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This report provides a primer for policy makers on the roles and responsibilities of local, national, and international governance in enabling cities to lead climate change mitigation and adaptation. It emphasizes the critical role of urban areas, which emit over 70% of global emissions, and outlines financial instruments and planning steps necessary for a low-carbon and climate-resilient urban transformation.

This paper analyzes five finalists from the 2023–2024 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities to explore how climate-readiness initiatives can serve as entry points for broader urban transformation and systemic change.