Solutions

The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) will provide a range of solutions to the C40 partner cities to help reduce energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions. This includes:

• Pooling the buying power of cities. This will help lower the prices of energy saving products and hasten development and uptake of new energy saving technologies. The consortium will partner with vendors leading to lower production and delivery costs and therefore lower prices. Key product categories will include building materials, systems, and controls; traffic and street lighting; clean buses and waste disposal trucks; and waste-to-energy systems.
• Mobilising expert assistance to help cities develop and implement programmes that will lead to reduced energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Technical help will be provided in areas including building efficiency, cleaner transport, renewable energy production, waste management, and water and sanitation systems.
• Create and deploy common measurement tools so that cities can establish a baseline on their greenhouse gas emissions, track reductions and share best practice. This will inform how and where cities direct their mitigation activities. Common measurement systems will also allow cities to evaluate the potential benefits of any measures in relation to their specific local contexts. An online information network will allow experts in different cities to access data and engage in dialogue on best practices.

How cities can help

There are many steps cities can take to reduce energy consumption and to use cleaner energy. They include:

• Creating building codes and standards that include practical, affordable changes that make buildings cleaner and more energy efficient.
• Conducting energy audits and implementing retrofit programs to improve energy efficiency in municipal and private buildings.
• Installing more energy efficient traffic and street lighting.
• Implementing localised, cleaner electricity generation systems.
• Developing bus rapid transit and non-motorised transport systems.
• Using clean fuels and hybrid technologies for city buses, rubbish trucks, and other vehicles.
• Implementing schemes to reduce traffic, such as congestion charges.
• Creating waste-to-energy systems at landfills.
• Improving water distribution systems and leak management.
• The CCI will work with C40 participants in these areas and others in which major greenhouse gas emissions reductions can be achieved.