Cities
CCI helped the city of Seoul retrofit 21 public buildings, making them more energy-efficient.
Cities occupy two percent of the world’s land mass yet contribute more than two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason – and many others – the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) has partnered with some of the world’s largest cities to reduce their carbon emissions.
Cities can play a leadership role in catalyzing global action to address climate change. In addition to being more nimble and willing to take risks than larger government bodies, cities have easy access to their citizens and local businesses, schools and institutions, and therefore, the effects of new policies are immediate and meaningful. Working with a network of cities is an effective way of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing models that national governments can adopt.
How We Work
In 2006, CCI became the delivery partner of the C40, a group of large cities committed to reducing greenhouse gases, and has since formed partnerships with additional cities interested in decreasing their own carbon footprint. The C40 network has a powerful influence, including its combined purchasing power, resources for best practices, and a biannual C40 Summit which foster shared purpose and healthy competition.
Cities programs include building retrofits, outdoor lighting, waste management, and CO2 measurement, with projects in transportation and airports under development. Because each city has its own degree of technical expertise and experience, some projects start from scratch to build the necessary infrastructure and political will, while in other cities CCI may promote advanced solutions that bring efficiency to the highest standards.
Local CCI city directors work on the ground in cities to deliver programs with the support of our expert partners and program teams. This staffing structure gives CCI strong local relationships, knowledge, and project development experience and, importantly, facilitates communication and knowledge-sharing among cities.
CCI provides the following services to our project partners, all of which can be tailored to local needs:
Technical Assistance
- Information – Access to expertise on technologies, market dynamics, and case studies of relevant projects.
- Specifications Development – Assistance with product specifications for pilot or full-scale projects. Includes collaboration with research organizations service providers and manufacturers, and sharing of other cities’ best practices.
- Emissions Abatement Analysis – Greenhouse gas reduction estimates for project scenarios.
Project Assistance
- Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination – Identification and coordination of industry, vendor, utility, and government stakeholders critical to project success.
- Project Coordination – General assistance to cities with project tasks, as needed.
Purchasing Assistance
- Vendor Introductions – Introductions to CCI partner suppliers and service providers.
- Discounts – Access to equipment discounts negotiated by CCI, where geographically available and accessible within the framework of local procurement rules.
Financial Advice
- Advisory Services – Consultation on project financing options, including analysis of access to carbon markets and equity funds.
- Financial Institution Relationships – Introductions to local and global lending institutions.
- Cost-Justification Analysis – Lifecycle cost and payback analyses tailored to cities’ unique equipment, performance, and operation and maintenance requirements.
Network Access
- Cross-sector Introductions – Access to our partners in government, industry, non-profit, and finance sectors.
- City-City Collaboration – Facilitation of dialogue among cities on specifications, tenders, pilot projects and, large-scale deployments.
Analytical and Measurement Tools
- Software – Access to software tools specifically designed for cities to measure and compare emissions and reduction measures.
- Analysis – Use of customized technology assessment tool.
PROFILE
Katie McClain, a Clinton Climate Initiative city director, is helping the city of Chicago implement its Climate Action Plan and dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
