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OECD work on Cities

A territorial approach to climate action and resilience

 

Cities and regions play a pivotal role in climate action and resilience. This OECD programme aims to support cities, regions and countries in their efforts to accelerate the zero-carbon transition and build systemic resilience. 


  • What's the issue?

Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 at current rates. As greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to rise, the impacts of climate change will worsen in the short, medium and long-term. Globally, cities account for more than 70% of energy-related CO2 emissions and two thirds of energy demand, and these shares are expected to increase significantly over coming decades without significant climate action. Climate change also poses unique challenges for adaptation, requiring a locally tailored approach.

Cities and regions are at the forefront of implementing ambitious measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Many cities and regions have adopted climate targets and actions that are more ambitious than those of their national governments. However, acting alone, their full potential in the response to climate change remains untapped. Local governments are estimated to have direct power to cut up to one-third of GHG emissions in their cities, with the remaining two-thirds of urban emission reductions depending either on national and state governments or on co-ordination across levels of government. 

  • What can the OECD offer?

The OECD Programme A territorial approach to climate action and resilience supports countries, regions and cities in their efforts to develop and implement their climate plans, strategies and policy instruments, through:

  • Localised reporting and monitoring: demonstrating the significant potential of subnational action by strengthening localised reporting and monitoring frameworks, including local climate investment and financing, for the zero-carbon transition and climate resilience;

  • Place-based recommendations and action checklists: assessing national and subnational policy and governance frameworks and providing locally-tailored recommendations to support policy reforms towards a place-based implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation policies;

  • Dialogue and knowledge sharing: sharing and disseminating innovative policies, strategies and programmes applying a territorial approach to drive the zero-carbon transition and climate resilience. 

Read the programme overview

 

  

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Contact

Tadashi Matsumoto, Head, National Urban Policy and Climate Resilience Unit 

Aimée Aguilar Jaber, Programme Manager, Climate Change Mitigation | Catherine Gamper, Programme Manager, Climate Change Adaptation

 

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