and women.
