C40 and Danish Government Launches Project to Unlock Climate Action in Cities Around the World
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark provides DKK 15m to support cities develop and implement ambitious climate action plans to meet emissions reduction targets in line with Paris Agreement.
C40’s Deadline 2020 Initiative provides a road map for how cities can deliver their fair share of the Paris Agreement. The Danish funding will support five selected mega cities in Africa and Asia.
Paris, France (12 December 2017) — Through a DKK 15 million grant from Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) will help five of the world’s fastest growing mega cities, in Africa and Asia to develop and implement ambitious climate action plans. The climate action plans will support the cities to meet emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement and help accelerate sustainable ‘green’ economic growth in these cities.
The cooperation was launched today at a meeting in Paris between Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, and Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40. As part of the climate action plans, the cooperation will seek to engage the global P4G initiative “Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030” where country partners include Chile, Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea and Vietnam.
The decisions made by mayors in the years to 2020 will be decisive in determining the course of future global warming. Putting in place robust climate action plans that detail how cities can grow their economies, whilst cutting their emissions, offers the best guarantee that cities will deliver their fair share of the Paris Agreement goals.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, said:
“The 92 cities in the C40 network represent more than half a billion people and one quarter of the global economy. We cannot meet the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals without new partnerships and an active engagement of these cities but also businesses and civil society. This new cooperation between Denmark and C40 will pave the way for P4G partners to deliver city solutions with clear impact to solve climate related challenges”
Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group said:
“C40’s Deadline 2020 Research has shown that action in cities can deliver over 40% of the emissions reductions needed to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which means mayors have a major responsibility to make the right choices in the next few years, to help prevent catastrophic climate change. Just as Copenhagen is setting new standards for how cities can thrive whilst also cutting emissions, Denmark’s leadership is making a significant contribution to the global fight against climate change.”
Jesper Nygaard, CEO of Realdania, Realdania, said:
“Reducing emissions in the developing world is crucial for progress against the Paris Agreement. Cities account for around 70% of global energy consumption and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Decisive action at city-level would significantly contribute to keeping global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees below pre-industrial levels, in line with global commitments made at COP21 in Paris”.
The cooperation was launched today at a meeting in Paris between Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, and Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40. As part of the climate action plans, the cooperation will seek to engage the global P4G initiative “Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030” where country partners include Chile, Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea and Vietnam.
The decisions made by mayors in the years to 2020 will be decisive in determining the course of future global warming. Putting in place robust climate action plans that detail how cities can grow their economies, whilst cutting their emissions, offers the best guarantee that cities will deliver their fair share of the Paris Agreement goals.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, said:
“The 92 cities in the C40 network represent more than half a billion people and one quarter of the global economy. We cannot meet the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals without new partnerships and an active engagement of these cities but also businesses and civil society. This new cooperation between Denmark and C40 will pave the way for P4G partners to deliver city solutions with clear impact to solve climate related challenges”
Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group said:
“C40’s Deadline 2020 Research has shown that action in cities can deliver over 40% of the emissions reductions needed to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which means mayors have a major responsibility to make the right choices in the next few years, to help prevent catastrophic climate change. Just as Copenhagen is setting new standards for how cities can thrive whilst also cutting emissions, Denmark’s leadership is making a significant contribution to the global fight against climate change.”
Jesper Nygaard, CEO of Realdania, Realdania, said:
“Reducing emissions in the developing world is crucial for progress against the Paris Agreement. Cities account for around 70% of global energy consumption and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Decisive action at city-level would significantly contribute to keeping global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees below pre-industrial levels, in line with global commitments made at COP21 in Paris”.
C40 Cities connects more than 92 of the world’s greatest cities. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on tackling 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.
The current chair of the C40 is Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo; and three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board.
C40’s work is made possible by our three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Realdania.
To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit: