C40 ADVANCING TOWARDS ZERO WASTE DECLARATION

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Sadiq Khan Mayor of London and Chair of C40 Cities:

Many cities are among those on the frontline of climate change, feeling the impacts of record-breaking temperatures, rising sea levels, and climate related natural disasters. Since 2017, C40’s Declarations and statements of political leadership – based on the toughest science-based targets and allied to concrete delivery milestones – have been signed by bold and forward-thinking Mayors. These reports document the ambitious action that has been implemented within cities.

The importance of acting now is greater than ever. Focusing on achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 gives people a false sense of the time we have left to solve the climate crisis, and these Mayors have acknowledged that when it comes to creating safe, inclusive, resilient cities we must act now.

Despite the many challenges faced in recent times, with the global pandemic, economic disruption and upheaval, climate related natural disasters and in many cases strained financial resources, C40 cities have continued to act and have more than doubled the number of high-impact climate actions implemented in the six years since the Paris Agreement was signed.

Cities have also already delivered more than 270 actions and are on track to deliver more than 900 additional actions by 2030, creating urban environments that allow citizens to thrive through creating streets that put people first, cleaning the air that people breathe, creating low-cost and energy efficient homes and offices, ensuring citizens have access to balanced and nutritious food that does not harm the planet and advancing towards zero waste policies. This must be a decade of action, with cities accelerating their efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.

For that reason, I have brought my own commitment to making London net zero forward by 20 years to 2030. I have also recently set out my preferred pathway to 2030 and identified further bold actions that London will need to take to achieve this goal. Delivery will require action by many stakeholders, but by setting out a bold and ambitious approach of our own we can encourage others to follow our example. Congratulations to the cities featured in these reports for their leadership in creating The Future We Want, by demonstrating that their commitments are not empty words, but bold actions, and for driving the change needed for a safe planet for future generations. 

Around the world, C40 cities are implementing sustainable urban waste management practices that reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, improve public health, support economic opportunity, promote equity and create resilient infrastructure. When waste and sustainable material management is approached holistically, through promoting and taking actions that focus on reduction, avoidance, recycling, treatment and offsetting, cities can reduce their emissions by 15 to 20%.

To implement climate action that improves citywide waste management, 21 C40 cities have signed the C40 Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration1 . These signatories have pledged to: • Reduce the municipal solid waste generation per capita by at least 15% by 2030 compared to 2015; and • Reduce the amount of municipal solid waste disposed to landfill and incineration by at least 50% by 2030 compared to 2015, and increase the diversion rate away from landfill and incineration to at least 70% by 2030. This report outlines the actions that cities have taken to deliver on their Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration commitments.