Cities are where climate action can happen fastest — a truth driving a new alliance between two of the world’s foremost climate networks.
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate efforts for low-carbon, resilient, and equitable buildings worldwide.
By linking city leadership with WorldGBC’s network of more than 85 Green Building Councils and over 51,000 member companies, the partnership extends its reach to nearly 80 per cent of the global population.
The collaboration aims to empower cities to transform not just buildings, but entire communities — turning ambition into measurable impact through shared expertise, scalable solutions, and market transformation.
“Cities are at the frontline of climate action, and their ability to deliver agile, place-based policy improvements make them powerful agents of change,” said WorldGBC CEO Cristina Gamboa.
“By bringing together our strengths, networks and insights, we can unlock faster, fairer and more widespread progress.
“Climate solutions don’t happen in isolation — they’re built like a mosaic, shaped by the lived experience of cities, business leadership and innovation, and the voices of communities.”
WorldGBC and C40 already share a proven record of collaboration through initiatives such as the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and C40’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Accelerator.
Both programs encourage cities and businesses to deliver near-zero emission buildings, with more than 160 signatories to the Commitment and over one million tonnes of CO₂e already reduced worldwide — tangible evidence that partnership turns promises into action.
Beyond commitments, the organisations have jointly produced research, policy guidance, and resilience frameworks addressing challenges like affordable housing and climate adaptation.
Their collaborations at global moments such as COP summits have facilitated knowledge exchange among cities, helping test and scale solutions that work.
Cassie Sutherland, Managing Director, Climate Solutions and Networks, C40, said: “Our collaboration with WorldGBC plays a critical role in demonstrating ambitious leadership for urban building decarbonisation.
“By ensuring affordability, equity, and health, we are creating a blueprint that cities and businesses can use to push other stakeholders, including national governments, to follow.”
Running through to November 2027, the MoU focuses on deepening cooperation between city leaders and WorldGBC’s global network.
Key priorities include the delivery of the BEERI Plan (Building Efficiency, Electrification and Renewable Integration) — co-led with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and endorsed by the UNFCCC and COP30–31 Presidencies.
The plan aligns policy, mobilises investment, and embeds transparent monitoring to drive emissions reductions and resilience improvements.
The partnership also supports national and city-level roadmaps for decarbonisation, helping governments and local authorities translate climate goals into actionable building-sector policies.
The new agreement builds on momentum from the C40 World Mayors Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, where global mayors reaffirmed the essential role of cities in delivering climate solutions.
From London to São Paulo, leaders demonstrated that while solutions must be locally tailored, global cooperation enables faster progress.
Through this alliance, WorldGBC and C40 are placing cities firmly at the centre of the green transition — driving innovation, upgrading urban spaces, and shaping a fair, resilient, and zero‑carbon future.
