Mayors agreed at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aries, which was led by Chair and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, to work together to spearhead the creation of 50 million good, green jobs by 2030.
C40 research has revealed that investing in urban climate action will not only halve emissions but create a third more jobs, a far better option than continuing with business as usual.
Mayors of C40 cities are on the cutting edge of climate action, deploying a science-based and collaborative approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5 degree Celsius and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities.
C40 member cities earn their membership through action. There are no membership fees, but instead performance-based requirements. C40’s Leadership Standards set the minimum requirements for all member cities and ensure the integrity of C40 as a network of climate leaders.
C40 mayors believe that what we do today will determine whether there is a thriving future for our communities, our cities, and the natural world around us. They know that climate breakdown and rising inequality made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic requires an exceptional response to match the scale of the crises.
Hundreds of millions of residents and the global economy are represented by the C40 mayors. This landmark collaboration has seen large numbers of mayors laying out their plans of action for the delivery of good, green jobs in cities around the world. Mayors are using their powers to create concrete green jobs from transforming homes, schools, and workplaces so that they’re energy-efficient to delivering state-of-the-art public transport systems. To give an example, London has committed to doubling the size of the green economy to £100 billion by 2030. This ambition is great way to kickstart greater job growth over the next decade.
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Research conducted by the C40 cities has shown that 50 million green jobs are needed for C40 cities to deliver their fair share of halving emissions in line with the Paris agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius. Extensive and all-inclusive climate action by C40 cities would result in the creation of over 30% more jobs compared to today’s “business as usual” economic approach which is causing the climate and economic damage that we are witnessing today.
Reduced use of fossil fuels could also lessen air pollution by up to 30% and deliver $280 billion health-related economic benefits in C40 cities.
The announcement made by the C40 mayors this month is a direct response to the multiple and intertwined global challenges the world is facing. Sadly, the last few years have brought with them a devastating loss of life due to climate change and a spike in unemployment that has not been seen for generations.
This has been made worse by volatile inflation, a rising cost of living and the worsening climate crisis which has led to millions of households having to make the impossible decision of whether to eat or heat their homes.
C40 cities are taking forward-thinking, inventive, and immediate action to ensure green jobs can offer real living wages and decent working standards that benefit everyone including women, young people, and underrepresented groups. Good, green jobs, for example, in the electric vehicle and solar industries will help to create healthier, and fairer communities that have rejuvenated economies and lower unemployment that are no longer tied to the fossil fuels which have long exacerbated energy poverty around the world.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, and Chair of C40 Cities, said:
“Investing in the jobs and skills of the future will help us to tackle inequality as we tackle the climate crisis. I’m so proud to stand united in action with my fellow C40 city mayors to drive the creation of 50 million good, green jobs by the end of this decade. London will lead by example as we double the size of our green economy and establish good, green jobs accessible within communities that need them most. There is no time to waste. The best time to act on good, green jobs was yesterday, the next best time is today.”
As preparations are made by world leaders to gather at COP27 in November, the message from C40 mayors is resoundingly clear. They are standing together to drive the creation of 50 million green jobs by 2030. However, cities cannot do this alone. They will need the support of governments, the private sector, and unions. They must work hand in hand with cities to deliver on this ambition. The actions that are taken now at global, national and city level will have consequences for many decades to come and have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people, their families, and communities across the globe.
