Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance

General

Name of initiative Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance
LPAA initiative Yes
NAZCA Initiative Yes
Website address https://carbonneutralcities.org/
Related initiatives
Starting year 2014
End year
Secretariat Trude Rauken

c/o Urban Sustainability Directors Network 700 12th St N.W Suite 700 PMB 95645 Washington, DC 20005

Organisational structure CNCA Steering Committee: Jørgen Abildgaard (Denmark), Gavin Slater (UK), Karine Hertzberg (Norway), Jaimes Valdez (USA), Pedro Rolim (Brazil), Chris Derksema (Australia), Doug Smith (Canada).
Geographical coverage Global
Name of lead organisation Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)
Type of lead organisation International organisation
Location/Nationality of lead organisation United States of America

Description

Description The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) is a collaboration of leading global cities achieving carbon neutrality before 2050 — the most aggressive GHG reduction targets undertaken anywhere by any city. The Alliance aims to address what it will take for leading international cities to achieve these deep emissions reductions and how they can work together to meet their respective goals more efficiently and effectively.
Objectives CNCA’s mission is to mobilize transformative climate action in cities in order to achieve prosperity, social equity, resilience and better quality of life for all on a thriving planet.

Member cities to achieve carbon neutrality (80% emission reductions, or more), by 2050 or sooner.

Activities Developing Carbon Neutrality Planning Standards – Developing approaches, analysis, and tools to support carbon neutrality; standardizing measurement and verification methodologies for tracking progress.

•Advancing “Transformative Change” in Key Urban Sectors – Sharing and implementing best practices for achieving “transformative” deep carbon reduction strategies in urban transportation, energy use, and waste systems. •Advocating for Policy Change – Identifying and advocating for policies at the state, regional, and federal levels to reduce emission sources not controlled directly by cities and engaging with other external stakeholders who are critical to cities’ success. •Speaking with a Common Voice – Helping CNCA cities demonstrate their leadership and communicate with a common voice. •Creating a CNCA “Innovation Fund” – Investing in high-potential, city-led projects that develop, test, implement, and amplify deep de-carbonization strategies and practices (currently funded at $500,000). •Increasing Alliance Impact – Sharing Alliance learnings with a broader audience to benefit the “next wave” of cities striving for carbon neutrality.

One or two success stories achieved

Monitoring and Impacts

Sustainable Development Impact:
E SDG goals icons-individual-rgb-13.png  
Function of initiative Implementation, Funding
Activity of initiative Technical operational implementation (ex-post), Goal setting (ex-ante), Financing
Indicators
Financing — Funds disbursed
Year2021
Value (MUS$)2.4
Goals In the CNCA 2021-2023 Strategic Plan the Alliance has seven Strategic Goals:

1. Funding transformative climate action to mobilize the development, adoption and implementation of game-changing climate policies in cities.

2. Exerting collective influence on and advocate for policies from other decision-makers to reduce emissions not directly controlled by cities.

3. Advancing methodologies, standards and governance tools for carbon neutrality planning, implementation, impact measurement and continuous improvement.

4. Fostering peer learning among climate vanguard cities, so they can learn from each other and go further and faster together.

5. Cultivating transformational leadership so city sustainability directors can excel in their roles as change-makers.

6. Helping cities communicate more effectively to advance their carbon neutrality work.

7. Prioritizing a just carbon neutral future by integrating climate justice into ambitious climate action.

Comments on indicators and goals To date, the Alliance has invested $2.4 million in 27 early-stage innovation projects targeting transportation, energy-supply, buildings, and waste systems.
How will goals be achieved
Have you changed or strenghtened your goals
Progress towards the goals The CNCA Innovation Fund was created in 2015 to invest in high-potential, city-led projects that develop, test, implement and amplify deep decarbonization strategies and practices. To date, the Alliance has invested $2.4 million in 27 early-stage innovation projects targeting transportation, energy-supply, buildings, and waste systems. These projects endeavor to accelerate deep decarbonization around the world by showing the "art of the possible" in urban climate change.

2.4

How are you tracking progress of your initiative
Available reporting

Participants

Participants Number Names
Members 22  
Companies 0
Business organisations 0
Research and educational organisations 0
Non-governmental organisations 0
National states 0
Governmental actors 0
Regional / state / county actors 0
City / municipal actors 22 Adelaide (Australia),  Amsterdam (Netherlands),  Boulder CO (USA),  Copenhagen (Denmark),  Glasgow (United K.),  Hamburg (Germany),  Helsinki (Finland),  London (United K.),  Melbourne (Australia),  Minneapolis MN (USA),  New York City (USA),  Oslo (Norway),  Portland OR (USA),  Rio de Janeiro (Brazil),  San Francisco CA (USA),  Seattle WA (USA),  Stockholm (Sweden),  Sydney (Australia),  Toronto (Canada),  Vancouver (Canada),  Washington DC (USA),  Yokohama (Japan)
Intergovernmental organisations 0
Financial Institutions 0
Faith based organisations 0
Other members 0
Supporting partners 8 Barr Foundation (USA),  Buillitt Foundation (USA),  Catena Foundation (USA),  Garfield Foundation (USA),  McKnight Foundation (USA),  Rockefeller Brothers Fund (USA),  The Kresge Foundation (USA),  The Summit Foundation (USA).
Number of members in the years
2015
17
2016
19
2017
20
2019
21
2020
22
Have only national states as participators No


Theme

Transport Agriculture Forestry Business Financial institutions Buildings Industry Waste Cities and subnational governments Short Term Pollutants International maritime transport Energy Supply Fluorinated gases Energy efficiency Renewable energy Supply chain emission reductions Adaptation Other Resilience Innovation Energy Access and Efficiency Private Finance
Yes No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No No No No No
Last update: 9 March 2022 14:48:34

Not only have national states as participators