Quezon City to host C40 Cities Regional Academy in Southeast Asia

Mayor Belmonte in a meeting with C40 Executive Director Mark Watts, C40 East Southeast Asia Oceania (ESEAO) Regional Director Milag Ballesteros, ESEAO Deputy Regional Director Alissa Raj, and C40 City Adviser Kessica Bersamin

Quezon City takes the lead in addressing the climate crisis in Southeast Asia, as it is set to host this year’s C40’s Southeast Asia Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme’s Regional Academy next month.

City officials, policymakers, and municipal delegates from Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Johannesburg, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; and Quezon City in the Philippines will convene to discuss the mainstreaming of Inclusive Climate Action (ICA) and highlight the urgency of building the capacities of cities to adapt and thrive amidst the climate crisis.

The academy will also serve as a venue for city representatives to share experiences, engage in discussions, and learn from one another to stimulate collaboration and accelerate the implementation of policies.

“Quezon City is committed to being at the forefront of creating a sustainable and liveable environment for all. We are thrilled to share our city’s success stories, case studies, and best practices in implementing inclusive climate action with other academy participants. We are also looking forward to learning about other cities’ experiences and programs that we can adapt and initiate in our barangays,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Milag San Jose-Ballesteros, the C40 Cities regional director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, said: “By hosting the C40’s Southeast Asia UCAP CAI Programme’s Regional Academy, Quezon City will provide a pivotal platform for global cities to unite, exchange insights, and develop practical solutions for their respective contexts. Together, cities can accelerate the implementation of inclusive climate action and advance climate justice for all.”

Furthermore, the British Embassy Manila is delighted to be able to support Quezon City and all participating delegates in the Academy this August.

British Embassy Manila Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron explained: “Cities are integral to society. They also play a dual role in the climate change space – requiring increasing adaptation measures as well as innovations to grow sustainably as urbanization increases.

“No one city has all the answers to this intersection of challenges. As such, platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration, such as the UK-supported CAI Regional Academy, are powerful tools that can help facilitate and drive the urgent action required to make cities safer, more resilient, and more liveable,” he said.

Mayor Belmonte with foreign mayors attending last year’s United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (UNCAS) C40 Press Conference

To showcase Quezon City’s climate programs, delegates will also visit several ICA-related initiatives, offering tangible examples and insights for implementing similar measures in their cities.

The C40 Regional Academy is part of C40’s CAI Southeast Asia Programme, funded by the UK Government’s UCAP. This initiative supports 15 cities across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia in implementing impactful climate actions and integrating climate strategies into their urban plans.

In Southeast Asia, the program collaborates closely with Quezon City, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur in addressing the climate crisis through transformational climate action implementation to enhance energy efficiency and expand the adoption of renewable energy in buildings.

C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors from leading cities worldwide. They are committed to a collaborative, science-based approach to fight the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks while improving the health, well-being, and economic opportunities of urban residents.

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