London, UK – October 28, 2025 – New data released today indicates that C40 cities are firmly on track to achieve their ambitious goal of creating 50 million good, Green Jobs C40 by 2030. Currently, 21 million such jobs already exist across the 81 global megacities assessed, underscoring the significant economic benefits of city-led climate action through Green Jobs C40.
This milestone, announced just ahead of the 2025 C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro, highlights how urban environments are not only at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis but are also driving inclusive urban economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for their residents. C40 Cities, a network of nearly 100 of the world’s leading cities committed to city climate action, has seen its mayors deliver on the pledge first made at the 2022 C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, emphasizing the importance of Green Jobs C40.
The ‘Global Good Green Jobs’ Report: Key Findings on Green Jobs C40
The comprehensive findings are detailed in the report, “Global Good Green Jobs in C40 Cities,” a collaboration between C40 Cities and Circle Economy. The research tracks green employment across a significant portion of the world’s largest urban centers, showing promising trends for Green Jobs C40. The data reveals that approximately 10% of all employment within the assessed cities is now considered green. These jobs are most prevalent in sectors strongly influenced by local climate policies, including waste management, construction, transportation, and energy, all key areas for green jobs creation.
Specifically, sectors like water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, transportation and storage, electricity generation, and construction boast a green job share of over 25%. The report also notes that green jobs are growing faster than total employment, signaling a robust and expanding sector for sustainable employment. The definition of a “good green job” encompasses work that actively contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting nature, and improving well-being, while ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and stable employment, a core tenet of the Green Jobs C40 initiative.
City-Led Climate Action as an Economic Engine for Green Jobs C40
Mayors within the C40 network are actively investing in initiatives that foster green job creation. These range from transforming buildings into energy-efficient spaces to developing state-of-the-art clean public transport systems and enhancing urban resilience against climate impacts. This approach demonstrates that addressing the climate crisis can directly improve lives and create tangible economic opportunities, particularly for vulnerable communities, a key goal for Green Jobs C40.
Mayor of London and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan, emphasized this connection: “Helping to create good, well-paid green jobs is one of the most powerful things we can do to build a fairer, greener and more resilient future. I’m proud that C40 cities are turning ambition into action, proving that climate leadership at the city level delivers real results, especially for our most vulnerable communities.”. London itself has been a leader, with initiatives like the Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) Low Emission Zone (LEZ) aimed at reducing emissions from construction sites and fostering green jobs within the sector, a model for other Green Jobs C40 cities.
The Road to 2030 and the Rio Summit: Scaling Up Green Jobs C40
The upcoming 2025 C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro, held just days before COP30, will serve as a crucial platform for mayors to discuss progress, outline future priorities, and advocate for the resources needed to maintain momentum. Despite the backdrop of escalating climate impacts, C40 mayors are committed to scaling up finance for city climate action, strengthening skills training, and ensuring a just transition for all workers, furthering the impact of Green Jobs C40.
The initiative aims to create over 13.5 million direct green jobs, including roles in renewable energy, clean construction, and sustainable transport, alongside sustaining 7.6 million indirect green jobs in supporting supply chains. The research underscores that climate action in cities can generate substantially more jobs—over a third more—than a business-as-usual economic approach, highlighting the economic power of the Green Jobs C40 agenda.
As cities worldwide continue to champion climate solutions, the progress towards the 50 million green jobs target by 2030 signifies a powerful demonstration that environmental stewardship and economic prosperity can go hand in hand, creating healthier, more equitable, and resilient urban futures for all through the continued pursuit of Green Jobs C40.
