Empowering Cities to Lead the Carbon Removal Revolution
The City CDR Initiative is a non-profit working to embed Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) into urban planning worldwide. We help cities develop complete net-zero strategies, expand CDR demand and supply, and strengthen global climate goals. As part of this journey, cities must shift from being extractive engines to regenerative ecosystems.
Our Vision
Carbon Sink Cities: living, breathing carbon sinks that restore the climate, protect ecosystems, and create healthier, more resilient and inclusive spaces for citizens and communities everywhere.
Our Mission
We are building the first global platform for cities focused on CDR. Our mission: help cities reach net zero and boost resilience with cutting-edge knowledge, technical assistance, financing pathways and advocacy – scaling CDR systematically, responsibly and in synergy with urban priorities.
Challenge
City climate priorities compete, barriers to CDR remain, net-zero is not realized
Insight
Embedding CDR in urban planning unlocks a multiplier effect
Impact
Cities catalyze impact with CDR alongside deep decarbonization and adaptation
Our Work:
We catalyze leadership, localize CDR policy, and unlock cascading impacts in cities and beyond. The City CDR consortium is currently baselining the opportunity of cities and CDR – see our work under Tools and Resources. This sets the stage for a capacity building program and an investment mobilization program.
Phase 1: 2024-2025
Baselining the Opportunity
The consortium defines the opportunity. A first City CDR assessment was published in 2022 and a first general baselining report in 2024.
Phase 2: 2026-2028
Building Capacity
A capacity building program is set up for cities including Technical Assistance Facility, Learning and Exchange Platform, and Advisory Resource.
Phase 3: 2027~
Mobilizing Investment
Targeted funding mechanisms are created such as an Impact Fund, Project Competition, and Public Procurement Platform.
Next: 2028~
Institutionalizing Action
City networks absorb capacity building. City CDR becomes a Global Expertise Center, while managing the Fund to crowd in capital and reduce investor risks.
Our Team
Cities
Partners
Developers
Why cities must lead the carbon removal revolution?
Cities are at the epicenter of the climate challenge. They drive economic and cultural life but also generate the majority of global emissions, consuming vast resources and producing waste with global impacts. Yet this challenge is also an opportunity: to reimagine cities as carbon sinks—living systems that restore the climate and provide critical ecosystem services.
City Roles:
Cities can take different roles in the CDR stakeholder ecosystem depending on their capacity to act.
- Strategizer: The city is the central organizer of carbon removal actions on its territory.
- Regulator: The city enhances the operating environment for CDR with regulation.
- Service Provider: The city treats carbon sinks as a public service in its urban planning.
- Innovator: The city supports a local research, development and innovation ecosystem.
- Funder: The city catalyzes carbon removal demand with innovative funding tools.
- Convener: The city is an advocate and critical enabler of the local CDR ecosystem.
The Urban CDR Ecosystem:
The City CDR Initiative is building a global urban CDR ecosystem — bringing together cities, developers and civil society to scale carbon removal in resilient, inclusive and systemic ways.
