Over half of the world's population lives in cities, but cities produce more than 70% of greenhouse gases in the world. With their populations and economies growing, cities will produce even more greenhouse gases in the future unless significant emissions reductions are implemented.

As climate change threatens the fast moving economic and social development, more local authorities are being involved to solve environmental challenges of the city by expressing their commitment to tackling climate change issue. Therefore, policy implementation and public involvement of cities are considered as one major factors that will drive the world forward to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement which aims to limit temperature rises to less than 1.5 degrees.

 

The One Planet City Challenge, formerly known as the Earth Hour City Challenge Project, runs every two years to encourage cities around the world to become a climate-friendly city. WWF started the project in 2013 and currently, 34 cities in Thailand have participated in the project. Provided with goals and action plans to cope with climate change, they aim to lead urban development towards a sustainable low carbon society in the future.