Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. Around the world, communities are already experiencing rising heat, extreme weather, and widening inequities. Yet in the face of these challenges, cities are proving what’s possible.
As national governments fall short on climate promises, cities are stepping up. Through networks like C40 Cities and Climate Mayors, local leaders are forging powerful alliances, pioneering ambitious policies, and scaling solutions that transform communities worldwide. According to the 2025 From Paris to Belém report, three in four C40 cities are cutting per-capita emissions faster than their national governments.
The results are inspiring and tangible: from Quezon City, Philippines, which created 337 community gardens and trained more than 4,000 urban farmers, boosting food resilience; to Shenzhen, China, the first city in the world to electrify its entire bus fleet, slashing transportation emissions; to Buenos Aires, Argentina, which brought solar power to over 100 public schools. In the U.S., Climate Mayors include leaders like Cleveland’s Justin Bibb, whose bold agenda expands clean energy, advances transit equity, and centers residents in the city’s climate strategy. These breakthroughs show what’s possible when vision meets action and when leaders bring communities, especially young people, into the process.
Cities act swiftly, innovate locally, and engage residents directly — making them powerful engines of climate progress. Their efforts ripple outward, inspiring peers, shaping national agendas, and proving that urgent, equitable change is not only possible but already underway.
This is a defining moment for cities and for the movements that will shape their future. To sustain and expand this momentum, cities need fresh vision, bold ideas, and the energy of a rising generation. When city leaders and young people work together, they can close the gap between promises and progress, delivering climate solutions with the resolve this moment demands.
Together, we can build cities that are not just resilient, but regenerative — places where equity, sustainability, and community thrive. What happens in cities today will chart the course toward a more just, sustainable, and regenerative world.
PARTNERS
RESOURCES
CHALLENGE
The climate crisis is already reshaping daily life. Understanding what’s happening in your community is the first step toward becoming part of the solution.
Local leaders make daily decisions that shape your community’s future. By turning research into a creative visual, you’ll learn how to share important info in a way others can quickly see and join.
Direct engagement with local leaders can transform climate action from a distant issue into a shared priority for your community. By voicing your experiences, concerns, and hopes, you help decision-makers see the importance of bold action and build the partnerships needed to create lasting change.
Follow up on your Greenest outreach to secure a meeting with a local official.
Each Greener Winner will receive:
Each Greenest Winner will receive:
