CCFLA Launches Framework to Embed Cities in National Climate Finance Platforms

The Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance and the SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance have released a joint framework for integrating urban priorities into country platforms, the nationally led mechanisms designed to coordinate large-scale climate investment. The paper was launched at the 2025 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC.

Country platforms are intended to mobilise climate finance by aligning national development strategies with international investment and donor engagement. However, most existing platforms have not adequately addressed urban dimensions, even though cities are responsible for more than 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions and require trillions in investment to meet their climate targets. The joint paper, developed with input from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, proposes a sequential action pathway guiding policymakers from initial subnational engagement through to implementation, with indicators for tracking successful urban integration.

The framework identifies persistent barriers to urban integration including fragmented local priorities, limited fiscal decentralisation, and constrained municipal capacity, particularly among smaller cities. It outlines multiple models for subnational participation, ranging from basic consultation to platforms with explicit urban mandates. Discussions at the Spring Meetings also emphasised the importance of involving Treasury ministries early in platform design to ensure climate finance strategies are embedded in national budgeting systems and long-term public investment plans.

Looking ahead, the paper encourages exploration of how country platforms can enable larger cities to access international capital markets while empowering smaller municipalities to engage meaningfully. Partnerships with Public Development Banks are highlighted as a mechanism for unlocking finance for subnational projects. The framework is designed to be flexible, allowing countries to determine their own pace and depth of urban integration. CPI and CCFLA intend the paper to inform ongoing discussions on reforming multilateral development banks and evolving country platform design.

Key figure — Cities responsible for over 70% of global emissions