C40

What C40 does

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Inc. is a US-registered non-profit organization founded in 2005 that operates a global network of 96 member cities, which together represent approximately 23% of global GDP and 920 million people. C40's core function is to convene mayors of the world's megacities and provide them with climate action planning frameworks, peer-to-peer learning platforms, technical assistance across 11 sector programs (transport, buildings, energy, food, waste, water, urban planning, etc.), climate finance pathways, and collective advocacy in global negotiations including the COP and G20 processes. The organization's flagship technology product is the C40 Knowledge Hub, an open-access platform serving 2.6 million users across 28,000 cities worldwide with practical tools, research, and case studies. Programmatic sub-brands include C40 Accelerators (sector-specific commitment frameworks), the Climate Budgeting Programme, Breathe Cities (air quality partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Clean Air Fund), Laneshift (electric freight), and Cities Race to Zero. C40 does not charge membership dues; its revenue model is a foundation of philanthropic and government grants from a coalition of funders including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Realdania, FCDO (UK), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, ClimateWorks Foundation, the European Union, and others. It is governed by a co-chair model (one Global North mayor, one Global South mayor) and operates headquarters in London with regional hubs in New York and Johannesburg and field staff across seven regional directorates.

Name

C40

Legal name

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Inc.

Website

https://c40.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

C40 Cities is a non-profit global network of 96 megacities, representing 23% of global GDP, that provides member mayors with climate action planning frameworks, technical assistance, a shared Knowledge Hub, and collective advocacy to cut urban emissions and build resilience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Climate Action Network Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Decarbonization Strategy & Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Advisory (EUABAKAC), Climate Resilience & Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (BPAGABAK)

Keywords

• Urban climate action
• City climate network
• Climate action planning
• Sustainable city development
• Climate finance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Philanthropic Funding: C40 operates as a registered not-for-profit organization funded by foundations and philanthropies including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Realdania, ClimateWorks Foundation, and others who provide core funding and programmatic support
2. Government Funding: Funding from government entities including FCDO (UK), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, and European Union for specific climate programs and initiatives

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

C40 Cities is a non-profit network of nearly 100 mayors of the world's leading cities working together to address the climate crisis. It provides member cities with expert guidance, technical assistance, sector-specific accelerator programmes, and peer-to-peer learning to develop and implement climate action plans that cut emissions, build resilience, and advance justice. Its flagship open-access C40 Knowledge Hub serves 2.6 million users globally with climate expertise, case studies, and practical tools.

Product overview

C40 Cities operates as a global climate action network rather than a traditional product company. The primary platform offering is the C40 Knowledge Hub, an open-access knowledge management system that provides climate action resources, tools, and research to support cities in planning and implementing climate solutions. The organization delivers its mission through sector programs (transport, buildings, energy, food, waste, water, urban planning), accelerators, climate finance pathways, and global advocacy—serving as a coordination and knowledge-sharing network for nearly 100 member cities representing 23% of the global economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Breathe Cities: A global initiative supporting cities to cut air pollution and climate emissions, partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities.
• C40 Knowledge Hub
• Laneshift
• Cities Race to Zero

Products and services

• C40 Knowledge Hub Open-access digital platform providing climate expertise, practical tools, research, case studies, and ready-to-use resources to support city and climate professionals in planning and implementing climate action.
• C40 Accelerators Sector-specific commitment frameworks that drive ambitious climate results and halve fossil fuel use by 2030 across key urban systems for C40 member cities.
• Cities Climate Transition Framework A comprehensive framework providing practical guidance for cities to plan and deliver transformational climate change action, aligned with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
• Climate Budgeting Programme Programme providing tools and frameworks that help cities integrate climate considerations into budgeting and governance systems.
• Breathe Cities A global initiative supporting cities to cut air pollution and climate emissions, operated as a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities, with active engagement in 14+ cities.
• Laneshift Programme focused on electric freight truck transition and the development of green corridors in cities, supporting zero-emission transport.
• Cities Race to Zero Global campaign mobilizing cities to commit to net zero emissions as part of the broader Race to Zero coalition.

Quantifiable outcome

• C40 cities cutting emissions 5x faster than global average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Clean Air FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic initiative tackling air pollution globally. Partner in Breathe Cities initiative alongside Bloomberg Philanthropies and C40 Cities to improve air quality across 14+ cities.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency working worldwide for a future worth living, offering people opportunities and sustainably improving living conditions. Supports C40's technical programmes.
• CAF (Development Bank of Latin America)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Signed MoU at International Economic Forum 2026 to accelerate urban climate finance and project delivery across the region.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of World Bank Group. Joint report with C40 identifying $3.8 billion EV charging infrastructure investment opportunity across Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and India by 2035.
• The Climate PledgemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism. 467 signatories across 41 countries. Partner in EV charging infrastructure reports and Laneshift programme.
• World BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in urban climate finance initiatives including World Bank Spring Meetings roundtable co-hosted with C40 and Global Covenant of Mayors.
• Uber Technologies Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership to expand EV charging access for drivers and couriers in major US and European cities, targeting over 55,000 drivers across London, Boston, and Phoenix.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner supporting C40's digital initiatives and climate data projects.
• IBMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal technology company providing solutions and insights for urban climate initiatives including AI applications for cities.
• Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partnership for climate and energy coordination. C40's Andy Deacon serves as Co-Managing Director of GCoM. Joint initiatives including CHAMP coalition.
• World Resources Institute (WRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization working to improve people's lives, protect nature, and stabilize climate. Collaborates on urban climate projects.
• International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent research organization providing technical analysis to environmental regulators. Partner in electric bus deployment and freight electrification analysis.
• ArupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and design consultancy. Joint analysis on electric truck transition with C40 and University of Exeter. Supports freight decarbonisation initiatives.
• University of ExetermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in joint analysis with C40 and Arup revealing cities can accelerate transition to electric freight trucks through coordinated policy action.
• Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition co-hosting webinars on electrifying construction equipment with ICCT and C40 Cities.
• Community JameelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent global organization continuing tradition of philanthropy and community service. Co-hosting panel on resilient cities at VivaTech 2025.
• British Embassy JakartaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK diplomatic mission collaborating with Jakarta Provincial Government and C40 on UK-funded Climate Action Implementation programme.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global disclosure system for cities and companies on environmental impact. CDP's cities program overlaps with C40's measurement, reporting, and benchmarking work and competes for the same municipal reporting space and funder dollars.

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization with longstanding programs on cities and climate (Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, WRI Ross). WRI collaborates with C40 but also competes for philanthropic climate dollars and produces overlapping research and frameworks.
• UN-Habitat: United Nations agency working on sustainable urban development. UN-Habitat addresses many of the same urban climate, resilience, and equity missions as C40 but operates under a multilateral mandate with broader geographic and income-level scope.

Others

• Bloomberg Philanthropies: C40's largest strategic funder and a direct partner on initiatives like Breathe Cities and Beyond Carbon. Bloomberg Philanthropies is also a major parallel climate funder to city networks and campaigns, making it both an enabler and an indirect competitor for influence.
• ClimateWorks Foundation: Major climate philanthropy aggregator that channels funding to NGOs including C40. ClimateWorks is an adjacent ecosystem player whose grantmaking priorities directly shape C40's funding runway and program scope.

Direct peers

• ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments committed to sustainability. Like C40, ICLEI provides frameworks, peer learning, and technical support to cities on climate action and is one of C40's closest direct competitors in the city climate network space.
• Under2 Coalition: Subnational climate coalition of state and regional governments committed to deep decarbonization. Compares to C40 as a peer subnational network chasing similar funder mandates (Bloomberg, ClimateWorks) and member overlaps in C40's megacities.
• United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG): Worldwide network of cities and local/regional government associations. UCLG overlaps with C40 on advocacy, knowledge sharing, and city representation in global forums such as the UN and COP, though UCLG is broader and more politically oriented.
• Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM): Largest global alliance of city leaders addressing climate change. GCoM overlaps directly with C40 — C40's Andy Deacon serves as Co-Managing Director — and both coalitions share member cities, funders, and reporting methodologies.

Regional players

• RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative): US-state-level cap-and-trade compact among Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. RGGI is a regional precedent for subnational climate coordination analogous to C40's model but operates at US-state level rather than global-city level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/c40cities
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/C40CitiesLive
• Facebookfacebook.com/C40Cities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c40-cities-climate-leadership-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/c40cities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about C40