Smart Cities Round Up - 21 FEBRUARY 2025
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Cities and local governments worldwide are stepping up their climate efforts, calling for greater financial and policy support to accelerate urban sustainability and resilience. From securing funding for climate infrastructure to driving emissions reductions and pushing for national action, SmartCitiesWorld has reported on three key stories this week highlighting how cities are demonstrating their leadership in tackling the climate crisis.
According to the 2024 Global Snapshot, developed by CDP in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) , cities are seeking $86 billion in funding for 2,508 climate-related projects. The report highlights the growing demand for climate finance, with investment needs increasing by 23 per cent in 2024 alone. However, this figure is still far short of the estimated $800 billion in annual public investment needed from national governments and development finance institutions by 2030. Bridging this financial gap presents a critical opportunity to unlock sustainable urban solutions and accelerate global climate action.
In response to challenges like this, C40 Cities and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) have launched the Urban Planning Accelerator, a new initiative aimed at helping cities cut emissions by 25 per cent by 2050 while creating safer, fairer, and more inclusive urban spaces. The initiative was announced at the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum 2025 in Nairobi, where C40 and GCoM also released a report highlighting how national governments can increase financing for subnational climate action. The Accelerator will provide cities with the tools and support needed to integrate sustainability into urban planning at scale.
At the same event in Nairobi, African cities also took a bold stance, with leaders from more than 250 cities gathering to issue an open letter urging national governments to support a green and resilient urban future. The forum will also see the launch of a Sustainable Finance Action and Advocacy Roadmap for Global South cities, which provides practical steps for mayors and city officials to advocate for stronger climate action and financing. Hosted by C40 Cities and supported by major global organisations, the event underscores the growing momentum for climate leadership in African cities.
As cities continue to push for comprehensive climate policies and investment, the role of national governments and financial institutions in supporting urban sustainability has never been more crucial. Through strategic partnerships, innovative planning, and strong advocacy, cities are making it clear that local action is key to achieving global climate goals.
Initiatives like these are pushing meaningful climate action and resilience forward around the world. At SmartCitiesWorld, we've always been focused on sharing ideas that solve urban challenges. With climate and resilience issues now impacting more cities daily, our Cities Climate Action Campaign for 2025 is designed to support cities in overcoming the most urgent and dynamic challenge of our time. To find out more about the Campaign, what we have planned, and how to get involved, click here.
Luke Antoniou , Senior editor, SmartCitiesWorld
Here is a round up of our other News this week:
PANEL DISCUSSION
OPINIONS
SPECIAL REPORT