SUNDERLAND ONE OF 122 GLOBAL CITIES NAMED CLIMATE ACTION LEADER ON CDP 2022 A LIST

• Sunderland is one of 122 cities to receive top score on climate action from environmental impact non-profit, CDP
• A List cities build climate momentum, taking twice as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A Listers
• Only 12% of cities that were scored in 2022 received an A score

Sunderland has been recognized by CDP as one of 122 cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, despite the pressures of a challenging global economic situation.

Designed to encourage and support cities to ramp up their climate action and ambition, CDP's Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by cities to CDP-ICLEI Track. A clear momentum in city climate disclosure and action is building - for the first time, over 1,000 cities (1,002 in total) received a rating for their climate action from CDP in 2022, a rise on the 965 cities scored in 2021. In 2022, just over one in ten cities scored by CDP (12% of such cities) received an A.

To score an A, among other actions, a city must disclose publicly through CDP-ICLEI Track, have a city-wide emissions inventory and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. Many A List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment from a city's Mayor to tackle climate change. 

A List cities are demonstrating their climate leadership through concerted and effective action, just as national governments have been asked to do at COP27. They are taking twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List cities.

Sunderland, and the other 121 cities on this year's A List, are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action - from ambitious emissions reduction targets to building resilience against climate change - is achievable at a global level, and in cities with different climate realities and priorities. However, this action needs to go further and faster.