Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 at current rates. As greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to rise, the impacts of climate change will worsen in the short, medium and long-term. Globally, cities account for more than 70% of energy-related CO₂ emissions and two thirds of energy demand, and these shares are expected to increase significantly over coming decades without significant climate action. Climate change also poses unique challenges for adaptation, requiring a locally tailored approach.

Cities and regions are at the forefront of implementing ambitious measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Many cities and regions have adopted climate targets and actions that are more ambitious than those of their national governments. However, acting alone, their full potential in the response to climate change remains untapped. Local governments are estimated to have direct power to cut up to one-third of GHG emissions in their cities, with the remaining two-thirds of urban emission reductions depending either on national and state governments or on co-ordination across levels of government.

Cities and regions require a clear evidence base and rationale to identify, prioritise and implement climate action measures and policy priorities as well as to monitor progress and scale-up ambition. In this process, national governments have a crucial role in enabling and supporting local governments for their place-based actions to drive the zero-carbon transition and build systemic resilience.