Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance

Last week I was truly privileged to join leaders from across social justice movements during the Anti-Racism and Diversity Week 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, aimed at reimagining racial justice and advancing equity and inclusion in Europe. A key takeaway for me was that racial, social and ecological justice are deeply interconnected and there is a critical need to build bridges between the equality and justice movement and the ecological and climate movement. Further, addressing the climate crisis means dismantling systemic inequities and ensuring that solutions build power in communities historically excluded from decision-making. Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance's Climate Justice programming across all of our workstreams demonstrates our commitment to creating equitable, carbon-neutral cities where everyone thrives. A huge thank you to the European Network Against Racism Aisbl (ENAR), the @Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup of the European Parliament, and the European Commission, along with all the speakers and participants for making this week a powerful space for learning, sharing and action. Let’s continue strengthening the connections between climate, justice, and equity to create lasting change. #AntiRacismDiversityWeek #ClimateJustice #Equity #BuildingBridges #CNCA

We are incredibly proud to see our Built Environment Lead, Irene Garcia, recognized for her impactful work in sustainable construction. Irene’s leadership in reducing embodied carbon is driving meaningful change in cities worldwide. Her dedication and expertise continue to inspire us, our members, and the broader climate and building communities. Congratulations, Irene!

CNCA is excited to support the City CDR Initiative, a groundbreaking effort to explore how cities can center benefits to communities by scaling carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as part of the path to carbon neutrality and beyond. Through this partnership, CNCA will help empower city leaders with the knowledge, collaboration tools, and strategies needed to integrate CDR into climate action and urban planning. As part of a global consortium, we’ll contribute to baselining research, engage with leading experts, and support cities in advancing innovative carbon removal solutions that benefit communities.

International Women’s Day reminds us to be inspired by and support women’s leadership in environmental and social movements and to reflect on the sacrifices that leadership demands, especially of women. Women and girls are more severely impacted by climate change and yet are poorly represented in decision making. At CNCA we are committed to recognizing and redressing the imbalances in climate policy decision making based on gender, and other identities including race, ethnicity, ability, income, LGBTQ+, and religion, through our grants, resources, and learning opportunities. Today we celebrate both the high-profile women fighting to protect the climate, who we read about in the news (far too infrequently), and the women in our neighborhoods fighting for the health and wellbeing of our communities, and ask ourselves how we can better support them and the movements they are building. For the good of us all. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible women on our team at Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) who have been tirelessly working with and through our members and partners to help create a more sustainable future. 🌎 Irene Garcia, Built Environment Lead: “I feel privileged to lead the built environment work at CNCA, where I have the opportunity to shape and drive initiatives that support some of the most forward-thinking cities in Europe and beyond. These cities are committed to decarbonizing their buildings and creating urban spaces that are sustainable, inclusive, and future-proof. In my role, I collaborate closely with incredible policy-makers, urbanists, architects, and sociologists—especially powerful, wicked-smart, and inspiring women—whose work and dedication motivate me to keep pushing forward, despite the challenges. They continually show me what’s possible and inspire me to lead the way toward a greener, more equitable future.” 🌱 Tracy Morgenstern, Climate Justice Director: “Climate change is the product of systems of extraction and oppression. Only by elevating the power of women and other priority communities will we see the scale of systems change needed to protect the climate. The women across CNCA cities and the often women-led community organizations they collaborate with provide inspiring examples of actions that together will spark the transformations needed. Our goal at CNCA is to support their work and share the stories of their progress.” 💡 Sarah Roberts, Advancement Strategist: "I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team that’s driving transformative change. But it’s the women I work with—like Irene and Tracy—who help inspire me every day. Together, we’re tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time, and I’m grateful to be part of this journey." We’re honored to be part of a team that is dedicated to building a sustainable, equitable future for all. Here’s to the amazing women—past, present, and future—who play key roles to help make it happen.

CNCA Game Changer Fund Inspires Major Food Reform at Rikers Island in NYC. Improving #food quality in correctional facilities is a complex challenge, but it’s also an opportunity for meaningful change. #NYC has launched its most significant food reform in 15 years at Rikers Island—a plant-based menu overhaul. Supported by CNCA and led by Hot Bread Kitchen, this initiative trains kitchen staff to prepare healthier, plant-forward meals, improving nutrition while reducing environmental impact. Small steps like these help drive #systemschange in institutional food systems. Read more about how food is transforming lives in this New York Times article: https://lnkd.in/eUzXnwt8

Join our CEO Simone Mangili Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, Anacláudia Rossbach Executive Director UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), Convener of Young Planners Network Olafiyin Taiwo MRTPI,  Mayor Mohamed Sefiani (Chefchaouen, Morocco), Pamela Conrad Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Nazakat Azimli, Program Manager Laudes Foundation on how our cities can be #CHAMPS.

Are you a public servant and work closely with influencing #climate #policy? CNCA is launching an online 'community of practice' with global learning platform Apolitical. Sign up and register for our first event (Tues, 05 Nov) 'How to Build a Carbon-Neutral City', featuring presentations and an opportunity for Q&A with the CNCA members City of Seattle, Stockholms stad, and City of Vancouver: https://lnkd.in/ebVRgq5B #carbonneutral #cities #publicpolicy #climate #webinar #learningopportunity

Calling all public servants and policymakers interested in solutions for a healthier, and more sustainable urban future: Join us on Tuesday, 5 November for the launch of our collaboration with knowledge sharing platform Apolitical to explore How to Build a Carbon-Neutral City. Through presentations, Q&A, and a panel discussion, gain insights into the strategies that some of our climate vanguard cities are leveraging to achieve carbon neutrality. This opportunity is open to any public servant or policymaker. Enhance your knowledge and connect with other change agents. Register today: https://lnkd.in/ebVRgq5B #publicpolicy #sustainability #cities #carbonneutral #climate #impact #climatejustice

“There’s so much opportunity for cities to grow in how they engage every aspect of how their communities think, feel, see, hear and do. And given that cities are not yet where they need to be in terms of mitigation and adaptation, it’s worth leaving no stone unturned in the effort to educate and inspire. Having a creative artist on staff full-time to assist in the forging of this work, and not as an afterthought, could help here. All the world’s a stage, after all, so let’s make sure the stage and its many players are a part of the program production, too, not just the show-promoting parts of it.” My latest for Apolitical https://lnkd.in/eN5NRwBH

“Here’s the ask: hire an #artist to be a member of the #climate and #sustainability office. And not just in a short-term artist-in-residency capacity, which cities have smartly done for decades – take the City of San Jose’s resilient artist fellow as one of many positive examples – but as a full-time employee similar and equal to other hires in the #environmental office.” My latest for CityChangers.org powered by Urban Future Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Southeast Sustainability Directors Network https://lnkd.in/eX548CSF