Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026This was one of those rare meetings when you know every single participant is going to go away and actually do something. And, of course, this is not just about tools and tech, it’s about building trust, raising awareness, and ultimately saving people’s lives. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026And we then heard from an amazing range of partners what they can do to help, from analytical tools to mobilising practical help on the ground. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026All three mayors spoke passionately about the vital role early warning systems have to play, underpinned by the sobering statistic that countries with limited systems suffer nearly six times more disaster-related deaths than those with comprehensive arrangements in place. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Today, C40 Cities, Harvard's Salata Institute and the Atlantic Council convened Paris, Jakarta, Freetown, and partners from across the health, insurance, community, humanitarian, philanthropy and research sectors to organise the immediate, collective action needed to save lives. 110
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Cities worldwide are already feeling the impact: - LATAM: Mayors in 9 cities report severe flooding & emergency conditions - Nairobi: The Governor cancelled his trip to NY to lead urgent extreme rainfall planning - Japan: Typhoon Dujuan is causing over 1.9 million people to face evacuation orders 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Yesterday, just as I was arriving to participate in a roundtable on extreme heat, my newsfeed was buzzing with the latest data showing the Pacific is already registering 3 degrees of excess heat. Analysts think it could ultimately hit a jaw-dropping 4 degrees: lnkd.in/e7NWPucA 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026One of the biggest themes across New York Climate Week is how to cope with the extreme heat that many cities have already experienced this year, and further extreme weather that is on the way as the current Super El Niño reaches maximum intensity at the end of the year. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 07/09/2026"As mayors, we are confronting the same question: how do you protect millions of people when extreme heat is no longer an exceptional event, but an increasingly familiar part of summer?" Very interesting article from the mayors of Milan, Paris and Phoenix. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comWe’re the mayors of Paris, Milan and Phoenix. The heat crisis has us all facing the same question | Emmanuel Grégoire, Giuseppe Sala and Kate GallegoOur three cities are learning from each other about how to protect residents. These climate policies are also public health measures 021
Reposted by Mark WattsChris Hinchliff MP @chrishinchliff.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Britain must prepare for El Niño. The UK is built for a climate which no longer exists. We need to grow more of our own food and prepare towns and workplaces for extreme heat. When climate shocks hit, public power must protect people so profiteers can't exploit crises. 6219
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Highly recommend making time for the @c40cities.bsky.social & LSE Nicky Gavron Memorial Lecture recording. @annehidalgo.bsky.social’s speech was extraordinary, and the dynamic with fellow mayors Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and @mayorgallego.bsky.social was electrifying. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9h...youtube.comA city for all: leading climate transformation in an era of disinformationYouTube video by LSE Cities 022
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 20/06/2026We know enough. The task now is aligning science, finance, and policy to deliver climate action where resilience is truly built: in our cities. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 20/06/2026A personal reflection from Singapore stood out: long-term 15-year planning, continuously adapted, alongside a strong focus on developing workforce skills for the next phase of the economy. The pace of green development on the island nation is remarkable and offers lessons for cities everywhere. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 20/06/2026With investors and policymakers, we focused on a persistent challenge: why capital still isn’t flowing into cities at the scale or speed required, and what exactly needs to change. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 20/06/2026With @ipcc.bsky.social scientists and city leaders, we discussed how the latest IPCC cities report serves as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to translate science-backed climate evidence into real-world decisions that can benefit millions of people. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Resilience was the clear theme at the recent World Cities Summit I attended in Singapore 👇 One message stood out: urban nature is not a luxury – it is essential infrastructure for building liveable, resilient cities. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 12/06/2026This morning, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne @nicholasreece.bsky.social & I spoke with @news.abc.net.au to discuss how cities around the world dealing with extreme heat and flooding. I’m looking forward to sharing more insights on how Sydney and Melbourne are protecting the people and places we love. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 12/06/2026We spoke about how cities and other subnational leaders must be at the forefront of climate talks. On the frontline of the climate crisis, mayors and other local leaders are accepting accountability, showing collaborative leadership and delivering tangible action. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 12/06/2026This week I’m in Australia, visiting the two C40 member cities: Sydney and Melbourne. I joined Lord Mayor @nicholasreece.bsky.social, Cathy Oke, and Jess Miller to discuss the role of cities in shaping the COP31 agenda as Australia prepares to take on the presidency of the climate negotiations. 110
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 05/06/2026In cities, resilience and nature can go hand in hand. Beijing transformed a former industrial site into a lush space that absorbs rainwater, reduces flood risk, and allows wildlife to thrive. Places like City Central Green Forest Park show what’s possible. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 01/06/2026It’s amazing what the shift to renewables can look like. A theme park, a transport hub, and a library – all powered by clean energy. In Beijing, the transition is visible and practical, powering the places people use every day. 010
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 25/05/2026The best climate solutions do several things at once. At Shanghai's Luojing Port, ships plug in instead of burning fuel, cutting noise & cleaning the air for workers & nearby communities. The shift also helps push global shipping towards greener operations. That's the power of city climate action. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 18/05/2026Beijing has cut PM2.5 pollution by nearly 70% since 2013, and you can feel and see the difference. More people outdoors, more cycling and running, more green spaces. Climate action woven into everyday life looks just like this. 041
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 29/04/2026Launched at the World Bank Spring Meetings, the report sets out practical recommendations for cities to build the financial case for adaptation. From Dakar to São Paulo, cities are already making this a reality. Investors, take note. thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spin...thefifthestate.com.auCities are turning climate adaptation into investable projectsCities are the front line of the climate crisis, yet urban adaptation remains dangerously underfunded. As Mark Watts, executive director of C40 Cities, argues, we must shift the narrative: by structur... 010
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 29/04/2026As climate risks accelerate, investment in resilience is essential - and cities are on the front lines. C40 Cities' new report confirms what cities have known all along: that well-designed adaptation projects deliver clear economic and financial value. 110
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Heidi’s family, friends, and her colleagues at the City of Oslo, and in the Oslo Climate Agency, where C40 has an office, from where I write this today. Her legacy lives on in every city inspired by her roadmap for a greener world. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 28/04/2026I was fortunate to spend time with Heidi on many occasions, most recently in January, when Oslo invited IPCC authors to discuss the critical role of cities and celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Oslo's climate budget. She was as engaged, enthusiastic, and dynamic as ever. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Heidi was instrumental in developing climate budgeting, a groundbreaking governance system that treats carbon with the same accountability as a financial budget. Now a gold standard for transformative action, we're forever grateful for her generosity in sharing these learnings with cities worldwide. 210
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 28/04/2026From her early days as an activist to her leadership in national government, Heidi’s 30-year career was defined by courage. Since 2017, as Director of Oslo’s Climate Agency, she ensured every policy was rooted in evidence, ensuring the city remains a global laboratory for innovation. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Heidi Sørensen, who passed away on 25 April after living with cancer for years, was a pioneer in the global climate movement. At C40 Cities, we remember Heidi as a tenacious innovator who proved that cities must lead the way in solving the climate crisis. 120
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Read more in my op-ed in @climatechangenews.com with Irene Vélez-Torres, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development in Colombia: www.climatechangenews.com/2026/04/24/w...climatechangenews.comWhy the transition beyond fossil fuels depends on cities and collective actionCities will help identify concrete pathways for an equitable shift to clean energy at the Santa Marta conference, with C40 members aiming to halve their fossil fuel use by 2030At the Santa Marta confe... 010
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Cities are showing that a future beyond fossil fuels is possible - and already underway. From cutting demand to scaling clean energy, mayors and local leaders are turning ambition into delivery. The task now is to ensure that the transition is just, coordinated, and irreversible. 110
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 15/03/2026“Global events demonstrate there’s not a moment to waste in our drive for clean power”. observer.co.uk/news/opinion...observer.co.ukEd Miliband: ‘Our mission is to drive for clean, homegrow...As oil and gas prices soar, the UK must act to nurture green power and protect the nation from the war’s impact on household bills 011
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 08/03/2026To all the incredible women leading the way towards a fairer, cleaner, climate-safe future - including the 70% of @c40cities.bsky.social colleagues who are female & our amazing co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Happy International Women’s Day! 031
Reposted by Mark WattsBill Hare @billhare.bsky.social · 30/01/2026A commentary in @nature.com argues the 1.5°C temperature limit has “outlived its usefulness” because we’re headed towards overshoot and should be replaced by a “clean-energy shift” metric. That’s the wrong diagnosis. Here is why. www.nature.com/articles/d41...nature.comAs we breach 1.5 °C, we must replace temperature limits with clean-energy targetsActionable goals are needed to guide the world towards what needs to happen most quickly: shifting economies to clean energy sources. 1218
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 26/02/2026It’s also been amazing to me that 24 hours after a major snowstorm, I could safely run along fully cleared sidewalks. Mamdani’s administration is building a city that is resilient to extreme weather - and offered $30 an hour to any New Yorkers who turned up to help the fire service clear the snow. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 26/02/2026We discussed the new administration's climate priorities under Mayor Mamdani - including its clear understanding that tackling affordability means tackling the climate crisis. That means focusing on energy affordability and safe and healthy housing. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 26/02/2026Great to meet with New York’s new Chief Climate Officer, Louise Yeung and other colleagues from across the NYC city government. New York has long been a climate leader. As one of the first members of C40 Cities, it has always set the pace for bold and practical action. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 24/02/2026A standout moment at the #WMS25: youth activists declaring, "We do this for our today, we do this for our tomorrow, and we will do this together.” This new Hot Takes episode from the Cities 1.5 podcast brings the young voices we heard to even more people - an absolute must-listen: lnk.to/HotTakes2 000
Reposted by Mark WattsC40 Cities @c40cities.bsky.social · 10/02/2026A $10B fraud. 2 whistleblowers. On Cities 1.5, David Miller, Managing Director of the C40 Centre and former Mayor of Toronto, speaks with Lindsay Gulden about exposing Exxon’s fraudulent ways and the disinformation playbook behind it all. c40.me/3OwZpHT 032
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 11/02/2026How 2 people helped expose a $10B Exxon scandal. I highly recommend the latest episode of Cities 1.5, where Lindsey Gulden sheds light on how Exxon’s shocking overvaluation was protected by disinformation and silence. The fossil fuel industry’s culture of deception must be stopped. lnk.to/S6E3 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 27/01/2026“One city does something and a hundred of us then will take it to scale. I find hope in the fact that cities can make this work” - inspiring words for difficult times from the Mayor of Austin, Kirk Watson, in the latest episode of the Cities 1.5 podcast: lnk.to/S6E2 041
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 16/01/2026Privileged to accompany @london.gov.uk to welcome United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to London today. Inspired by his leadership on climate & so much else & motivated by his message that we must up the pressure to shift off polluting fossil fuels 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 16/01/2026@c40cities.bsky.social @london.gov.uk @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 16/01/2026We must end the fossil fuel era. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, knows this better than anyone. I want to thank him for his steadfast climate leadership and his commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. A pleasure to meet today together with C40 Cities Co-Chair, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. 184
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/11/2025As implementers, city leaders are driven by multilateralism that delivers. We use data to define our goals and work with those who want to set the pace; not wait around for the delayers and wreckers. COPs need to do the same. 000
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/11/2025What we needed was multiple coalitions of the willing for faster implementation; like the leadership shown by Colombia on the Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels; and the Action Agenda, which made good progress and should be the focus of COPs going forward. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/11/2025In part, COP30 failed to adequately move from negotiation to implementation because of a perpetual focus on a lowest common denominator consensus. 100
Mark Watts @mark--watts.bsky.social · 22/11/2025My comment on the #COP30 outcome: Multilateralism needed a boost in Belém, and instead it got a bandage. The COP process needs to take a long, hard look at itself. 111
Reposted by Mark WattsC40 Cities @c40cities.bsky.social · 22/11/2025As we wait for the official outcome of #COP30, here’s a time capsule of its last day: the outrage, the optimism, the urgency, and the sheer human effort that goes into trying to land a deal. The latest episode of @outrageoptimism.bsky.social featuring C40’s Eric Garcetti & @mark--watts.bsky.social:outrageandoptimism.orgInside COP: Friday Night in Belém - uncertainty in the Blue ZoneThis episode is a time capsule that captures the feeling of a COP Friday: the confusion, the determination, the fear of losing ambition, and the belief, still very much alive, that progress is possibl... 012