PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
As the home to 75% of EU citizens and the source of most CO2 emissions, all cities need to be activated and engaged in implementing climate policies if EU targets are to be met. There is a large implementation gap between cities ostensibly committed to action on climate change and those able to meet basic policy formulation and reporting requirements regarding their planned measures.
LIFE ASAP will accelerate the implementation of EU climate policies and legislation, and contribute to the European Climate Pact, by offering a solution which has been operated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) at the global level for ten years to increase cities’ engagement and capacity to take action on climate change. The One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) combines independent science-based assessment and guidance for cities’ climate action targets and plans, with a friendly competition between cities to celebrate the most ambitious and innovative ideas, actions, people and policies.
As part of the challenge, WWF reviews cities’ climate action plans against best planning practices and assesses whether their targets align with the Paris Agreement to keep global heating within 1.5 °C. Guidance is provided for the most effective actions to meet their necessary targets. Additionally, best performing cities are rewarded with public recognition and are helped to promote their actions and plans to their citizens. Joining the challenge is an effective vehicle for urban policymakers to keep themselves motivated to make the necessary and desired changes.
The project will also support cities in their policy-based public outreach to ensure their citizens can monitor their local government, and are invited to design and co-create their future climate action plans.
Cities drive global gross domestic product (GDP) and generate most the world’s carbon emissions. Home to 55% of global population and 80% of GDP, and based on a consumption-based allocation, cities account for 67-72% of global emissions and 67-76% of global final energy consumption (IPCC, 2022). Consequently, cities and urbanisation areas are crucial for successful adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.
In the Fifth Assessment Report - Synthesis Report (AR5 SYR IPCC, 2014), the IPCC has already specifically recognized the critical role of cities in the global response to climate change.
The actions of cities and the local administrations running them have a profound potential to influence humanity’s impact on the planet’s climate. Cities are both a problem and solution space, and without them being committed to taking effective and ambitious climate action aligned with global goals, those goals will not be achieved.
More needs to be done to support cities to formulate, report and monitor climate action plans and targets that are effective, well anchored with citizens and aligned with EU legislation and policies.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the project are to:
- Increase EU cities’ engagement with the EU Covenant of Mayors and EU climate goals by enabling them to access WWF’s One Planet City Challenge directly through the MyCovenant Platform.
- Strengthen civil society capacity to work with cities and citizens in climate action reporting, analysis, engagement and co-creation.
- Engage, mobilise and build public capacity to engage with their local governments to co-create policies and hold decision makers accountable.
RESULTS
- Increased number of cities with climate targets and action plans in line with EU goals: +35 (2030).
- Increased number of EU cities on MyCovenant with action plans and/or up-to-date 2030 targets: +250 (2030).
- The increased capacity of targeted civil society organisations has significantly contributed to cities’ accelerated and aligned climate action planning, implementation and monitoring: three local partners continue to use Support Program (2027), and five additional partners use Support Program (2030). At least 70% of participating cities appreciate support.
- Significant contribution of project engagement processes to number of local engagement exercises/local manifestos for climate action: +20 (2027), +40 (2030); number of city climate action plans that include actions/monitoring opportunities co-created by local citizens :+15 (2027), +35 (2030).
