Cities 1.5

 In the face of the accelerating climate crisis, rising authoritarianism, and geopolitical shifts, national governments are faltering…but cities are stepping into the void and taking the lead. Season 6 of Cities 1.5 will delve into how municipal-level actions and powerful coalitions are creating a carbon-free future, promoting resilience, and enabling a new economic system based on wellbeing over profit. We’ll explore how cities are countering disinformation, fear, and inertia by spearheading significant local climate initiatives and forming new alliances, daring national governments to follow in their footsteps. Because the future won’t wait - so we need to decide now who will lead, and whether we want to move towards disaster … or resilience.If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Comms support by Chiara Morfeo. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Welcome to Cities 1.5 Hot Takes: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis. Hot Takes brings you fast, focused coverage on breaking news and underserved stories at the intersection of climate, economics and public health - all through an urban lens. This first-ever edition of Hot Takes is about a major move in Canada’s energy future…and what it means for climate, cities, and the promises made to hold fossil fuel giants accountable. As Canadian cities race toward net zero, their efforts are being fundamentally threatened by a high stakes federal agreement known as "The Grand Bargain": a political compromise on behalf of the Mark Carney government to build a new pipeline that would transport diluted bitumen from the Alberta oil sands westward across the rocky mountains to the British Columbia coast.Touted as a bridge to a clean energy future, we go behind the spin to explore the  real facts behind this project - and lay bare the reasons many are opposed to this doubling down on promises made by the fossil fuel industry…promises that historically haven’t been worth the paper they’re written on.Featured guests:Hon. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, and former Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeLinks:World Mayors Summit two-part special - Cities 1.5 podcast83 Countries Join Call to End Fossil Fuels at COP30 - Earth.org Why Mark Carney’s pipeline deal with Alberta puts the Canadian federation in jeopardy - The ConversationA Not-so-Grand Bargain - Pembina InstituteCanada may approve a new oil pipeline. First Nations fear another ‘worst-case scenario’ - The GuardianWatch David’s full CPAC interviewCanada OKs ‘Massive’ $20 Billion Loan for Trans-Mountain Pipeline - DeSmogIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Comms support by Chiara Morfeo. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In the first episode of our two-part World Mayors Summit special, we heard from mayors around the world about the power of convenings like the Summit to unite city leaders and spark collaboration. In this second episode, we explore what that collaboration looks like in practice, from new approaches to urban planning and the challenge of energy-hungry data centres, to fossil-free trucks and greener and cleaner shipping routes.We also explore the outcomes for cities that came out of COP30 with voices from people who were on the ground in Belém…and also from a Brazilian climate leader who had a front-row seat before, during, and after what many have been calling the most important COP since the Paris Agreement. Photo credit: © C40 CitiesSpecial thanks to Pauline Eloi, Director of the Executive C40 Office and Yasmin Calandrini, Manager, CHAMP National Engagement, for their on-the-ground support in Rio for the production of this episode. Featured guests:Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin, USACarola Schouten, Mayor of Rotterdam, NetherlandsNick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, AustraliaChristiana Figueres, Founding Partner of Global Optimism and Co-presenter of Outrage + OptimismIlan Cuperstein, C40 Regional Director for Latin America and Head of International Relations for the City of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilMark Watts, Executive Director of C40 CitiesLars Weiss, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, DenmarkEduardo Pimentel, Mayor of Curitiba, BrazilEirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of Oslo, NorwayDr. Nasiphi Moya, Mayor of Tshwane, South AfricaLinks:Outrage + Optimism - Inside COPLearn about the many versions of COP30's "Global Mutirão"Winners: Clean, Reliable Transportation (Oslo Fossil Free Trucks)Tshwane C40 Cities regional sustainability masterclassThe Environmental Cost of Data CentersCOP30 Local Leaders Forum StatementIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Comms support by Chiara Morfeo. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this first instalment of our two-part special from the C40 World Mayors Summit, Cities 1.5 takes you inside the flagship gathering of the world’s most ambitious urban climate leaders. We hear directly from mayors as they unveil this year’s Offer of Action – a unified commitment that raises the stakes for urban climate leadership and pointedly challenges national governments to match their ambition with action of  their own, all on the eve of COP30. We also speak with leading climate experts and C40 partners to explore why cities remain the most effective engines for rapid, equitable decarbonization, and what they must do next to keep the goal of limiting global heating to 1.5°C alive. And crucially, funders share why they’ve chosen to invest in C40’s global network, highlighting the proven impact of coordinated city action and the urgency of scaling it.Photo credit: ©Bernardo Jardim PhotographyFeatured:Sir Sadiq Khan, C40 Co-Chair and Mayor of LondonNick Reece, Lord Mayor of MelbourneGiuseppe “Beppe” Sala, Mayor of MilanYousef Al-Shawarbeh, Mayor of AmmanKeith Wilson, Mayor of PortlandDr. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, Executive Mayor of EkurhuleniEduardo Pimentel, Mayor of CuritibaCaterina Sarfatti, Managing Director of Inclusion and Global Leadership at C40Haris Doukas, Mayor of AthensEirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of OsloSøren Staugaard Nielsen, Managing Director of the Ramboll FoundationJo Jewell, Director of Social Responsibility Partnerships at Novo NordiskHon. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State EntitiesChristiana Figueres, Founding Partner of Global Optimism and Co-presenter of Outrage + OptimismLinks:C40 World Mayors Summit: Cities Delivering Global Leadership for Climate Action - Bloomberg Philanthropies, YouTubeC40 World Mayors SummitFrom negotiation to delivery:The Yearly Offer of ActionRamboll FoundationNovo NordiskCities for Better HealthGreen and Thriving Neighbourhoods ProgrammeIntegrity Matters: Winning the Future reportIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Comms support by Chiara Morfeo. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Cities 1.5 is back with a special two-part series focused on the C40 World Mayor's Summit in Rio de Janeiro, convening just ahead of the upcoming COP30 in Brazil. City mayors are continuing to play a critical role in combating climate change as they implement substantial climate policies and actions amidst the inaction of national governments. Tune in to hear behind-the-scenes discussions with funders, policymakers, and mayors who are committed to cutting emissions, creating green jobs, and safeguarding their communities…all in the face of the accelerating urgency of the climate crisis.Featured:Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, England and co-chair of C40 CitiesYvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone and co-chair of C40 CitiesIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/ Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield. Comms support by Chiara Morfeo. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/