History of the C40

Sao Paulo, Brazil. Host of the Fourth C40 Mayors Summit in 2011.

The C40 Mission

C40 is a global network of large cities taking action to address climate change by
developing and implementing policies and programs that generate measurable
reductions in both greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks.

Working together since 2005

In October 2005, then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone convened representatives
from 18 megacities to pursue action and cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. The meeting resulted in an agreement to cooperate on reducing climate
emissions by taking decisive and immediate action on a number of points, most
notably the creation of procurement policies and alliances to accelerate the uptake
of climate-friendly technologies and influence the market place. This was the start of
the network.

In 2006, Mayor Livingstone invited the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) to become its
delivery partner, greatly strengthening both organisations with a shared sense of
 purpose and an efficient support network for delivering world-class projects that
optimise emissions reductions. The network at this point had grown to 40 cities, and
thus the name C40 was born. Serving as C40’s first Chair, Mayor Livingstone
established the C40 Secretariat in London, set up the C40 Steering Committee and
initiated the use of C40 workshops to exchange best practices amongst C40 Cities.

In 2008, former Mayor of Toronto David Miller took over as C40 Chair. Highlights of
his tenure included the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors and the C40 Cities
Mayors Summit in Seoul, both in 2009, as well as the launch of practical action
initiatives for cities, such as the C40-CCI Climate Positive Development
Programme and the Carbon Finance Capacity Building programme.

The tenure of current C40 Chair, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg began
in November 2010. Key milestones in 2011 include the full integration of C40 with
the CCI Cities Program by which C40 executives and staff are working in unison
with CCI City Directors and programmatic teams to support climate action in cities.

Another highlight of 2011 was the C40 Cities Mayors Summit in Sao Paulo, where
C40 announced new partnerships with the World Bank and ICLEI—Local
Governments for Sustainability—to accelerate climate action in cities through
streamlined financing, greenhouse gas accounting and uniform reporting. The
release of two reports developed in collaboration with Carbon Disclosure Project
(CDP) and ARUP, respectively, emphasized the critical role of measurement and
transparency in tackling climate change in megacities.

Leading the Way

We’re proud of what cities have accomplished since 2005, and we continue to lead
the way on mitigating the risks of climate change with our innovative and effective
projects. Find out more about our accomplishments and about how you can help
tackle climate change by supporting C40.

Learn more about our programs.

WORKING TOGETHER

C40 Leadership
The C40 Chair is the elected leader of the organisation. Learn more about this pivotal position here.
Steering Committee
C40 mayors serve in rotation on the Steering Committee, which provides strategic direction and
governance for C40.

Our Team
The C40 executive team of dedicated professionals guides the work of C40.

Our Partners & Funders

C40’s partners and funders understand the importance and impact of cities on climate change and are
committed to advancing urban leadership in driving solutions.

Careers
We are looking for individuals who believe that cities play a large part in creating a better world for
everyone.

Copyright 2011 C40 Cities. All rights reserved.