Cities around the world are outpacing countries in the fight against climate change, according to a new report from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the C40 network. From 2015 to 2024, nearly 100 C40 megacities, home to about 600 million people, cut per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 7.5%, while emissions are rising globally.
The reason for this success is fast, locally focused action: new building standards, eco-friendly transport, and greening projects. Shenzhen in China has fully converted 16,000 buses to electric power; Melbourne is creating districts where everything needed is within a 20-minute walk; in the Lebanese city of Cab Elias, half of homes already use solar energy; and in Freetown, Sierra Leone, more than 550,000 trees have been planted.
These projects not only help address climate risks but also make cities more livable — the air changes, infrastructure improves, and savings on everyday expenses become more noticeable. Experts are confident that investments in such changes are not costs, but long-term investments in comfort and safety for millions of people.
