More than half the world’s population lives in cities where our urban lifestyles account for over 70% of the world’s carbon emissions. These lifestyles are fueled by the grossly disproportionate use of global energy and natural resources. Fortunately, solutions exist to meet the demands of urban lifestyles while staying within our planet’s ecological boundaries. To ensure a climate-safe future the most transformative of these solutions must be scaled and implemented at speed in cities around the globe.

That’s why WWF created the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) in 2011 to inspire the world by showcasing what real local action on climate mitigation and adaptation looks like. It has since become the largest and most impactful program of its kind. Our aim is to help foster cities around the globe that enable all people and nature to thrive within the ecological limits of our one and only planet.

The OPCC is designed to ensure success by providing strategic feedback and support to local governments as they progress along their individual climate journeys. There is a clear emphasis on big-win actions for alignment with the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting warming to 1.5°C.

To date, over 900 cities from 70 countries have accepted the challenge. This massive participation has created a critical mass in support of rapid and effective climate action from a diverse community of cities around the world.

A key component of the OPCC program is our holistic Strategic Support Program, which includes, among other things, a tool we developed for the robust assessment and monitoring of progress in line with climate goals, as well as a customized Strategic Feedback Report that provides a clear understanding of the big picture and offers specific opportunities for improvement.

The OPCC’s unique methodology for verifying emissions reductions enables participating cities to report emissions, goals and targets on the renowned CDP-ICLEI Track.

Participants’ data is then assessed and compared to the emission reduction trajectories recommended for their type of city in order to limit global warming to 1.5 °C or below. This process guides cities toward the most impactful actions to cut emissions and align with the 1.5°C target of the global climate agreement. 

WWF will offer recognition to top-scoring cities for their efforts and achievements.

A city’s level of ambition can be easily detected by looking at available options for public transport, housing, waste management, healthy local food supply as well as access to parks and green spaces.

And this is where you come in! It is the residents of our cities who experience local governments’ dedication to sustainability on a daily basis and in a multitude of ways. An engaged and informed public is fundamental for garnering buy-in for local climate policies, but also for offering real feedback on how climate action plans and strategies are working in practice. 

That’s why WWF designed We Love Cities, a global public engagement campaign run in OPCC finalist cities. Since its inception over a decade ago, We Love Cities has called on millions of citizens to support their cities’ climate actions and to offer advice on further improvements.

WWF’s One Planet City Challenge recognizes cities leading the way in climate action. These global frontrunners have developed and implemented bold solutions that align with the 1.5°C target of the global climate agreement, proving that cities can indeed drive transformative change. Their achievements inspire others, demonstrating the power of local action on a global scale.