Looking ahead to 2030, collaborations across sectors will become critical to addressing climate change and spurring environmental action. As local economies begin their green transition, these collaborations are an opportunity to drive economic growth in cities and address social equity for a greener and better future for all.
CDP data shows that 76% of cities are already working with businesses on sustainability projects or are planning to do so. These partnerships are key to delivering change at the speed and scale needed to build a healthy, resilient and prosperous future.
The city perspective
Cities account for over 70% of global emissions. But, shaped and financed by the private sector, some control just 4% of their emissions. They are also on the front lines of climate change, facing rising temperatures, hurricanes, flooding and drought. As cities grapple with COVID-19, worsening climate change and slashed city budgets, they’ll need private capital to support sustainability projects.
The company perspective
To future-proof their businesses, companies need to invest attention and resources in the local communities where they operate. They must ensure that these cities are resilient in the face of climate change; that, as they grow, they are opening doors in new locations that will support their own mitigation goals; and that their employees have safe, thriving communities to call home.
Catalyze Cohort
CDP’s Catalyze Cohort is a professional development opportunity to develop and finance urgently-needed sustainability infrastructure projects for equitable and resilient communities. Participation in the cohort will build your knowledge on project conceptualization, development and financing mechanisms while you connect with other local governments, public authorities and the private sector. For city participants, you can join the cohort with a project in development at any stage of maturity. Projects should be seeking financing or developing funding strategies.
View the agenda for our most recent Catalyze Cohort Workshop
Contact us to join the next Cohort
City Business Climate Alliance
The CBCA is a joint initiative of CDP, WBCSD, and C40 Cities - a global alliance forging city-business partnerships on climate action. The program supports the most ambitious city and business leaders with a platform to convene, set joint commitments, co-create, and implement projects that help cities deliver on their Climate Action Plans and businesses on their climate targets in line with the Paris Agreement.
Find out more here
Business Scans
The business scan is a data product that aims to help cities identify leading businesses to engage with on collaborative climate action. The scan brings together key data points from CDP’s rich database, as well as public commitments and publicly available data to provide a customized shortlist of companies for each city.
Contact us to learn more
Learn how cities and companies are collaborating to drive resilience projects that simultaneously address social equity.
The CBCA Guide talks city partners through the steps needed to build alliances with businesses to drive down emissions and adapt to climate change.
Learn how CDP drove forward a collaboration between the Mayor of London and businesses working together to reduce carbon emissions in London.
Cohort Showcase: City Projects
Projects as Equitable Economic Development
Project Considerations: Equity, Risks and Operations
Financing Projects
Clean Energy & Efficiency
Green & Blue Urban Resilience
Shared Community Assets
Municipal Bonds & The Value of CDP Disclosure
Solar Project Development & Best Practices for the Public Sector
Municipal Bonds for Sustainable Communities
Intro to Water Infrastructure Project Financing (Part I)
Strategies for Financing Water Infrastructure (Part II)
Issuing Environmental Impact Bonds
Financing Fundamentals for Sustainability Project
For 20 years, CDP has advanced environmental transparency and action for over 10,000 companies, cities, states and regions across the globe. These cities and companies utilize CDP to manage emissions, protect water bodies and forests, build resilience, protect themselves from climate impacts and create better places for people to live and work.
We are uniquely positioned to convene these global actors – companies, cities, states, regions and local communities – and create partnerships that will accelerate equitable environmental action at the pace and scale we urgently need. Contact us to learn more and get involved.