Global Leadership on Climate Change

WHY CITIES?
CITIES HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
Cities are the global centers of communication, commerce and culture. What our cities do
individually and in unison can set the agenda for a sustainable future.

A Global Opportunity for Cities to Lead

In terms of size, cities occupy only two percent of
the world’s landmass. But in terms of climate
impact, they leave an enormous footprint. Cities
consume over two-thirds of the world’s energy and
account for more than 70% of global CO2
emissions. And with 90 percent of the world’s
urban areas situated on coastlines, cities are at
high risk from some of the devastating impacts of
climate change, such as rising sea levels and
powerful coastal storms.
As part of the climate change problem, cities also
have the opportunity to be integral to its
solution.
Cities are on the frontlines of global climate
change and are also well-positioned to play a
leadership role in driving global action to address
climate change.
Infographic: Addressing Climate Change Begins in the City
Nimble city governments often have closer
relationships with their businesses, residents
and institutions than state and national
governments, allowing new policies to be
implemented more quickly and decisively.
C40 Cities are working to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions significantly
and provide proven models that other
cities and national governments can
adopt.
For centuries, cities have helped foster some
of mankind’s greatest ideas. It is no stretch of
the imagination to believe that cities will now
take the lead in addressing climate change.
Copyright 2011 C40 Cities. All rights reserved.