named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Breathe Cities
Global initiative supporting cities to reduce air pollution and climate emissions through data, policy, and public engagement
CHAMP (Cities Race to Zero)
Joint initiative with Global Covenant of Mayors to accelerate city climate action toward net-zero emissions
Global Youth and Mayors Climate Forum
Initiative connecting mayors and youth activists to co-develop climate solutions and build intergenerational climate leadership
Green Shipping Corridors
Program advancing zero-emission maritime shipping routes by coordinating port cities, industry stakeholders, and policy development
Water Safe Cities Project
Project focused on reducing water-related climate risks in cities through improved planning and infrastructure resilience
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Urban Resilience Planning & Advocacy 9 activities
- Builds city capacity on climate change and migrationBuilds city capacity to jointly address climate change and migration through advocacy and action in partnership with the Mayors Migration Council.
- Conducts and publishes climate research and analysisConducts research, publishes Accelerator Reports, case studies, and maintains the C40 Data Warehouse to support evidence-based climate decision-making and document progress in cities.
- Facilitates city-level climate data and progress reportingPartners with the Global Covenant of Mayors to showcase city-level delivery of climate pledges through concrete actions and progress reporting, including via the Global Urban Data Centres Pact involving over 40 mayors.
- Implements UCAP Climate Action Implementation ProgrammeImplements the UCAP Climate Action Implementation Programme to support cities in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia in operationalizing climate plans to deliver jobs, equity, and resilience.
- Operates Centre for City Climate Policy and EconomyOperates the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy to provide mayors and city officials with evidence and policy guidance for equitable climate action.
- Operates the C40 Knowledge Hub and provides climate expertiseOperates the C40 Knowledge Hub, delivering actionable climate solutions, implementation guidance, and research to 2.6 million users across 28,000 cities.
- Partners to build political support for urban climate actionLeads global strategy and engagement for the CHAMP initiative in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy to build political support for urban climate action.
- Provides climate action planning frameworks and implementation supportProvides the Cities Climate Transition Framework, step-by-step guides, and sectoral strategies to help cities develop comprehensive climate action plans aligned with the Paris Agreement.
- Supports implementation of climate action through the High-Impact Accelerators frameworkSupports 74 cities in implementing climate action plans using the High-Impact Accelerators framework since 2017.
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Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 2 activities
- Awards grants for inclusive climate initiativesProvides funding through the Inclusive Climate Action Fund to support cities in piloting fair and inclusive climate initiatives.
- Funds city-led climate action in low and middle-income countriesDedicates two-thirds of its budget to accelerate climate action in low and middle-income countries through direct funding and grant programs.
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Local Clean Energy Adoption & Education 2 activities
- Commits to reducing emissions faster than global averageSupports member cities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions five times faster than the global average and helps 73% of member cities reach peak emissions.
- Facilitates city commitments to halve fossil fuel useSupports city commitments to halve fossil fuel use by 2030 as part of ambitious climate action, including through the Yearly Offers of Action program showcased at COP30.
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Global Sustainability Convenings & Forums 2 activities
- Facilitates global mayoral summits and forumsCo-hosts the C40 World Mayors Summit and the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, convening global city leaders to advance climate action and integrate urban priorities into global negotiations.
- Supports Global Youth and Mayors ForumSupports the development and implementation of the Global Youth and Mayors Forum to strengthen youth engagement in urban climate action.
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Youth Global Leadership & Model UN Programs 1 activity
- Develops and implements Global Youth InitiativeDevelops and implements the Global Youth Initiative to engage youth leaders and mayors in creating a shared climate action agenda.
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SDG Advancement & Global Advocacy 1 activity
- Leads Breathe Cities initiative to reduce air pollutionLeads the Breathe Cities initiative, a $30 million clean air program in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Clean Air Fund, to expand air quality efforts in cities across low and middle-income countries.
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Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
- Supports creation of green jobs through city climate actionSupports member cities in creating over 21 million green jobs since 2022, with a projected total of 50 million green jobs by 2030 through climate action initiatives.
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Uncategorized 6 activities
- Advances equity in climate action41 cities have signed C40's Equity Pledge, committing to equitable climate action that benefits all residents, supported by inclusive initiatives and funding.
- Develops and pilots holistic governance toolsDevelops and pilots tools for holistic governance and policy to advance socially-just and ecologically-safe cities.
- Improves air quality in member citiesDirectly contributes to improved air quality for over 120 million people in C40 member cities, with a reported 8% reduction in air pollution from 2017 to 2023.
- Mobilizes local leaders for climate actionMobilized over 14,000 local leaders to endorse a joint statement affirming city-level commitment to implement on-the-ground climate solutions during COP30.
- Provides regional climate adaptation supportServes as Regional Adaptation Manager for East and Southeast Asia and Oceania, conducting vulnerability assessments and promoting climate adaptation strategies in collaboration with local governments and communities.
- Reviews climate action plans for alignment with global standardsReviews climate action plans of all C40 member cities for alignment with the Cities Climate Transition Framework through a cross-disciplinary expert group.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$73.61M
Contributions & grants$73.21M99%
Program service revenue$250K0%
Investment income$150K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$69.62M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$38.29M
Grants paid out$6.27M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$43.93M
Cash$32.11M
Investments$0
Liabilities$4.39M
Net assets$39.53M
Liquid reserves5.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +55.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 8
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Watts | Executive Director | 40 | $259K |
| Aditi Maheshwari | Managing Director of Climate Action Implementation | 40 | $235K |
| Kevin Austin | Deputy Executive Director | 40 | $221K |
| Iyad Kheirbek | Programme Director, Air Quality | 40 | $218K |
| Zachary Tofias | Programme Director, Food and Waste | 40 | $197K |
| Laura Jay | Regional Director North America | 40 | $196K |
| Julia Ciardullo | Director, Multilevel Partnerships | C40 x GCoM Joint Program | 40 | $192K |
| Juliette Carter | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CORP SERVICES | 32 | $136K |
board members · 10
- ANTHA WILLIAMS — TREASURER AND DIRECTOR
- BRUCE LINDSEY — SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR
- CAROLINA URRUTIA — DIRECTOR (until 01/2024)
- HONGPENG LEI — DIRECTOR
- JENNIFER SEMAKULA MUSISI — DIRECTOR
- JESPER NYGARD — DIRECTOR
- MARIA VITTORIA BERIA — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL R BLOOMBERG — PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
- SHIRLEY RODRIGUES — VP AND DIRECTOR
- SRI HARYATI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 59
Who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Co-founded The Climate Pledge, which aligns with C40’s goals for net-zero emissions.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Collaborated with C40 and the Global Covenant of Mayors in the development and launch of the CHAMP initiative.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Strategic funder represented on the C40 Board through Antha Williams, Head of Environment Program.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Co-hosted the COP30 Local Leaders Forum and jointly presented the C40 World Mayors Summit 2025.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Co-launched the Breathe Cities initiative with C40 Cities to improve urban air quality.
- C40 cities Network — Network of member cities committed to bold climate action and emissions reductions.
- COP30 Partner — Engages with COP30 to advocate for city-level climate action and present mayoral commitments
- COP30 Presidency Partner — Co-hosted the COP30 Local Leaders Forum with C40 Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
- Children’s Investment Fund Foundation Funder — Strategic funder with representation on the C40 Board through Hongpeng Lei and prior involvement by Shirley Rodrigues in shaping its cities climate strategy.
- City of London Government — Represented through former Deputy Mayors for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues and Mete Coban, reflecting city-level engagement in C40 initiatives.
- City of Milan Government — Represented on the C40 Board through Vittoria Beria, Head of International Affairs, supporting Milan’s Mayor in C40 Vice Chair role.
- City of Wuhan Partner — Partner city featured in C40's High-Impact Accelerators content
- Clean Air Fund Partner — Co-launched the Breathe Cities initiative with C40 Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies to advance clean air programs in cities.
- ClimateWorks Foundation Funder — Funds targeted climate programmes through philanthropic support.
- Clinton Foundation Partner — Represented on the C40 Board by Bruce Lindsey, Counselor to the Chair, indicating a governance-level partnership.
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit Funder — Partners with C40 to promote sustainable development and improved living conditions.
- Eduardo Pimentel Partner — Mayor of Curitiba and C40 Steering Committee member representing Latin America, promoting zero-emission transit and climate adaptation.
- European Union Funder — Supports C40’s implementation of climate and sustainability programmes.
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Funder — Funds C40’s climate programmes through UK government support.
- Global Covenant of Mayors Partner — Collaborated with C40 Cities to launch a mutirão effort in Brazil and co-present the Yearly Offer of Action at the World Mayors Summit 2025.
- Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Partner — Joint partnership on the CHAMP initiative to build political support for urban climate action.
- Global Environment Facility Funder — Supports C40’s work in implementing international environmental conventions.
- Global North Coalition — Co-chairs and leadership representation from cities in the Global North ensure balanced regional input in network governance
- Global South Coalition — Co-chairs and leadership representation from cities in the Global South ensure regional equity in strategic direction
- Google Partner — Technology partner supporting C40’s data and AI-driven climate initiatives.
- Governing Mayor Eirik Lae Solberg Partner — Governing Mayor of Oslo and C40 Steering Committee member, advocating for climate budgeting and city diplomacy.
- Governor Sakaja Arthur Johnson Partner — Governor of Nairobi City County and C40 representative for African cities, advancing the Green City in the Sun vision.
- Greater London Authority Government — Former employer of C40 staff and site of prior climate and air quality program implementation relevant to current C40 work.
- IBM Partner — Provides hybrid cloud and AI services to support C40’s urban climate strategies.
- Institute for Transportation and Development Policy Partner — Collaborates with C40 on transport innovation, air quality, and sustainable urban policy.
+ 29 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collective Accountability Frameworkmethodology: collective_accountabilityBy requiring member cities to demonstrate measurable progress on emissions reduction, resilience, and climate justice, C40 drives sustained urban climate action because shared accountability among peer cities increases political will and implementation fidelity.
- Equity-Integrated Climate Planningmethodology: equity-integrated_climate_planningBy linking emissions reductions with inclusive community benefits and centering marginalized populations in policy design, C40 ensures climate action builds public trust and long-term legitimacy because equitable outcomes increase community buy-in and reduce resistance to transformation.
- Institutional Mainstreaming of Climate Goalsmethodology: climate_governance_integrationBy embedding climate objectives into city budgeting, procurement, and governance structures, C40 ensures sustained implementation because integrating climate action into core fiscal and administrative systems creates institutional durability beyond political cycles.
- Peer-to-Peer Collaborative Innovation Modelmethodology: peer_to_peer_collaborationBy facilitating collaboration among 97 member cities to co-design, test, and scale climate solutions, C40 accelerates global adoption because city-led demonstration builds credibility, enables adaptation to local contexts, and fosters peer accountability.
- Science-Based Accelerator Frameworkmethodology: climate_acceleratorsBy deploying sector-specific High-Impact Accelerators with standardized frameworks, C40 rapidly scales proven climate solutions because focused, evidence-based models reduce implementation lag and enable peer learning within targeted urban systems.