COP30 Shakes the World: Cities Lead Climate Action with Unstoppable Momentum – The Global Shift You Can’t Ignore

Published on November 20, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

COP30 shakes the world, revealing a powerful global shift that you can’t ignore. Cities are leading climate action with unstoppable momentum, surpassing national efforts. This unprecedented momentum is reshaping how the world tackles climate change. The COP30 discussions show that cities are no longer mere participants but crucial drivers in achieving climate goals. With this unstoppable momentum, cities are setting the pace, and their actions are inspiring global transformation. The shift to local climate leadership is clear and undeniable. As momentum builds, it becomes evident that cities are now at the forefront, spearheading the fight against climate change. Don’t miss out on the full story!

Introduction: COP30 and the Game-Changing Role of Cities in Climate Action

As the world faces an urgent climate crisis, cities have taken it upon themselves to lead the charge for climate action. At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, a groundbreaking report from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and C40 Cities revealed an astonishing truth: cities are outpacing national governments in their climate actions. This revelation comes at a crucial time as global negotiations continue to shape the future of the Paris Agreement and global climate efforts. Cities are no longer just contributors—they are driving the solutions we need to address climate change, and their efforts are rapidly expanding.

The report confirms that cities in Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP)-endorsing countries are advancing faster than ever in implementing real-world climate solutions. These cities are transforming climate pledges into tangible actions that are accelerating the progress needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. While national governments are slowly progressing, cities are proving that local climate action is one of the most powerful tools in bridging the global ambition gap.

The Shift from Pledges to Action: Cities Leading the Charge

The findings of the joint assessment unveiled at COP30 are nothing short of revolutionary. Over the past decade, cities have experienced almost a tenfold increase in tangible climate actions. Cities have moved far beyond making climate pledges—they are now actively implementing on-the-ground solutions that deliver measurable results. This acceleration is crucial for achieving the ambitious climate goals set out by the Paris Agreement.

Local governments are tackling climate change head-on with bold initiatives that include reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and developing resilience to climate risks. In fact, cities are now responsible for nearly 85% of all global climate action, a staggering statistic that shows the power of local governance in the battle against climate change. The rapid expansion of climate action at the local level has already surpassed national progress, making cities indispensable partners in global climate policy.

CHAMP-Endorsing Countries: The Catalyst for Global Climate Action

One of the most significant developments highlighted in the COP30 report is the growing influence of the CHAMP coalition. Launched during COP28 in 2023, CHAMP serves as a platform to foster collaboration between national and subnational governments on climate policy and finance. With 77 countries and the European Union endorsing CHAMP, there is a clear global shift towards multilevel governance. This cooperation between different levels of government is essential for accelerating climate action and ensuring that local priorities are integrated into national strategies.

The endorsement of CHAMP demonstrates a shared commitment to climate action across the globe. It empowers cities to take charge of their own climate futures and provides the necessary support to implement ambitious local climate solutions. By fostering this collaboration, CHAMP ensures that cities have the tools, resources, and political backing to drive climate action at the scale and speed required.

Cities Surpass National Governments in Mitigation and Adaptation Actions

The assessment from GCoM and C40 Cities reveals some striking statistics. Since 2015, cities have increased their mitigation actions nearly tenfold, demonstrating the rapid acceleration of efforts to reduce emissions. In addition, adaptation actions have also surged, with cities scaling up resilience efforts to protect vulnerable communities from climate impacts such as extreme heat and flooding.

Cities are not only tackling mitigation but also leading the way in adaptation. As climate hazards escalate, local governments are implementing solutions across critical sectors, including water management, health, and infrastructure. The findings show that cities are addressing almost 85% of their high-risk climate hazards, a massive leap from just 69% in 2019.

By focusing on both mitigation and adaptation, cities are taking a holistic approach to climate change, addressing the root causes while also preparing for its inevitable impacts. This comprehensive strategy is helping cities protect their residents while also contributing to the global climate effort.

Cities Are Bending the Emissions Curve: Real Results from Local Action

One of the most exciting revelations from COP30 is the significant progress cities are making in reducing emissions. In CHAMP-endorsing countries, 61% of cities with long-term data are on a downward emissions trajectory, showing that local climate policies are driving real change. Even more impressively, 73% of C40 cities have officially peaked their emissions, a major milestone in the fight against climate change.

Cities are increasingly aligning their climate plans with a 1.5°C pathway, with more actions now in the implementation phase than ever before. This alignment is crucial, as it demonstrates that cities are not just making empty promises—they are delivering on their climate commitments. With local governments leading the way, we are seeing emissions reductions that go beyond the scope of current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), offering the potential to close the emissions gap to the 1.5°C goal by 37% by 2030.

The role of cities in bending the emissions curve is critical. Their efforts are setting the tone for the global climate agenda, and if cities continue on this trajectory, they will play a major role in limiting global temperature rise and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

Building Resilience: Cities Responding to Escalating Climate Hazards

As the world faces more extreme weather events, cities are stepping up to protect their residents from the increasing threats posed by climate change. The assessment reveals that extreme heat and flooding now account for 59% of high-risk hazards reported by cities. In response, local governments are implementing a variety of adaptation measures, including engineered solutions for flood management and nature-based strategies to combat extreme heat.

The report also highlights the need for increased finance and support for cities in Africa and the Middle East, where adaptation efforts have been lagging. The finance and implementation gap in these regions is a major barrier to achieving resilience goals. To address this, the international community must prioritize funding for adaptation actions in the Global South and ensure that cities in these regions have the resources they need to build resilience.

Despite these challenges, cities are demonstrating remarkable progress in adapting to climate risks. By prioritizing resilience, local governments are helping to safeguard their communities against the escalating impacts of climate change.

The Path Forward: Recommendations for COP30 and Beyond

As COP30 continues, the findings from GCoM and C40 Cities provide a clear roadmap for accelerating local climate action in the coming years. The recommendations call for further strengthening multilevel governance through the operationalization of CHAMP and the integration of local priorities into national climate plans. By institutionalizing multilevel governance, countries can unlock the full potential of cities in delivering climate solutions at scale.

In addition, the Baku–Belém Roadmap offers a critical pathway for directing finance to cities. Developing countries need $1.3 trillion in climate finance to implement their local projects, and prioritizing subnational access to these funds is essential for delivering transformative results on the ground.

The findings also emphasize the need for greater dialogue between cities and regions within the UNFCCC to accelerate local and subnational implementation. By fostering this dialogue, governments can create a supportive environment for cities to scale up their climate actions and close the ambition gap.

Cities Are the Key to Unlocking Global Climate Action

The findings from COP30 underscore the growing importance of cities in the fight against climate change. Cities have proven that they are not only capable of delivering climate solutions—they are already doing so at a pace that surpasses national governments. Local governments are leading the way with ambitious climate actions in mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, and they are setting the standard for the global community.

To fully achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, national governments must recognize the power of cities and support their climate efforts through multilevel governance, finance, and policy. With cities continuing to drive climate action at an unprecedented scale, there is hope that we can still meet the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5°C.

As we move forward, it is clear that the future of climate action lies in the hands of cities. By empowering local governments, we can accelerate progress, close the ambition gap, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.