Why cities climate finance?

Cities already account for 70% of global CO2 emissions from energy use; left unaddressed, emissions will continue to rise as urbanization accelerates, especially in developing countries. Cities are also at the forefront of climate change vulnerability: 70% of cities are already experiencing harmful impacts to their citizens and infrastructure as a result of climate change.

Greenhouse gas emissions in cities can be reduced by almost 90% by 2050 with technically feasible, widely available measures, potentially supporting 87 million jobs in 2030 and generating a global economic dividend of USD 24 trillion. National governments, cities, and public and private financial institutions are also increasingly acknowledging the importance of cities to climate action and launching initiatives to address barriers to accessing finance. Despite this momentum, cities continue to face significant headwinds in mobilizing finance for transformational climate action.

CCFLA works with all relevant stakeholder groups for urban climate action to mobilize the resources needed for a low-carbon transition in cities.

The need to focus on urban climate finance

70%

Population that will live in cities by 2050

90%

Coastal areas will experience above-average sea-level rise

70%

Share of global emissions from cities

$1.3tn

Sustainable infrastructure spending needed in the next 15 years

What we do

The Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) is a multi-level and multi-stakeholder coalition aimed at closing the investment gap for urban subnational climate projects and infrastructure.

CCFLA provides a platform to convene and exchange knowledge among all relevant actors dedicated to urban development, climate action, and/or financing.

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Members

By taking part in CCFLA, and by contributing their expertise, access to networks, and funding, these leaders have committed to work together to bridge supply and demand for sustainable, climate-friendly, and resilient development at the subnational level.

Action Groups

CCFLA members collaborate in thematic Action Groups that work to achieve pre-agreed goals in a specified timeframe in the climate finance at the city level. Action Groups are a set of CCFLA

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is elected from CCFLA’s wider membership. It is responsible for making strategic decisions regarding CCFLA’s work, and are informed by regular communication with the Action Groups, the Secretariat, and the wider membership.

City Ambassadors

City Ambassadors are experienced city leaders who act as advisors to CCFLA and ensure that its activities and outputs are practical for cities’ ground-level financial realities. They bring their personal experience and knowledge of city leadership to support CCFLA's mission.

As the Secretariat, Climate Policy Initiative carries out CCFLA’s day-to-day operations. This includes acting as a neutral administrator and encouraging member participation in CCFLA’s activities, including periodic meetings.

Leadership for Urban Climate Investment (LUCI) is a framework that elevates and tracks commitments made by CCFLA member initiatives, helping them to implement bold and effective targets. The LUCI framework enables these ambitious targets by catalyzing action along the entire value chain of subnational climate finance from project conception through financing.