How cities can achieve sustainable prosperity

This year’s UNGA has reminded us that climate is not a distant policy issue; it’s a human one. At the UN Climate Summit, Simon Stiell challenged governments to turn bold promises into action that truly changes lives. Discussions on clean energy and sustainable infrastructure emphasized not just megawatts and buildings, but what they mean for families seeking reliable power, farmers facing drought, and young people demanding a future. Prince Albert II of Monaco brought the oceans into focus, warning that unchecked destruction of marine ecosystems will hit coastal communities first and hardest. For policymakers, the call is clear: align ambition with urgent reforms. For donors, it’s about investing in solutions that transform livelihoods, not just balance sheets. And for civil society, it’s fuel to press harder for accountability and justice. The heart of the message is simple “climate action is people’s survival, dignity, and opportunity.”

🌍 New Greenprint Alert! While governments flip-flop, businesses double down on climate action: - China announces first absolute emissions reduction target - Trump dismisses climate change as "greatest con job ever” - 82% of organisations boost green investment despite political headwinds - UK pioneers carbon capture with major construction deals The message is clear: while governments waiver, smart businesses are seizing climate leadership. Read the full bulletin via our blog 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3MW43DY #ForOurPlanet #ClimateAction #ClimateSolutions #Sustainability #GreenerBusiness #ClimateNews

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲? Covenant Signatories, the next step in your climate journey is here. Our new publication '𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴' helps you 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀. It offers a clear, structured approach to action planning, from defining priorities to implementation and monitoring with concrete examples and key insights for each pillar. This guide is part of our '𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯' series, designed to support municipalities through every stage of climate and energy action. 📌 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eCSM9PZa EU Science, Research and Innovation

🌍 Cities are on the frontline of climate action. As António Guterres reminds us: “The battle for climate change will be won or lost in cities.” The LIFE AT LAST project handbook equips municipalities with tools, practices, and financing frameworks to accelerate Local Energy & Climate Planning (LE&CP). Inside you’ll find: 📖 Mitigation & adaptation modules 🌱 Case studies & best practices 💶 Financing solutions (green bonds, PPPs, revolving funds) 🤝 Governance lessons for cross-department collaboration This living resource, shaped by pilots in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden, helps local authorities turn ambitious plans into lasting climate impact. 🔗 Explore the handbook and empower your city’s transition: https://lnkd.in/ebPkHVFU #ClimatePlanning #EnergyTransition #ResilientCities #LocalAuthorities #Innovation

Prof. Imraan Valodia, University of the Witwatersrand explains how the social contract needs to evolve if it is to address climate change, sustainability, and inequality — and to help ensure a just and inclusive green transition. 👇

Targets are only the start. What do they mean for the regions? Last week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese set Australia’s 2035 climate target at a 62-70% emissions cut, urging government, industry and households to “lean in” to meet it. But what does this mean for regional towns that rely on resources and agriculture? 📻 On Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio National, The Next Economy’s Founder Amanda Cahill joined Nick Bryant to unpack this question. “Targets are really important… to give certainty to communities when there’s so much noise, a lot of misinformation and confusion, to give people the message that we are decarbonising. The world is on a track to get to net zero and we need the leadership across communities, government, industry and investors to make that happen.”   👉 Amanda shared examples of the opportunities and actions emerging: Alpha HPA in Gladstone producing low-carbon materials, Green Gravity in Mount Isa turning mineshafts into energy storage, MCi Carbon in Newcastle capturing industrial emissions, and farmers in Hay working to adapt to floods and droughts. But she also stressed the bigger picture. “The big ticket item nobody wants to talk about is fossil fuel exports. Coal communities themselves are saying: we know this is going to happen, and we need to prepare for that future.” The takeaway? Targets matter, but it is how we manage the change ahead - with planning, skills, investment and honesty - that will decide what kind of future regional communities inherit. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/e3hcwzsM  

We asked Canadians to rate each of 10 broad strategies as a high, medium or low priority for the country to pursue in addressing climate change. This year’s results reflect a notable shift: compared to 2021, the public in 2025 is more likely to favour policies that protect jobs and the economy and less concerned with meeting carbon reduction targets. The change is especially notable in B.C. and Atlantic Canada. See the full details in our new Confederation of Tomorrow 2025 survey report on Climate Change Policy in the Federation 👉 https://lnkd.in/gU--P6N9 The Environics Institute for Survey Research | Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) | Canada West Foundation | Brian Mulroney Institute of Government | First Nations Financial Management Board | Alain-G. Gagnon

The Sustainability Delivery Summit London’s keynote speech opened by recapping basic climate science. Though not shocking to the audience of largely environmental and sustainability (E&S) professionals, James Richardson, head of analysis at the Climate Change Committee, which advises the UK government, said: "It has started to be contested again by some voices." Read the full write-up of our keynote: https://hubs.li/Q03Lt3YK0 #SustainabilityDeliverySummitLondon #ClimateProgress #SustainabilityChallenges

Climate change is not just a scientific or technical issue — it is also a human one🫂     While public bodies may understand the science of #climatechange, they often struggle to communicate it in ways that resonate with people's lived experiences.     This is why #NICW’s recent report has outlined 12 key recommendations to the Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government, focused on making sure that communities are central to #climateadaptation planning💪    Read the key aspects of our recommendations below or click to find them in full here: https://lnkd.in/e5SsPhEG   

Climate change is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss - but nature can help us fight back: restoring and protecting ecosystems; harnessing nature in climate change adaptation; increasing resilience to climate-proof populations, communities and ecosystem processes. Partnership between the Climate Change Committee and the JNCC is a powerful step forward.