C40 Cities released new analysis of climate action plans from 54 cities worldwide, which shows that they will deliver their share of greenhouse gas emission reductions to keep global temperatures to the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement.
Their efforts could avert at least 1.9 gigatonnes of global greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere between 2020 and 2030, equivalent to half the combined annual emissions of the EU’s 27 member states.
Among the details contained in the climate plans reviewed by C40 are climate-friendly transport measures, such as more than 100 kilometers of public transport corridors in Mexico City and reallocating 100 kilometers of street space for cycling and walking in Milan.
Major cities are also adopting energy efficiency measures to help meet the 1.5C target, including increased solar energy production in Lisbon and a commitment to operate all new public and private buildings at net zero by 2030 in Johannesburg.
Other actions include improving flood management measures in Dakar, incentivizing local and organic food production in São Paulo, and planting 100,000 trees by 2025 to improve air quality Buenos Aires.
“Cities around the world are showing that it's possible to tackle the climate crisis and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – and the steps they are taking are already improving millions of lives, by cleaning the air, creating new jobs, giving people new ways to get around, and protecting communities from floods and other disasters,” said C40 Board President Michael Bloomberg.
