C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.
Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement, and civil society to go further and faster than ever before.
Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using an inclusive, science-based and collaborative approach to cut their fair share of emissions in half by 2030, help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C, and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. C40 supports mayors to do this by:
- Raising climate ambition through 1.5°C climate action plan support, high-impact accelerators and fostering innovation.
- Building equitable and thriving communities via global and regional programmes.
- Building a global movement through robust international advocacy and diplomacy.
- Scaling up climate action and sharing best practices across high-impact sectors.
- Facilitating access to finance for investment in green jobs and projects that improve resilience in cities.
C40’s team of 350+ staff with offices in London, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing, Johannesburg and Paris and individual staff based across 25+ different locations. C40 is primarily funded through the generous support of philanthropic foundations.
The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors which is chaired by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, which is responsible for operational oversight. C40’s three core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and Realdania.
OUR STRUCTURE
Membership requirements
C40 member cities earn their membership through action. C40’s most distinguishing feature is that it operates on performance-based requirements. Approved by C40’s Steering Committee of mayors, they set the minimum membership criteria and ensure the integrity of C40 as a network of climate leaders as highlighted in C40’s Leadership Standards. Member cities have to meet these requirements or leave C40. This, together with working within a peer group of world-leading cities taking ambitious and innovative climate action, creates positive competition, encouraging C40 cities to go even further in their efforts to tackle the climate crisis. From 2021, C40 Steering Committee is further strengthening our membership standards, as new C40 Leadership Standards.
Regional approach
While C40’s greatest strength is its ability to unite the world’s leading mayors around climate action, we are equally guided by city demand for more in-depth support and tailoring of C40 services. We deliver some of our support through regionally specific programmes and intend to increase this in the future. This is also supported by leadership of regional Vice-Chairs, who unite and amplify regional mayoral voices. C40 focuses on supporting cities in the Global South through capacity-building assistance to deliver rapid, high-impact climate mitigation and adaptation actions, while our primary focus in the Global North is on supporting cities in exchanging best practice and working with partners to pilot new climate solutions.
C40 mayors have been at the forefront of climate leadership for over 15 years, driving the conversation around climate action and environmental justice to place these issues front and centre in our local policies and on the international agenda.
Diversity Statement
C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better.
We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.
We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.
C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.