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Sydney to lead C40 global cities climate network
SYDNEY’s credentials on leading climate change action have been elevated as the city takes on the new role of heading an international network of cities driving energy efficiency.
The City of Sydney is a founding member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a network of 69 global cities taking action on climate change. 
For the next 12 months, Sydney will co-chair the C40 Private Sector Buildings Energy Efficiency Network with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Sydney will work with the Tokyo government to guide the network’s strategic direction, establish an annual work plan and collaborate with the other cities to put the plan in action.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said research showed cities generated more than 70 percent of the world’s carbon pollution and were home to more than half the world’s population – making cities “the best place to act on climate change”.
“It’s vital cities work together to share information on success stories and show leadership to drive significant action on climate change,” the Cr Moore said.
“We are honoured to be leading this network in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to work with cities from Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania and East Asia. We look forward to hosting the next network forum of member cities in Sydney.”
C40 chair and Rio de Janeiro mayor, Eduardo Paes, said cities “go farther and faster when they collaborate and share ideas” and C40 was strongly committed to fostering this kind of city-to-city exchange.
“I commend the City of Sydney for taking a leadership role in the C40 private sector network to build energy-efficiency, which brings together global cities to drive local climate action on this critical issue,” Mayor Paes said.
“Sydney has made valuable contributions to the network to date, and has demonstrated exemplary ambition for future energy efficiency policies.”
Cr Moore said the new C40 leadership role would allow Sydney to work with, and learn from, world-class expertise that will benefit landlords and tenants involved in the city’s energy efficiency programs.
“Climate change is the most important issue of our time and scientists agree the time for action is now,” Cr Moore said.
“By influencing conversations on climate change and showing leadership we can make a real difference. We’re already delivering and demonstrating significant action on climate change to our communities, and now we are taking this action to a global platform to share ideas and learn from others.
“Through this C40 network, our property owners and tenants will be able to take on global targets, inspiration and information from around the world. This will further improve energy efficiency in Sydney’s buildings and slash carbon emissions in the heart of our own city.”
Part of the city’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 program is a community-driven mission to address climate change. The city is also Australia’s first carbon-neutral government with ambitious targets to reduce emissions by 70 percent by 2030 on 2006 levels.
Sydney is working with many Australian businesses and communities, Cr Moore said, to reduce emissions while making significant savings to their bottom line through a series of programs including Smart Green Business, City Switch, Better Buildings Partnership and Smart Green Apartments.
The city is also working on a comprehensive energy efficiency master plan that will be released later this year, according to the Lord Mayor.
C40 was established in 2005 and expanded through a partnership in 2006 with former US President Bill Clinton’s Climate Initiative (CCI). The current chair of the C40 is Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes and the 108th Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, serves as president of the C40 board.
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