City Challenge 2016 - Congratulations Paris!

Paris the City of Lights took home the title Global Earth Hour Capital in WWF's Earth Hour City Challenge 2016 among stiff competition.

The international jury was impressed with Paris and saw the city as a role model for climate action in cities around the world.The jury specially noted Paris' ambitious vision and successful engagement of key stakeholders on its journey toward sustainability. Selected from a shortlist of 18 national winners, Paris impressed the international jury with its innovative actions, long-term vision and willingness to collaborate and share knowledge capital with cities around the globe.

National Earth Hour Capitals 2016

Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Boulder, USA
Chiangrai, Thailand
Edmonton, Canada
Hue City, Vietnam
Jakarta, Indonesia
Lappeenranta, Finland
Montería, Colombia
Murcia, Spain
Paris, France
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Quito, Ecuador
Rajkot, India
Santa Rosa, Philipines
Shenzhen, China
Singapore, Singapore
Tshwane, South Africa
Umeå, Sweden

Earth Hour City Challenge 2016

125 cities from 21 countries participated in Earth Hour City Challenge 2016. WWF, with the support of Accenture, selected 1-3 finalists per country who were then evaluated by an international jury of experts. The jury analyzed actions and commitments reported by these cities, and identified one sustainability leader per country for the National Earth Hour Capital Awards. One city, Paris, was awarded the title Global Earth Hour Capital 2016. The work of these inspiring cities was highlighted during the United Nations Habitat lll conference in October 2016. 

Finalists 2016 
Brazil: Belo Horizonte, Recife, Rio de Janeiro
Canada: Edmonton, Saanich, Vancouver
China: Shenzhen
Colombia: Bogotá, Cali, Monteria
Ecuador: Quito
Finland: City of Lappeenranta
France: Bordeaux, Paris,Toulouse
India: Coimbatore, Pune, Rajkot
Indonesia: Balikpapan, Bogor, Jakarta
Malaysia: Melaka, Penang Island, Petaling Jaya
Philippines: Makati, San Carlos, Santa Rosa
Singapore: City of Singapore
Spain: Murcia, Palma de Mallorca
South Africa: Cape Town, Tshwane
Sweden: Eskilstuna, Lund, Umeå
Thailand: Chiangrai, Thungsong
USA: Boulder, Burlington, Evanston
Vietnam: Huế City

Will your city inspire the world?

Over 300 cities from around the world have participated in Earth Hour City Challenge. These are cities that deserve recognition for their commitment to taking a leadership role in the transition toward a climate-friendly, one-planet future.

Earth Hour City Challenge in short

With more than 70% of the world’s CO2 emissions generated by residents in cities, the Earth Hour City Challenge has been created to mobilize action and support from cities in the global transition towards a climate friendly one-planet future. The challenge invites cities to report ambitious commitments and big win climate actions, in terms of GHG reductions as well as the co-benefits they provide  in relation to food, water and energy security challenges. Next launch of the challenge in 2017 will be the sixth round of WWFs international city challenge. 

How the challenge works

Cities are invited to report relevant data, plans and actions via an internationally recognized carbon reporting platform for cities, Carbonn Climate Registry, cCR, managed by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. Outreach and support to cities is provided in collaboration with ICLEI and the final plans and data reviewed by an international jury.
The international jury review development plans for building, transport, energy and food systems – solutions that will make a city greener and cleaner and improve living standards for residents.