How to Mainstream Climate Action Across City Government
Ensuring Binding Governance, Leadership, and Whole-City Integration for Effective Climate Action
This guidance piece from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and C40 Knowledge Hub offers practical guidance for city governments on integrating climate action into all aspects of municipal operations. It details how to embed climate commitments into planning, finance, procurement, and department-level decision-making, ensuring robust governance and effective delivery of citywide climate targets. The article also links to further resources, including an explanation of why every city needs a Paris Agreement-compatible Climate Action Plan (CAP).
Cities are encouraged to use regulatory and legislative powers and to embed climate action into mandates, laws, and governance documents – to ensure accountability, oversight, and continuity beyond political cycles. Real-world examples from Buenos Aires and Mexico City show how legal frameworks can anchor climate commitments, require regular CAP updates and reporting, and create formal bodies for coordination and public participation.
The article outlines how to establish clear mandates, cross-agency coordination, and climate literacy across the city workforce. It also covers integrating climate into masterplans and economic strategies, sectoral plans, financial allocations (including climate budgeting), and procurement processes, ensuring that climate action is not siloed but woven into every aspect of city management.
“Delivering the goals of the CAP cannot be the work of a ‘climate team’ alone. Climate mainstreaming is important as climate commitments and considerations affect everything a city touches, from housing and transport to public health and space management.”
At a Glance:
- Use climate action planning to embed mainstreaming and climate governance.
- Prioritise regulatory and legislative powers to make governance processes as binding as possible.
- Ensure city leadership and staff take ownership of climate action through dedicated bodies, review procedures, and training.
- Integrate climate into the city’s masterplan, economic plan, sectoral plans, and departmental decision making.
- Align financial allocations and procurement decisions with climate targets, using tools like climate budgeting and risk reporting.
By following these steps, cities can move beyond isolated climate initiatives and build the institutional muscle to deliver transformative, Paris Agreement-compatible climate action.
The C40 (Knowledge Hub)
C40 is a global network of mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis. The C40 Knowledge Hub provides actionable guidance, frameworks, and tools for mainstreaming climate action and strengthening urban climate governance.
