Cities and national governments are increasing efforts to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with energy security and price stability identified as key drivers. At the conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, C40 city leaders highlighted the risks of fossil fuel price volatility and supply disruptions for public budgets and households.
Renewable electricity, particularly from wind and solar, is now at least 50% cheaper than new fossil fuel generation. In addition, 92% of countries have renewable energy potential exceeding ten times their current demand, indicating significant scope for expansion.
Urban areas account for around 75% of global energy-related emissions, making local action central to emissions reduction. Data from C40 cities show per capita emissions have declined for four consecutive years and are now below pre-pandemic levels.
Several cities are scaling renewable energy and related measures. Melbourne has implemented collective renewable energy purchasing covering 100% of municipal operations. In Curitiba, solar procurement for public buildings has reduced energy costs by 30%. Johannesburg has issued a green bond worth US$140 million to finance renewable energy and efficiency projects. Warsaw is supporting low-income households to adopt clean heating systems, while Bogotá has introduced a low-emission zone targeting transport and industrial pollution in a densely populated area.
Workforce capacity remains a constraint. Analysis across 25 cities indicates up to 6 million additional workers may be required by 2040, particularly in sectors such as construction, transport and energy systems. Training programmes are being developed to support transitions into roles such as solar installation and electric vehicle maintenance.
City-level targets include halving fossil fuel use by 2030, contributing to the global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity set at COP28. Expanding access to municipal financing, enabling direct renewable power purchase agreements, and modernising electricity grids are identified as key measures to support further deployment.
C40 is a network of nearly 100 city mayors focused on addressing climate change through coordinated urban action. Member cities follow science-based approaches aligned with the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce emissions, phase out fossil fuel use and strengthen resilience. The network works with partners from labour, business and civil society to support these efforts, including a target to halve emissions by 2030.
