The IPCC special report ‘Global Warming of 1.5C’ feels like a paradigm-shifting moment that should focus the minds of all governments. Huge congratulations go to Anton Cartwright and Seth Schultz, two of the 91 authors and editors of the report who are major contributors to the Coalition.

Urban areas are regarded in the report as both particularly vulnerable and having huge potential to cut carbon emissions. Good governance is considered critical – from local authorities and national governments. The report points specifically to the importance of transnational networks in realising the potential of cities and acknowledges the work of the Coalition’s Urban Leadership Council members: SDI – Shack/Slum Dwellers International, C40, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and ICLEI.

The Coalition’s task now is to help provide national governments with a major piece of the answer on how they can respond – how they can ensure their cities get on track for zero-carbon by 2050.

We were pleased to attend the European launch of the IPCC report on Monday 15th October in London at an event organised by one of our major funders, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, as part of Green Great Britain Week.