As they head home from COP26, nations all over the world have their work cut out for them to hit net zero targets on time.

One place to look for inspiration – and impact – is inward, towards their own cities. Cities have already proven to be powerful hubs in the fight against climate change: they are incubators of the innovative ideas in governance, tech, and community engagement that move the needle on our shared global goals; and, as major population hubs, they make a big impact – for better and for worse – on overall emissions. 

Population density: A blessing and a curse

Over half the world lives in cities. In North America, Latin America, and Europe, the percentage is higher – more than 75%. By 2050 – when our Net Zero target comes due – nearly 70% of the world will live in cities. 

As massive population centers – and hubs for industry, commerce, culture, recreation, and more – cities are major contributors to global emissions. However, they can also be examples of efficient living; depending on the urbanization context, overall density of development in well-planned, walkable cities can reduce emissions growth per person compared to suburban areas.

Culturally, cities serve as hubs for government innovation, agility, and resident engagement. In the US, research from the program America Is All In found that cities and other non-federal actors have the potential to deliver 37 percent of the reductions needed to hit the new Paris goal [1].

The American Cities Climate Challenge: Examples of cities in action

Launched in 2019, the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge (the Climate Challenge) provided funding and technical assistance to 25 US cities working towards Paris Agreement targets. 

As one of the many partners in the Climate Challenge, Delivery Associates worked closely with other partners and the cities themselves to coordinate and amplify efforts. ​​Our support, tailored to each city, includes a close look at the best way to build momentum, consensus, and collaboration across multiple departments and actors. We've supported cities as they establish Climate Implementation Units, engage Mayors and city leadership directly in problem-solving efforts, and bring experts together from across the city and its network. We also built a custom dashboard for city staff and partners to track and actively manage against milestones. 

Buildings and transportation: Key levers for impact

Climate Challenge cities focused on two main levers for emissions reduction: transportation and buildings. Two years later, the results are astounding: the 25 cities are now collectively on track to reduce CO2 emissions by 74 million metric tons (MT) from 2020 through 2030. This is a significant contributor to the 25 cities being collectively on track to reduce their emissions by 32% below 2005 levels by 2025, which outpaces the Paris Agreement goal of a 26-28% reduction by 2025.

The following is excerpted from a short report on the cumulative impact of the Climate Challenge:

Together, these 25 diverse cities across the political spectrum have passed 54 major buildings, energy, and transportation policies and launched 71 new climate programs and initiatives.

Moreover, the Climate Challenge has shown that cities can be innovators and leaders of a broader climate agenda – piloting projects, innovating cross-sectoral solutions, and developing new approaches to community partnerships to drive a more equitable economic recovery and sustainable future. For example, the city of Denver passed a ballot measure that established a sales-tax increase that will result in an estimated $40 million in annual revenue to fund climate action projects, with half of the money specifically earmarked for the city’s most vulnerable communities. 

So what are some specific ways cities can engage with climate targets? 

• Improving Renewable Energy Procurement: Nearly half of the cities procured renewable energy using tried-and-true purchasing and financing methods, helping to set a nationwide record for local government renewable energy procurement in 2020. Read more about this here. 
• Adopting Reach Codes for New Construction: Three cities passed reach codes – which provide standards for additional energy savings beyond current state requirements – incorporating EV charging, solar, and electrification readiness opportunities for new construction. 
• Advancing Energy-Saving Building Policies for Existing Buildings:
• ~~ Four cities passed policies that require building owners to meet performance targets by actively improving their buildings over time, with interim targets that drive energy savings and emissions reductions. 

• ~~ Four cities passed policies that significantly improve the energy performance of municipally owned buildings. 
• Electric vehicles: Boston, the Twin Cities, and Denver all made electric vehicles more accessible through EV car sharing programs; many cities also worked to electrify their own fleets.
• Bus lanes: Buses are the workhorse of a city’s transportation system. They are easier to reroute than subways, and they are often used by residents who live outside city center, giving them prominence at the intersection of climate and equity. Dedicated bus lanes help busses run smoother and more reliably, making them a viable transportation alternative to cars. For more about bus lanes in the Climate Challenge, click here.
• Bike and pedestrian lanes: Cities all over the world pivoted quickly to provide more outdoor space in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many were still under lockdown. Now, many cities are holding onto repurposed car spaces – from driving lanes to parking spots – to continue to promote bikeability and walkability for residents.
  

Of course, people working within cities to affect climate solutions understand that there is no functional distinction between climate justice and social justice. Cities in the Climate Challenge worked to implement:

• Green jobs planning: A handful of cities included new workforce development programs as part of local renewable energy procurement requirements to boost local economies for an equitable recovery. 
• A focus on equity: Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, OR, and Washington, DC, conducted equity analyses, built community partnerships, and took steps to codesign transformative policies like congestion pricing and zero-emissions areas with community leaders.

‍To learn more about the cumulative impact of the 25 cities in the American Cities Climate Challenge, read the report. To learn more about our role as partners in this effort, get in touch.