For Immediate Release
June 5, 2025
As Global Temperatures Rise Faster than Predicted, Global Cities Are the Key to Addressing Climate Change
By Simone Mangili
This year’s World Environment Day (June 5) coincides with a disturbing new report from the World Meteorological Organization that Earth will cross the threshold of warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next two years (rather than the previously predicted 2040 date). The acceleration of global warming is due to warmer temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions that continue to rise globally despite the commitments outlined in the 2016 Paris Agreement.
Our collective actions have never been more vital as we witness countries worldwide rolling back clean energy goals as outlined in agreement, in which nearly all countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
While each country sets its own emissions reduction targets, reflecting their specific circumstances and capabilities, several developed nation’s governments, including the United States, the European Union, Canada, and Australia have sought to relax rules and regulations related to emissions and environmental protections.
The sticking point for most of these countries is around use of fossil fuels. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions that trap the sun’s heat are generated by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas. These fuels account for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
The good news is that, despite the fact that fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of global energy production, renewable and cleaner energy sources, such as solar, wind, water, waste and geothermal are gaining ground. In 2023, clean energy grew significantly with 50 percent more renewables capacity added compared with the previous year.
It’s important to note that, in most parts of the world, renewable energy actually is the cheapest option. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85 percent between 2010 and 2020, and costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56 percent and 48 percent respectively. Renewable energy could also save millions of dollars annually in health benefits with reductions in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to recent research.
The financial, environmental, and health benefits of renewable energy are just a few of the reasons why so many global cities have successfully taken up the mantle of integrating renewable energy to eliminate net carbon emissions and, in some cases, even reach climate positive – meaning more carbon is permanently stored than is released into the atmosphere.
Members of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) have taken some of the most ambitious city climate action anywhere. CNCA is an alliance of global cities who are working collaboratively to advance policy development, support innovation, share learnings and build new capacity to take on emerging challenges.
In 2021, CNCA launched its Game Changer Fund to support the development, adoption and implementation of policies that aggressively shift toward carbon neutrality and away from the fundamental attributes of the systems that have contributed to the climate crisis. Transitioning fully to renewable energy systems is one of the main funding targets for the Game Changer Fund.
Vancouver, a CNCA member city, was the first major city in the Americas to commit to becoming 100 percent renewably powered. With nearly 60 percent of the city’s carbon emissions coming from buildings, Vancouver launched the Zero Emissions Building Plan requiring 90 percent of new buildings to achieve zero emissions by 2025 to help reach this goal. Most new buildings in Vancouver now rely on clean electricity for spacing heating and hot water. Their Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) also identifies a suite of actions focused on land-use planning, transportation, buildings and natural climate solutions, that are intended to lead to 90 percent of residents being within an easy walk, bike or roll of their daily needs, two-thirds of all trips taken within the city being by active transportation or transit and 50 percent of all kilometers driven in Vancouver by electric vehicles.
Like Vancouver, emissions in CNCA member city Washington, D.C. are also driven by the heating, cooling and hot water systems in buildings. One of the CNCA game changer targets includes partnering with manufacturers, distributors, utilities, and government agencies to decarbonize buildings’ heating and cooling systems by increasing the purchase and installation of high-efficiency heat pumps that use renewably sourced electricity. Importantly, Washington, D.C. is prioritizing efficiency first: the District passed its first-in-the-nation building energy performance standard in 2019 to improve the performance of its large existing buildings. Prioritizing green and affordable housing, the District provides tailored assistance to multifamily affordable housing buildings by identifying energy savings and providing implementation technical assistance. Owners can invest in energy savings while preserving affordability for residents. Coupled with a no-cost solar installation program for lower income residents, the city is acting on CNCA’s principles of equity and environmental justice.
One of the largest sources of city-based fossil fuels comes from urban transportation emissions. In Europe, transportation produces nearly 26 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions and in the US more than 28 percent. Reducing automobile use is a key strategy for cutting emissions within a city.
Stockholm is one CNCA member city which has adopted use of congestion charges and car restriction zones to address urban transportation emissions. Stockholm’s $4 USD congestion fee applies to vehicles as they enter or leave the inner-city during rush hour (congestion pricing has also been launched recently in New York City and is credited with reducing traffic by 82,000 vehicles per day). Stockholm is also taking additional actions such as adopting bioenergy heat and power plants, promoting biking and public transport, incentives for electric car use and ramping up renewable energy production in areas such as biogas and solar power.
These strategies are all game changers in that they are helping demonstrate the potential all cities have to make the grid greener and demonstrate the efficiency and long-term savings generated by renewable energy sources over time.
While this level of transformative change may seem daunting, the path is clear. We must all commit to phasing out fossil fuels and ramping up renewable energy sources by decarbonizing buildings; increasing energy efficiency; and reforming transportation to expand the use of public transportation, biking, walking and electric vehicles. And we must do so by centering the needs of people and communities, making sure that climate action brings real, tangible benefits to all, particularly those who are often underrepresented at policy tables.
Cities are leading the way on this journey and demonstrating that global climate goals are achievable and within our grasp – this World Environment Day, let’s all commit to making the changes we need to ensure our planet’s health and sustainability for future generations.
Simone Mangili is the executive director of The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. He holds a bachelor degree in Community, Regional and Environmental Studies from Bard College and a Master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University.