Mayors lead the way on a climate just transition for cities

• Mayors from four continents highlight that climate action only works if it benefits everyone

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (4 November 2025) - Mayors, union leaders, and government representatives from around the world met on the opening day of the C40 World Mayors Summit to discuss a crucial issue: making sure the shift to a cleaner, greener economy and tackling the climate emergency is fair for everyone.

Building on one of the key themes of COP30, and speaking with leaders from the Brazilian government and the United Nations, they stressed that cities and local partners are the ones who make the 'just transition' happen. The meeting emphasised the essential role local communities play in creating new, good jobs and supporting workers as the world tackles the climate crisis. climate change.

Mayors from Freetown, Helsinki, Johannesburg, Phoenix, Warsaw, and Adelaide shared their experience at the forefront of bridging the climate and social agenda, showcasing just transition approaches that leave no one behind. They were joined by representatives from the labor movement and national governments alongside Special Adviser and Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Action at the United Nations, Selwin Hart, who welcomed the mentions of the just transition in more than 80% of national climate commitments and urged cities to hold their nations responsible by acting as examples of how climate action can be fair and equitable.

Their goal was to tackle the unique challenges and opportunities cities face in achieving this just and equitable transition. Techniques discussed ranged from promoting social dialogues in partnership with unions, to building resilience and tackling energy poverty; and from creating thousands of green jobs to delivering equitable green skills programmes.

C40's Inclusive Climate Action Programme is currently supporting 40 cities in delivering equitable local climate action. Sixty-eight of C40's 97 cities are currently delivering local programmes on good green jobs and a just transition.

Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown and C40 Co-Chair, said: "Cities are where climate impacts are most deeply felt and where climate action must happen first.

"They are therefore central to achieving a just, fair, and people-centred climate transition. As implementers of the just transition and key partners to national governments, cities' essential role must be formally recognised at COP30.

"It is critical that national governments empower local actions by localising finance, including local governments in just transition policy-making processes, and redirecting funds from fossil fuel subsidies towards urban inclusive climate action."

"Climate action must begin and end with people, and this is why the COP30 Presidency has made a just and inclusive climate transition a key priority in Belém," said Denise Dora, the COP30 Special Envoy on Human Rights and Just Transition

"Cities and subnational governments can play a strategic role in this process, in line with the principle of climate federalism recognised in Brazil's NDC, and I welcome the opportunity to meet with such a great group of mayors and partners, to discuss our shared just transition priorities."

This discussion follows the release of new evidence about the employment creation potential from climate action, with new C40 data showing that 21 million good green jobs already exist in 81 assessed cities, delivering tangible benefits to local residents, particularly in sectors where cities hold the most power to act, including waste management, transportation, construction and energy.

In line with the recently published Urban20 outcomes, the conversation also highlighted the need for stronger partnerships between national governments and key stakeholders to achieve national and global just transition goals.

Yuri Ramkissoon from South Africa's Presidential Climate Commission said: "We developed and championed our first-ever Just transition framework through collaboration between subnational leaders, national government, unions, businesses, and civil society to ensure that we deliver a climate transition that safeguards communities and ensures that opportunities are shared equitably. As the coalface of service delivery and key partners in just transition implementation, Subnational governments must be supported and funded to turn bold commitments into tangible action."

Mayors and partners agreed that achieving a successful COP30 and progress on climate action, particularly amidst current political opposition, hinges on an ambitious just transition outcome in Belém, with positive recognition of local actors, active participation of workers and communities and increased localisation of climate and just transition finance.