About

Reinventing Cities

Cape Town, South Africa

The Reinventing Cities competition is a call for urban projects to drive carbon-neutral and resilient urban regeneration in cities across the globe and to implement the most innovative ideas to transform underutilized sites into beacons of sustainability and resiliency.

C40 and the participating Cities are constantly monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak. We will provide updates through this website and also directly by email. The participants are also invited to ask their specific questions via this website. Site visits not yet carried out will try to be rescheduled or replaced by specific webinars. Any changes in the timeline will be promptly communicated.
We warmly thank the teams that continue working on their Expression of Interest proposals in this complex moment. The C40 and the participating cities remain fully committed to the organization of this competition.


We are currently on a trajectory that will increase average global temperatures by 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100. If these emissions are not appropriately addressed, cities will become increasingly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. In order to avoid this scenario, the 2015 Paris Agreement commits signatories to pursue efforts that will limit the average global temperature increase to less than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Cities could deliver around 40% of the savings needed to achieve this ambition. Through the Global Green New Deal, cities have recently reaffirmed their commitment to protecting our environment, strengthening our economy, and building a more equitable future by cutting emissions from the sectors most responsible for the climate crisis – especially buildings. 

Cities need new buildings to be as close to zero carbon as possible and high levels of retrofit for existing buildings, which account for more than 50% of emissions in C40 cities. To achieve this goal the mobilization of private sector investment, innovation and creativity is key.

Reinventing Cities is a great opportunity for cities, urban development stakeholders, and citizens to benefit from this ‘open source’ and international contest designed to accelerate decarbonised, resilient and sustainable urban environments around the world.

Not only will the Reinventing Cities projects creatively address both content and form, they will also demonstrate that environmental performances can be achieved in combination with noteworthy architecture and community benefits, keeping in mind the potential for replicating their approach across the city and elsewhere in the world.

Reinventing cities’ winning projects serve as models for new ways of building and living, demonstrating how the alliance between the public and private sector can shape the future, delivering healthier, greener and economically viable urban development.


About C40

#cities 4climate

C40 Cities connects 94 of the world’s greatest cities, representing more than 700 million people and one quarter of the global economy, C40 is leading the charge for a Global Green New Deal. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on tackling climate change and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban citizens. The new chair of the C40 is Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Gracetti; and three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. Mayor Garcetti takes over the post of C40 Chair from Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, just ahead of a year filled with critical milestones.


Reinventing Cities in a Nutshell