Understanding the green-growth: Which pathways cities undertake in their climate programs

The aim of this study is to identify the most appropriate pathways cities should follow when designing their climate mitigation programs, considering their specific characteristics, including their sector-wise CO2 emission profiles. Accounting for more than 50% of global population and the 70% of global emissions cities are on the forefront of the climate change mitigation policies and have a pillar role in meeting global targets. The role of cities for a sustainable economy has become more urgent with the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting that cities cannot go back to business as usual. While urban governments can deploy a wide range of climate actions, their effectiveness is shaped by multiple contextual factors, including socio-economic conditions, spillover effects, and the structure of local emission profiles. Drawing on data from the CDP-ICLEI Unified Reporting System 2020 and the Global Human Settlement Urban Centre database, this study employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify the combinations of city- and program-specific characteristics that are associated with higher levels of emissions reduction ambition. By revealing these distinct pathways, the study contributes to bridging the gap between case-based insights and cross-sectional approaches, and provides a more deep understanding of how cities can accelerate their transition toward carbon neutrality.