Cities are where climate action can happen fastest. They concentrate people, buildings and infrastructure, and often move ahead of national regulations. With the right expertise and networks, cities can transform not just buildings, but entire communities.
That's why World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) a network of nearly 100 mayors driving global climate action have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supercharge efforts for low-carbon, resilient, and equitable buildings worldwide.
This partnership connects city leadership with WorldGBC's global network of 85+ Green Building Councils (GBC), representing over 51,000 member companies and reaching nearly 80% of the world's population. Together, cities and GBCs will turn ambition into measurable impact scaling solutions, shaping markets, and embedding sustainable building practices at the heart of urban development.
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC said:
"Cities are at the frontline of climate action, and their ability to deliver agile, place-based policy improvements make them powerful agents of change. By bringing together our strengths, networks and insights, we can unlock faster, fairer and more widespread progress. Climate solutions don´t happen in isolation they're built like a mosaic, shaped by the lived experience of cities, business leadership and innovation, and the voices of communities."
Building on a strong foundation
WorldGBC and C40 already share a track record of collaboration. Through initiatives like WorldGBC's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment) and C40's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Accelerator, cities and businesses pledge to achieve near-zero emission buildings, delivering real, measurable emissions reductions across urban environments.
With over 160 signatories to the Commitment, and more than 1 million tonnes of CO e already reduced, this work proves that partnership turns promises into action.
Beyond commitments, the two organisations have co-created research, policy guidance, and resilience frameworks from affordable housing solutions to climate adaptation strategies and joined forces at global moments like COP summits and city-focused climate events. These efforts have helped cities share best practices, test solutions, and scale what works.
Cassie Sutherland, Managing Director, Climate Solutions and Networks, C40 said:
"Our collaboration with WorldGBC plays a critical role in demonstrating ambitious leadership for urban building decarbonisation. By ensuring affordability, equity, and health, we are creating a blueprint that cities and businesses can use to push other stakeholders, including national governments, to follow."
From partnerships to progress
Running through to November 2027, the MoU will deepen collaboration between city leaders and WorldGBC's global network. Key priorities include:
- Delivering the BEERI Plan (Building Efficiency, Electrification and Renewable Integration): Co-led by WorldGBC, C40, and the International Energy Agency (IEA), this initiative (selected by the UNFCCC, High-Level Climate Champions and the COP30 and COP31 Presidencies as one of the official Plans to Accelerate Solutions) will align policy, mobilise investment, and embed transparent monitoring to drive measurable emissions reductions and resilience gains.
- Supporting national and city-level roadmaps for decarbonisation and resilience: Helping governments and local authorities turn climate ambition into actionable building-sector plans.
By focusing on these areas, the partnership will enable cities to deliver tangible climate impact, improving buildings, communities, and the lives of the people who live and work in them.
Cities turning ambition into action
This MoU builds on momentum from the C40 World Mayors Summit 2025, held in Rio de Janeiro in the run up to COP30, where mayors, businesses, investors, and civil society reaffirmed the critical role of cities in implementing climate solutions. From London to São Paulo, city leaders showed that while solutions must be locally tailored, global collaboration unlocks progress at speed.
Through this partnership, WorldGBC and C40 will keep cities at the centre of the green transition transforming buildings, driving innovation, and shaping a fair, resilient, and zero carbon future.
Media contact: Tessa Eydmann-Peel, Marketing and Communications Manager, WorldGBC, teydmannpeel@worldgbc.org
About World Green Building Council
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is the largest local-regional-global action network leading the transformation to sustainable and decarbonised built environments.
Together, with over 85 Green Building Councils and industry partners from all around the world, we are driving systemic changes to achieve:
- total decarbonisation of the built environment
- healthy, equitable and resilient buildings, cities and communities
- regeneration of natural systems and thriving circular economies
We work with businesses, organisations and governments to deliver on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs).
About C40 Cities
C40 is a network of major global cities committed to bold climate action. By bringing together mayors and city leaders, C40 drives collaboration, shares data, and delivers large-scale urban solutions to the climate crisis.
