As nations abandon climate goals, cities are more important than ever

A series of recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back environmental regulations includes plans to eliminate all limits on greenhouse gases from coal and gas-fired power plants and to rescind the 2009 finding that planet-heating gases, like carbon dioxide, pose a real threat to human health. 

These rollbacks also come on the heels of recent proposals from the European Union, Australia and Canada to relax rules related to emissions and environmental protections.

The overwhelming international scientific consensus is that if we are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero around 2050. Unfortunately, current commitments from the international community through the Paris Agreement fall far short of reaching those goals.

Despite the grim reality of weakened national ambition, cities continue to lead with bold and transformative climate action. 

Global cities are increasingly working collaboratively toward achieving carbon neutrality through innovative solutions and policy approaches that are replicable and scalable worldwide. Some have even set their sights on becoming climate-positive by removing carbon from the atmosphere to undo past emissions.

New York City, which has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent within the next 25 years, is one such example. 

It has developed a number of innovative approaches to reducing emissions, including offering a range of resources to help commercial and large-scale residential buildings with energy retrofits, expanding low-carbon transportation options and cutting emissions from all foods served in city-operated premises. At the same time, the Big Apple has invested over $20 billion to adapt neighborhoods to climate change risks such as flooding, heat, and sea-level rise. 

The City of Helsinki in Finland has announced its goals to be carbon neutral by 2030, zero carbon by 2040, and thereafter, carbon negative. 

It is working to achieve this by reducing embodied carbon in buildings by setting limits on the amount of carbon emitted by buildings over their entire lifecycle, including from the production and transportation of the building materials. Construction companies are working to stay under the limit by combining a range of solutions, including changes in the choice of materials, heating solutions and building operations, and repurposing and reusing building elements.

Among other innovations, Helsinki’s energy company Helen closed its last coal-burning plant in 2025 and is cutting emissions in Helsinki by 30 percent compared to 2024. Helen is also building one of the country’s largest underground heat storage facilities in former oil storage caves. The facility is projected to reduce Helen’s carbon dioxide emissions by 21,000 tons annually.

In the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s goal is to achieve a 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2030, and a 95 percent reduction by 2050. 

The city’s Climate Neutral Program focuses on reducing carbon dioxide released within the city of Amsterdam by phasing out the use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal and structurally transitioning to cleaner energy such as geothermal and solar. The city is also providing grants, loans and free advice to its citizens to help accelerate the energy transition and phase out the use of natural gas in homes. 

Vancouver, Canada, is another city taking the lead, reducing carbon pollution by 50 percent by 2030 and taking proactive action to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. 

Its Climate Emergency Action Plan identifies a suite of actions focused on land-use planning, transportation and buildings. These actions collectively position Vancouver to reach three targets to cut carbon pollution from trips taken within the city: 90 percent of residents being within an easy walk, bike or roll of their daily needs, two-thirds of all trips being by active transportation or transit and 50 percent of all kilometers driven in Vancouver by electric vehicles. 

Two targets aim to cut carbon pollution from buildings in half from what it was in 2007 and to reduce embodied emissions from new buildings and construction projects by 40 percent compared to 2018. The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy provides a roadmap for addressing the top five climate change-related hazards that Vancouver faces.

Sydney, Australia, has three long-standing business partnership programs. 

Through the Better Buildings Partnership, the city collaborates with property owners representing 55 percent of its office space. The partnership members have reduced emissions intensity by 95 percent. 

The CitySwitch program supports office-based businesses on their net-zero journey, and 80 percent of members have now switched to using renewable electricity. The Sustainable Destination Partnership brings together businesses in Sydney’s accommodation and entertainment sector to reduce emissions, water, and waste. 

The programs all function as collaborative partnerships, with the city playing the role of convenor and facilitator.

These cities are among 23 working together with my organization, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, to achieve carbon neutrality, not just through incremental improvements but rather through radical, transformative changes to core city systems. The goal is to demonstrate innovative solutions and policy approaches that are replicable and that can inspire other cities to take action to reach carbon neutrality as soon as possible.

And, as cities learn from each other about what works to achieve these goals, they are paying it forward by sharing the work and encouraging other cities to take similar action.

Why is the work of cities so vital to addressing climate change? Urban areas are responsible for an estimated 75 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. By setting and achieving these carbon neutrality goals, global cities have the ability to keep us on track toward the Paris Agreement climate goals despite wavering support from the U.S. and other governments. 

Most critically, these efforts are vital to offsetting the threat to natural systems and promoting the health and well-being of all its citizens.

Simone Mangili is the executive director of The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance.