Inclusive climate action is how cities protect their people
There is no climate justice without social justice, and city-led action is critical to achieve both.
Climate breakdown is deepening inequality. Without inclusive climate strategies, by 2030, 132 million people could be forced into extreme poverty[1]. Those least responsible for emissions are hit hardest by the climate crisis. Low-income families, marginalised groups, and people already facing housing or health challenges suffer the most from extreme heat, unsafe air, and rising costs of living.
When mayors put fairness at the centre of climate action, they address the injustices concentrated in their cities. This way, inclusive climate action tackles both the climate crisis and the inequalities it worsens.
When climate action is fair, everyone can thrive
Cities are demonstrating that inclusive approaches can transform climate action into tangible benefits for communities.
For example, in Los Angeles, oil workers are helping design the city’s shift from fossil fuels, ensuring a just transition that protects their livelihoods.
While in Accra, informal waste workers (people working without formal employment or social protection) now receive healthcare and life insurance as they strengthen recycling systems.
These approaches build trust and dignity, giving mayors the backing to act boldly – closing coal plants, redesigning streets, and scaling up solutions that serve everyone.
C40’s Inclusive Climate Action Forum enables mayors and communities around the world to share what works and scale fair solutions that deliver a thriving, resilient future. Learn more about the Forum and how your city can access peer-to-peer support for implementing equity-focused climate policies.
The case for inclusive climate approaches
Inclusive climate action means designing climate policies with fairness at the heart so the benefits reach everyone, especially those most at risk.
C40 cities show three clear outcomes:
1. Building public trust
People stand behind policies when they see daily benefits
Cities that involve communities in planning and show how action improves daily life (through cleaner air, lower costs, safer streets, and better health) earn stronger trust. That trust gives leaders room to move faster and push for more transformative policies.
2. Creating good, green jobs
Fair solutions grow local economies and reduce unemployment
Cities that invest in good, green jobs and training see higher employment and stronger economies, while helping workers move from old industries into new ones, like building upgrades and clean energy.
3. Improving health and safety for everyone
An inclusive approach makes sure all communities thrive
Cleaner air, affordable clean energy, safer transport, and stronger protection from extreme weather improve life across the whole city, with the greatest gains for those most underserved and at risk.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supports this approach. When workers and communities have a say, cities can more effectively and quickly reduce the greenhouse gases driving climate change. Fairness builds the public trust needed to make big changes possible.
Start shaping fair climate action in your city
C40 offers different ways to help your city deliver thriving, resilient communities grounded in equity and justice:
Programmes and initiatives
Learn from peers, test new approaches, and scale the solutions that deliver thriving, resilient communities.
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Real-world examples of inclusive climate action
Learn how C40 cities are building climate resilience through inclusive action that centres workers, marginalised communities, and gender equity.
Learn how mayors and communities in African cities are advancing disability inclusion, supporting informal workers (people working without formal employment or job protections), and driving just transitions through C40’s Inclusive Climate Action Programme.
Bengaluru is pioneering participatory approaches, training over 500 waste workers and city officials to deliver climate priorities through inclusive, sustainable waste management systems.
Vancouver is working directly with people with disabilities to strengthen their resilience to climate impacts, providing targeted cooling support and services during extreme heat events.
Bogotá is addressing gender disparities by recruiting and training disadvantaged women as drivers, providing psychosocial support, finance, and self-care training to create equitable opportunities.
Cities leading the way on inclusive climate action
Learn how mayors and communities in African cities are advancing disability inclusion, supporting informal workers, and driving just transitions through C40’s Inclusive Climate Action Programme.
Frequently asked questions
What does “inclusive climate action” actually mean in practice?
Inclusive climate action means designing climate policies with communities involved from the start, ensuring the benefits reach everyone – especially those hit hardest by climate impacts. This could mean helping workers in higher polluting industries move to good, green jobs, through inclusive skills training, improving air quality in low-income neighbourhoods, or ensuring transport improvements serve all areas of the city, not just wealthy districts.
Will focusing on equity slow down our climate progress?
Research shows the opposite – fairness is the number one driver of public support for climate action. When people see that policies benefit their communities, they back them more strongly. This means faster implementation and more ambitious targets. C40 cities like Los Angeles, Accra and Barcelona are proof that inclusive approaches accelerate climate action rather than delay it.
How can we measure whether our climate investments are actually creating equitable outcomes?
Look for metrics like the number of good, green jobs created in underserved communities, reduction in energy poverty, improvement in air quality across different neighbourhoods, and levels of community participation in climate planning. C40 cities track outcomes like healthcare access for informal workers, energy bill reductions for residents, and involvement of marginalised groups in decision-making.
How can funders and policymakers support inclusive climate action?
Cities need direct access to funding and finance to move quickly on inclusive solutions, rather than navigating lengthy national approval processes. Supporting social protection programs – like skills training for displaced workers or social insurance for informal sector employees – helps communities through climate transitions. Coordinating climate, development, and social funding streams creates more effective investments, while tracking how funding benefits marginalised communities ensures real impact.
Sources
- [1] “Shock Waves” report by the World Bank. Foreword page xi.