Bloomberg Philanthropies Names 26 Cities as Finalists for the 2025 Local Leaders Awards

Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Awards honor the most ambitious, impactful, and people-centered climate breakthroughs led by cities and local governments over the past three years

 Award winners will be announced at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro on November 4

New York and Rio de Janeiro – Today, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the finalists for the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Awards, which recognize the best policies, projects, or programs led by local leaders, states, and regions that have effectively addressed climate change over the past three years. In partnership with C40 Cities, the Awards highlight the exemplary and critical role mayors and local leaders play across the globe in accelerating global climate progress on the road to COP30.

The 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Award categories align with the priorities of the COP30 Presidency—just energy transition, adaptation, public health, and powerful multilevel partnerships—emphasizing bold, forward-looking climate solutions at the local and regional levels.

Applications were open to subnational members of C40 Cities, the National Front of Mayors (Frente Nacional de Prefeitos), Global Covenant of Mayors, ICLEI, Under2 Coalition, Climate Mayors, Regions4, and Centro Brasil no Clima. The 26 finalists, selected from a competitive pool of over 160 applications across 45 countries, showcase effective and innovative local leadership that reduces urban pollution, improves quality of life, and delivers economic opportunity for the greatest number of people.

“Climate change is a global challenge, but effective solutions often start at the local level – where great ideas can take root and spread from city to city,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Each of these finalists is taking bold action to cut emissions, improve public health, and spur economic growth – demonstrating how much progress is possible when leaders work together across cities, countries, and the public and private sectors.”

The Awards will honor both a Brazilian and a global champion across the six Award categories, showcasing the pivotal role of local governments worldwide. The 26 finalists are:

• Energy Transition & Smarter Buildings – Cutting costs and carbon with clean power and efficient design
  • Boston, USA: Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) and its Equitable Emissions Investment Fund
  • Chengdu, China: Clean Energy and Green Buildings Empowering the Megacity’s Low-Carbon Transition
  • Johannesburg, South Africa: Solar Micro-grids in Johannesburg Informal Settlements
  • Curitiba, Brazil: Curitiba Mais Energia
  • Juiz de Fora, Brazil: Transforming Energy

• Clean, Reliable Transportation – Moving people and goods on dependable, low-emission networks
  • Belize City, Belize: E-Mobility Pilot Project
  • Jakarta, Indonesia: Advancing Sustainable Connectivity through EV Initiatives and Greater Jakarta Network Expansion
  • Oslo, Norway: Pioneering City for Zero-Emission Heavy Duty Transport
  • Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Shared Electric Bicycles
  • São Paulo, Brazil: Electrification of the São Paulo Bus Fleet — Municipal Program for Innovative Acquisition and Financing

• Safer Infrastructure for a Changing World – Guarding communities with resilient, climate-ready systems
  • Beijing, China: Building a Climate-Resilient Beijing Municipal Administrative Center
  • Bogotá, Colombia: Resilient Urban Revitalization in Bogotá
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Extreme Heat Response Protocol
  • Teresina, Brazil: São Joaquim Lagoon Project – Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience

• Healthy Cities, Strong Communities – Elevating air quality, green space, and everyday wellbeing
  • Paris, France: Paris Respire: Reimaging mobility and public space for clean air
  • Sofia, Bulgaria: Sofia’s Climate Leap for Cleaner Air, Healthier Lives, Greener Future
  • Barcarena, Brazil: Barcarena Food System: Sustainable Development and Food Security
  • Fortaleza, Brazil: The Urban Microparks of Fortaleza Project

• Sustainable Waste Solutions – Slashing waste, creating jobs, and keeping pollution out of landfills
  • Cerro Navia, Chile: Cerro Navia Food Bank
  • Quezon City, Philippines: From Waste to Worth: The Quezon City Trash to Cashback Program
  • Abaetetuba, Brazil: Sustainability Complex Of The Municipality Of Abaetetuba
  • Salvador, Brazil: Recicla Capital

• Power of Partnership – Cities and regions united to deliver national-level climate results
  • Iskandar Region, Malaysia: Iskandar Malaysia Ecolife Challenge
  • Scottish Government, United Kingdom: Woodland Carbon Code and Scotland’s Woodland Restoration
  • Government of the State of Piauí, Brazil: Ecological ICMS of the State of Piauí
  • Recife, Brazil: Filtering Gardens

Two winners in each of the six categories–one Brazilian and one global–will be announced at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum.

Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, said: “At COP30, we are inspired by the leadership of cities around the world. Their innovative solutions and commitment demonstrate that local action is the heart of global climate progress and essential in helping us accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Together, these finalists showcase how bold, collaborative efforts can transform people’s lives and communities and accelerate our path to a low-carbon economy.”

Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities, said: “Congratulations to all of the cities named as Finalists for the 2025 Local Leaders Awards. These solutions are trailblazing examples of how local leaders are slashing emissions and building resilience whilst improving people’s daily lives. As we prepare to gather in Brazil for the C40 World Mayors Summit and COP30, we are delighted that the Awards spotlight innovative solutions led by local leaders in Brazil – from accelerating the shift to renewables to protecting residents from the increasing impacts of extreme heat.”

A distinguished jury of global leaders and policymakers renowned for their impactful work in urban innovation, climate action, and public service will rigorously assess all finalist projects to select the Award winners. The jury will include:

• Dan Ioschpe, Climate High-Level Champion for COP30
• David Miller, Managing Director of the C40 Centre and former Mayor of Toronto
• Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
• Simon Stiell, United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary
• Dr. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, Special Envoy for COP30 to Europe, Dean of the Paris Climate School at Sciences Po, France’s former Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and COP22 UN High-Level Champion for Climate Action
• Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities
• Antha Williams, Environment Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies

Now in its ninth edition, and previously known as the C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards, the Local Leaders Awards celebrate the most ambitious and innovative climate projects that deliver measurable impact. The Awards recognize outstanding achievements while showcasing scalable solutions and providing finalists with a platform to share best practices, inspire action, and drive progress in communities worldwide. The winners will be selected based on how effectively they connect climate policy to people’s everyday lives and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

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About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: pressinfo@bloomberg.org

 

APPENDIX

Further information on the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Awards Finalists:

 

Energy Transition & Smarter Buildings

Boston, USA: Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) and its Equitable Emissions Investment Fund

Boston’s BERDO requires large buildings to report and reduce emissions, with annual reporting since 2022 and enforceable standards starting in 2025 to help cut citywide emissions 40% by 2050. Boston also launched a $3.5 million community-led fund supporting decarbonization projects in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by air pollution.

Chengdu, China: Clean Energy and Green Buildings Empowering the Megacity’s Low-Carbon Transition

Chengdu has reduced coal use to less than 5%, increased non-fossil energy to over 45%, and leads in solar innovation, hosting the world’s top solar cell manufacturer. The city’s Green Building Promotion Regulation requires all new buildings to meet green standards, resulting in over 300 million m² of green buildings and extensive urban greening.

Johannesburg, South Africa: Solar Micro-grids in Johannesburg Informal Settlements

Johannesburg’s municipal-led microgrid program uses solar PV and battery storage to deliver reliable, affordable electricity to informal settlements, with the Amarasta installation avoiding 101 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The program has created over 80 local jobs and aims to expand to 310 settlements citywide, potentially serving 67,840 households and avoiding 95,400 tonnes of CO₂ each year.

Curitiba, Brazil: Curitiba Mais Energia

The Curitiba Mais Energia program promotes renewable energy in Curitiba by installing solar and hydroelectric systems across public buildings, urban farms, bus terminals, and deactivated landfills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and public energy costs. Its goal is to make the city carbon neutral and climate-resilient by 2050, in alignment with international climate targets.

Juiz de Fora, Brazil: Transforming Energy

Juiz de Fora’s Municipal Climate Neutrality Policy combines legislative, technical, and innovative measures to reduce emissions and boost energy efficiency through LED lighting, photovoltaic systems, and waste recovery programs.

 

Clean, Reliable Transportation

Belize City, Belize: E-Mobility Pilot Project

The eMobility Pilot Project in Belize City is introducing electric buses, charging stations, and smart transit technology to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and demonstrate the benefits of electric transport. The project plans to expand the eBus and eTaxi fleets, grow the charging network, and integrate solar power, aiming to create a scalable, self-sustaining model for Belize and other small island developing states.

Jakarta, Indonesia: Advancing Sustainable Connectivity through EV Initiatives and Greater Jakarta Network Expansion

Jakarta’s Transjabodetabek initiative expands public transportation beyond the capital, connecting key commuter cities in Greater Jakarta and reducing reliance on private vehicles. The program supports fleet electrification, with 100 electric buses already deployed and a goal of full electrification by 2030 to improve regional connectivity and air quality.

Oslo, Norway: Pioneering City for Zero-Emission Heavy Duty Transport

Oslo’s “Fossil Free Trucks” project, launched in 2020, accelerates the shift to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles by mandating zero-emission transportation in city contracts, expanding charging and biogas infrastructure, and offering financial incentives. By 2024, electric trucks made up 15.9% and biogas trucks 15% of new registrations, up from zero in 2018, advancing Oslo’s goal to cut 95% of direct emissions by 2030.

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Shared Electric Bicycles

Launched in September 2023 through a partnership with Belo Horizonte City Hall (PBH), Tembici, and Estácio University, the Belo Horizonte Electric Bike Sharing system is Latin America’s first 100% electric, fixed-station bike share, designed for the city’s challenging terrain and featuring 51 stations and 500 bikes. In its first four months, it enabled over 60,000 trips, helped 85% of users switch from motorized vehicles, and avoided more than 10 tons of CO₂ emissions.

São Paulo, Brazil: Electrification of the São Paulo Bus Fleet — Municipal Program for Innovative Acquisition and Financing

São Paulo’s Electrification and Municipal Program is replacing diesel buses with zero-emission electric vehicles through public procurement, innovative financing models, and partnerships with private operators. The program, supported by municipal subsidies and development loans, has expanded the electric bus fleet to 961 vehicles and aims to be in line with the city’s goal of eliminating fossil CO₂ emissions by 2038.

 

Safer Infrastructure for a Changing World

Beijing, China: Building a Climate-Resilient Beijing Municipal Administrative Center

The Beijing Municipal Administrative Center is a national pilot for climate-resilient cities, systematically integrating resilience into urban planning and infrastructure to reduce heat, expand green spaces, improve flood control, and withstand extreme weather. Through innovations such as advanced forecasting, expanded sponge city initiatives, and renewable energy systems, it has set a global benchmark for sustainable, climate-adaptive urban development.

Bogotá, Colombia: Resilient Urban Revitalization in Bogotá

Bogotá’s “Revitaliza tu Barrio” project, led by the District Secretariat for Habitat, addresses the city’s climate vulnerabilities—such as flooding, landslides, wildfires, and urban heat—by revitalizing public spaces, improving water management through Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), and prioritizing ecological restoration and risk mitigation in high-risk neighborhoods. Flagship initiatives like the San Cristóbal Project integrate green infrastructure, renewable energy, and improved mobility, benefiting over 400,000 residents and setting a precedent for equitable, climate-resilient urban revitalization.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Extreme Heat Response Protocol

Rio de Janeiro’s Extreme Heat Response Protocol–the first of its kind in Brazil– is an early warning system that sets out five alert levels based on the combination of temperature, humidity, and exposure time. The protocol encapsulates over 200 actions to protect the health of residents and City Hall workers, combining meteorological monitoring and forecasting, real time epidemiological intelligence, and coordination among agencies and partners.

Teresina, Brazil: São Joaquim Lagoon Project – Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience

The Lagoa do São Joaquim Project in Teresina focuses on restoring the lagoon and its surroundings to reduce flooding and urban heat, while creating green spaces and safer environments for children, including redesigning access to the nearby Tia Mônica Early Childhood School. Through measures like dredging, native planting, bike paths, and new recreational areas, the project benefits 10,000 residents directly and 90,000 indirectly, serving as a model for urban lagoon rehabilitation.

 

Healthy Cities, Strong Communities

Paris, France: Paris Respire: Reimaging mobility and public space for clean air

The Paris Respire: Reimaging mobility and public space for clean air initiative set bold air quality targets in 2018 which were strengthened by a 2022 Air Quality Action Plan. The plan counters misinformation with science, shares facts widely, and mobilizes public involvement to improve air quality and transform city streets.

Sofia, Bulgaria: Sofia’s Climate Leap for Cleaner Air, Healthier Lives, Greener Future

The Sofia Climate Leap for Cleaner Air, Healthier Lives, Greener Future is an integrated urban transformation framework bringing together multiple initiatives called the Climate City Contract (CCC). The CCC sets ambitious targets for the city including over 80% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 and full neutrality by 2050.

Barcarena, Brazil: Barcarena Food System: Sustainable Development and Food Security

The Barcarena Food System, coordinated by the Department of Agriculture, connects public policies that support local agroforestry production and expand vegetation cover with family farming to supply food for students, families, and patients served by the municipal Education, Social Assistance, and Health networks.

Fortaleza, Brazil: The Urban Microparks of Fortaleza Project

The Urban Microparks of Fortaleza Project transforms degraded public areas into small, naturalized parks, promoting green infrastructure, social inclusion, and community life in territories with high climate and social vulnerability. The initiative directly contributes to addressing urban climate change by mitigating heat islands and improving the local microclimate and is expected to expand to 15 microparks by 2028.

 

Sustainable Waste Solutions

Cerro Navia, Chile: Cerro Navia Food Bank

The Cerro Navia Food Bank, Chile’s first municipal initiative of its kind, combats food waste and strengthens food security by rescuing unsellable but edible products from private companies and markets and distributing them to local kitchens, microbanks, and vulnerable families. The project also promotes sustainable consumption, healthy cooking, and environmental education, while inedible produce is composted for use in community green spaces.

Quezon City, Philippines: From Waste to Worth: The Quezon City Trash to Cashback Program

The Trash to Cashback program was launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 to address a dual challenge: the mounting waste of the Philippines’ most populous city and the need for alternative livelihoods among vulnerable communities. The City established collection points where residents trade recyclables and single-use plastics for Environmental Points, which can be used to pay bills or buy or redeem groceries—directly benefiting thousands of families.

Abaetetuba, Brazil: Sustainability Complex Of The Municipality Of Abaetetuba

The Abaetetuba Sustainability Complex is an initiative that integrates environmental education, waste management, and agroforestry to promote sustainable development tailored to local needs. By combining a Green Room for community education, a Waste Sorting Plant for recycling and socioeconomic inclusion, and an Agroforestry Nursery for reforestation and food security, the complex creates a virtuous cycle of conservation and community development.

Salvador, Brazil: Recicla Capital

Recicla Capital ​​advances selective waste collection by combining public incentives, fair compensation for cooperatives, and the use of technology to foster sustainable engagement. The initiative values the work of waste pickers, educates the public, and directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Power of Partnership

Iskandar Region, Malaysia: Iskandar Malaysia Ecolife Challenge

The Iskandar Malaysia EcoLife Challenge (IMELC) flagship environmental education program launched in 2013 to promote low-carbon lifestyles and climate action among primary school students, engaging over 900 schools and 100,000 students through hands-on projects and digital tools. Developed in partnership with government, academia, and the private sector, IMELC supports Malaysia’s sustainability goals and national climate commitments by fostering climate literacy, behavior change, and green leadership in the next generation.

Scottish Government, United Kingdom: Woodland Carbon Code and Scotland’s Woodland Restoration

The Woodland Carbon Code, delivered by Scottish Forestry on behalf of UK governments, helps landowners and organizations address climate change by creating and supporting woodland projects across the UK. Since launching, the Code has helped create 40,000 hectares of new woodland predicted to remove 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Government of the State of Piauí, Brazil: Ecological ICMS of the State of Piauí

The Piauí Ecological ICMS is a tax revenue distribution mechanism that rewards municipalities that adopt effective environmental protection policies and actions. By encouraging the conservation of natural resources, the program represents an innovative public policy that combines environmental conservation and financial incentives, promoting more sustainable land management.

Recife, Brazil: Filtering Gardens

‘Filtering Gardens’ are a Nature-Based Solution using phytoremediation plants to sustainably filter water pollution, improving quality and promoting oxygenation in water bodies. This pioneering solution adopted in Recife treats 350,000 liters of water per day – equivalent to one Olympic swimming pool per week – offering leisure, education, and nature’s regenerative potential in transforming urban fabric.