During the negotiations of the COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the C40 Cities network, which brings together nearly 100 mayors from around the world, urged national governments to push for a credible global plan to end the reliance on fossil fuels.
The organization supported the call of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and warned that the impacts of the climate crisis are already strongly felt in cities.
From COP28 to COP30: Turning Commitments into Action
The mayors recalled the historic agreement reached at COP28, which set goals to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. In Belém, they emphasized that COP30 must be the moment to transform ambition into action, with a plan for the gradual, fair, and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels, in collaboration with local and regional governments.
The C40 member cities committed to halving their fossil fuel consumption by the end of the decade, prioritizing those located in countries most responsible for climate change. According to the network, cities are advancing five times faster than national governments in reducing per capita emissions, demonstrating that a fossil fuel-free future is not only possible but already underway.
Urban Leadership in the Energy Transition
C40 cities are already implementing concrete measures to reduce fossil fuel use and accelerate the transition to clean energy:
- Electrification of public transport and training of female drivers in Bogotá.
- Solar communities in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas with the RevoluSolar initiative.
- Solar mini-grids and clean kitchens in Johannesburg, benefiting over 12,000 households.
- Neighborhood planning in Amsterdam for 550,000 homes to stop relying on natural gas by 2040.
- Social protection in Lagos with subsidized transport and free healthcare for 500,000 vulnerable households.
These actions show that cities are not only planning the transition but leading it in real-time, facing fossil industry interests, combating misinformation, and using legal tools to hold major polluters accountable.
A Fair and Inclusive Transition
The mayors emphasized that the transition to clean energy must be fair and inclusive:
- Training workers for quality green jobs.
- Equitable distribution of the economic benefits of clean energy.
- Active participation of communities, unions, and civil society.
The global roadmap must address the needs of the Global South, ensure large-scale financing, and make sure the transition reaches the most vulnerable sectors.
Voices at COP30
Caterina Sarfatti, General Director of Inclusion and Global Leadership at C40 Cities, stated:
“Brazil is sending a strong message: the world must turn commitments into actions and end the fossil fuel era. Cities are ready to lead this just transition to a clean energy future.”
Meanwhile, the Mayor of London and C40 Co-Chair, Sadiq Khan, declared at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro:
“Those who destroy the climate want to tie us to the fossil fuels of the past. But organizations like C40 offer us freedom, dignity, and hope: the freedom to pay less and enjoy better health; the dignity of a secure and well-paid green job; the hope of a fairer, cleaner, and more prosperous tomorrow.”
COP30 in Belém marks a turning point: the C40 cities demand a central role in the phase-out of fossil fuels and demonstrate that the energy transition is already underway.
The challenge now is for national governments to design an ambitious and collaborative roadmap that turns commitments into concrete actions, ensuring the transition is fair, inclusive, and effective. Cities, responsible for more than 80% of energy emissions, are ready to lead the change from the streets, communities, and everyday lives of millions of people.
