C40 Cities: Which Municipalities Are Actually Cutting Emissions?
Established in 2005, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group comprises nearly 100 cities working to synchronize local initiatives with international climate objectives. Among its strategies are the Climate Action Planning Framework (CAPF) and Deadline 2020. The Climate Action Pathways from C40 evaluated various sector interventions. The review pinpointed 27 cities, such as Barcelona, Berlin, and New York City, which reached their emission peaks before 2012, achieving an approximate annual reduction of 2% afterward. While Copenhagen managed to decrease emissions by 80% from 2009 to 2022, it fell short of its 2025 carbon neutrality goal. Additionally, Oslo and Tokyo have adopted budgets and regulations centered on climate. C40 cities monitor emissions through the Global Protocol, though consumption-based emissions are frequently not included, complicating reduction strategies.
Key facts
- C40 was founded in 2005 and includes nearly 100 major cities.
- The Climate Action Planning Framework (CAPF) aligns city strategies with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C ambition.
- 27 cities peaked emissions before 2012 and achieved sustained reductions.
- The 27-city cohort cut direct emissions by an average of about 2% per year after peaking.
- Copenhagen cut territorial emissions by around 80% between 2009 and 2022.
- Copenhagen missed its 2025 carbon neutrality target, partly due to carbon capture at Amager Bakke.
- Oslo's Climate Budget (Klimabudsjett) integrates emissions targets into municipal budgeting.
- Tokyo's Cap-and-Trade System, introduced in 2010, requires large buildings to meet mandatory emissions-reduction targets.
- C40 research found that the consumption footprint of 79 cities was substantially larger than their territorial emissions.
- The GPC protocol tracks territorial emissions but excludes consumption-based emissions.
Entities
Institutions
- C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
- Amager Bakke
- Klemetsrud
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- designboom
Locations
- Barcelona
- Basel
- Berlin
- Boston
- Chicago
- Copenhagen
- Heidelberg
- London
- Los Angeles
- Madrid
- Melbourne
- Milan
- Montréal
- New Orleans
- New York City
- Oslo
- Paris
- Philadelphia
- Portland
- Rome
- San Francisco
- Stockholm
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Warsaw
- Washington, DC
- Tokyo
- Denmark
- Norway
- Japan