54 cities on track to keep global heating below 1.5 °C
December 11, 2020
As per the latest analysis released by the C40 Cities, 54 of the world’s leading cities are on track to keep global heating below 1.5 °C.
These leading cities are rolling out different plans to cut GHG(greenhouse gases) in line with the Paris Agreement. Research shows that once fully implemented it will prevent at least 1.9 gigatonnes of GHG 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.
Some of these plans include mass tree-planting in Buenos Aires where 100,000 new trees will be planted by 2025, Milan will reallocate over 100km of street space for cycling by end of 2021, Lisbon will multiply its solar electricity production by 50 by 2030 and Mexico City will add over 100 km of public transport corridors and 4 new cable car lines by 2024.
These findings will be presented to the Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris who will be hosting the landmark event at the Paris City Hall marking the 5th anniversary of the landmark Climate Change Agreement, said "I was Chair of C40 Cities when Deadline 2020 was set, challenging global cities to set their own climate action plan that will protect residents, create green jobs, address inequality and build the future we want. Now, five years on from the Paris Climate Agreement, I am proud to see so many cities from all over the world launch their plans to keep global temperature rises below 1.5°C. This marks an important milestone in our efforts to accelerate climate action and demonstrates the incredible leadership from cities on this issue."
Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, C40 Chair, said: “Cities have always carried the torch of climate action, because our residents can’t afford the costs of indifference and the consequences of delay. This analysis confirms what we have long known to be true: cities will keep doing their part to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, root our strategies in science, protect our most vulnerable residents, and deliver a green economy that works for everyone.”