C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

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The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a group of 97 cities around the world that represents one twelfth of the world's population and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on fighting climate change and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban citizens.

From 2021, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, serves as the C40's chairperson, former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg as president of the board, and Mark Watts as executive director. All three work closely with the 13-member steering committee, the board of directors and professional staff. The rotating steering committee of C40 mayors provides strategic direction and governance. Steering committee members include: Accra, Bogota, Boston, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Dhaka, Dubai, Durban, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Seattle, and Stockholm.

Working across multiple sectors and initiative areas, C40 convenes networks of cities providing a suite of services in support of their efforts, including: direct technical assistance; facilitation of peer-to-peer exchange; and research, knowledge management & communications. C40 is also positioning cities as a leading force for climate action around the world, defining and amplifying their call to national governments for greater support and autonomy in creating a sustainable future.

History

C40 started in October 2005 when London Mayor Ken Livingstone convened representatives from 18 megacities to forge an agreement on cooperatively reducing climate pollution and created the 'C20'. In 2006, Mayor Livingstone and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI)—led by the efforts of former U.S. President Bill Clinton—combined to strengthen both organizations, bringing the number of cities in the network to 40 and helping to deliver projects and project management for participating cities to further enhance emissions reductions efforts.

Serving as C40's first chair, Livingstone established the C40 Secretariat in London, set up the C40 Steering Committee, and initiated the use of C40 workshops to exchange best practices amongst participating cities. In 2008, former Mayor of Toronto David Miller took over as C40 chair. Highlights of his tenure included the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors and the C40 Cities Mayors Summit in Seoul, both in 2009, as well as the launch of practical action initiatives for cities, such as the Climate Positive Development Program and the Carbon Finance Capacity Building program.

Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg served as chair from 2010 to 2013. During his three-year tenure, Mayor Bloomberg demonstrated unwavering commitment to building a professional organization and establishing measurable and uniform benchmarks for success, as well as expanding knowledge-sharing between cities and partner organizations with similar priorities. Key milestones during his chairmanship include the full integration of the CCI Cities Program into the C40, and the C40 Mayors Summits in Sao Paulo and Johannesburg. Under Mayor Bloomberg's leadership, C40 grew to include 63 cities.

In December 2013 former Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes became Chair of C40. During his tenure Mayor Paes oversaw the addition of more than 20 new member cities (particularly those in the Global South) several groundbreaking research reports, successful international events, and thriving global partnerships, all of which are helping cities make real contributions to the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. He also helped launch the Compact of Mayors (now the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy), put in place the C40 Cities Finance Facility, and oversaw the opening of a permanent C40 office in Rio de Janeiro, at the Museum of Tomorrow.

In 2015, as C40 marked its 10th anniversary, cities were crucial voices in shaping and advocating for a strong Paris Agreement—just as city leaders will be crucial in delivering on its ambition going forward. More than 1,000 mayors, local representatives, and community leaders from around the world took part in the Climate Summit for Local Leaders, hosted by Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

In August 2016, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo became C40's first chairwoman after being voted in unanimously by the Steering Committee. Mayor Hidalgo has announced an ambitious agenda for the organization, including plans to focus on securing green financing, supporting compliance with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, encouraging inclusive and sustainable growth in cities, and recognizing the leadership of women in tackling climate change.

In December 2016, C40 held its sixth biennial Mayors Summit in Mexico City. The global Summit, hosted by Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Ángel Mancera, was attended by 1,400 people, including representatives from more than 90 cities.

C40 cities

C40 has 97 participating member cities across seven geographic regions.

* Africa:
** – Addis Ababa
** – Accra
** – Abidjan
** – Nairobi
** – Lagos
** – Dakar
** – Freetown
** – Cape Town
** – Durban
** – Johannesburg
** – Tshwane
** – Dar es Salaam
* East Asia:
** – Beijing
** – Chengdu
** – Dalian
** – Guangzhou
** – Nanjing
** – Shanghai
** – Shenzhen
** – Wuhan
** – Hong Kong
** – Tokyo
** – Yokohama
** – Seoul
* Europe:
** – Copenhagen
** – Paris
** – Berlin
** – Heidelberg
** – Athens
** – Milan
** – Rome
** – Venice
** – Amsterdam
** – Rotterdam
** – Oslo
** – Warsaw
** – Lisbon
** – Moscow
** – Barcelona
** – Madrid
** – Stockholm
** – Basel
** – Istanbul
** – London
* South America:
** – Buenos Aires
** – Curitiba
** – Rio de Janeiro
** – São Paulo
** – Salvador
** – Santiago
** – Bogotá
** – Medellín
** – Quito
** – Lima
** – Caracas
* North America:
** – Montreal
** – Toronto
** – Vancouver
** – Mexico City
** – Austin
** – Boston
** – Chicago
** – Houston
** – Phoenix
** – Los Angeles
** – New Orleans

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