City of London Earns Global Recognition for Climate Leadership

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June 2, 2025
4 min read

City of London Earns Global Recognition for Climate Leadership

The London Square Mile has once again been named one of the world’s top climate leaders, after earning a prestigious spot on the 2024 “A List” from the global environmental non-profit CDP. This marks the second year in a row that the Square Mile has received the honour, placing it among the top 15% of over 800 cities assessed worldwide.

The City of London Corporation, which governs the Square Mile, was recognised for its leadership, transparency, and long-term action on climate change across a range of buildings, operations, and communities. It’s part of an ambitious plan to drive down emissions, build resilience, and support sustainable growth in one of the world’s most historic business districts.

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What’s in the Plan?

Now in the fifth year of its Climate Action Strategy, the Corporation is aiming to:

Help the Square Mile reach net zero by 2040
Cut its own operational emissions to net zero by 2027
Cut value chain emissions by 2040

One visible result of this work has been the expansion of urban greening across the City — not just beautifying public spaces, but reducing street temperatures by as much as 6°C during hot spells and supporting local biodiversity.

Key Results So Far

35% emissions reduction across the Square Mile since 2017
65% cut in the Corporation’s own emissions since 2018/19
23% cut in emissions across its value chain since 2018/19
Launch of a Historic Buildings Retrofit Toolkit
Publication of a Local Area Energy Plan
Forecast energy savings of 1.5 million kWh per year

Looking Ahead

The announcement comes in the run-up to London Climate Action Week, which runs from 21st to 29th June 2025. The City Corporation is set to host a flagship event as part of the citywide festival, which draws more than 45,000 attendees and is now in its 7th year.

Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City Corporation, said:

“Reaching net zero is not just a moral imperative — it’s an economic opportunity to attract investment and innovation to the UK. Amidst growing global uncertainty, the City is ready to play its part in tackling climate change.”

What’s Already Happening on the Ground?

A Cool Streets and Greening Programme with tree planting, sustainable drainage, and green infrastructure
Management of 11,000 acres of green space around London, removing roughly 16,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year
A fully electric refuse fleet — the first of its kind in the UK
A major investment in solar energy through a £40 million deal with Voltalia, supplying more than half the Corporation’s electricity needs — including to the Barbican Centre, Guildhall, the Old Bailey, and social housing

Want more stories about how the City is adapting and leading on climate? Visit EyeOnLondon City for updates.

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