Mark Watts
@mark--watts.bsky.social
Executive Director at C40 Cities | TIME100 climate leader | All views my own | He/him | Talks about climate 🌱, music 🎸 mountain running ⛰️ http://markontour.com
My comment on the #COP30 outcome:
Multilateralism needed a boost in Belém, and instead it got a bandage. The COP process needs to take a long, hard look at itself.
Multilateralism needed a boost in Belém, and instead it got a bandage. The COP process needs to take a long, hard look at itself.
November 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
My comment on the #COP30 outcome:
Multilateralism needed a boost in Belém, and instead it got a bandage. The COP process needs to take a long, hard look at itself.
Multilateralism needed a boost in Belém, and instead it got a bandage. The COP process needs to take a long, hard look at itself.
Reposted by Mark Watts
As we wait for the official outcome of #COP30, here’s a time capsule of its last day: the outrage, the optimism, the urgency, and the sheer human effort that goes into trying to land a deal.
The latest episode of @outrageoptimism.bsky.social featuring C40’s Eric Garcetti & @mark--watts.bsky.social:
The latest episode of @outrageoptimism.bsky.social featuring C40’s Eric Garcetti & @mark--watts.bsky.social:
Inside COP: Friday Night in Belém - uncertainty in the Blue Zone
This episode is a time capsule that captures the feeling of a COP Friday: the confusion, the determination, the fear of losing ambition, and the belief, still very much alive, that progress is possibl...
www.outrageandoptimism.org
November 22, 2025 at 10:04 AM
As we wait for the official outcome of #COP30, here’s a time capsule of its last day: the outrage, the optimism, the urgency, and the sheer human effort that goes into trying to land a deal.
The latest episode of @outrageoptimism.bsky.social featuring C40’s Eric Garcetti & @mark--watts.bsky.social:
The latest episode of @outrageoptimism.bsky.social featuring C40’s Eric Garcetti & @mark--watts.bsky.social:
Reposted by Mark Watts
🚨BREAKING: C40 Cities reacts to the disappointing draft outcome of #COP30
@mark--watts.bsky.social, C40 Cities Executive Director, on the draft of the Belém Political Package:
“The draft texts we've seen this morning in Belém suggest several parties are trying to leave the global mutirão in ashes.
@mark--watts.bsky.social, C40 Cities Executive Director, on the draft of the Belém Political Package:
“The draft texts we've seen this morning in Belém suggest several parties are trying to leave the global mutirão in ashes.
November 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
🚨BREAKING: C40 Cities reacts to the disappointing draft outcome of #COP30
@mark--watts.bsky.social, C40 Cities Executive Director, on the draft of the Belém Political Package:
“The draft texts we've seen this morning in Belém suggest several parties are trying to leave the global mutirão in ashes.
@mark--watts.bsky.social, C40 Cities Executive Director, on the draft of the Belém Political Package:
“The draft texts we've seen this morning in Belém suggest several parties are trying to leave the global mutirão in ashes.
How are cities and subnational leaders turning negotiation into action? This #COP30 booklet captures the crucial role cities play in tackling the climate crisis, and lays out our COP30 asks. To deliver climate action at the speed required, subnational inclusion at COPs cannot be overlooked.
November 18, 2025 at 12:34 PM
How are cities and subnational leaders turning negotiation into action? This #COP30 booklet captures the crucial role cities play in tackling the climate crisis, and lays out our COP30 asks. To deliver climate action at the speed required, subnational inclusion at COPs cannot be overlooked.
We start the final week of #COP30 with strong momentum behind our push for greater inclusion of cities as key partners in the delivery of these critical climate negotiations.
A thread 👇 (1/7)
A thread 👇 (1/7)
November 17, 2025 at 12:40 PM
We start the final week of #COP30 with strong momentum behind our push for greater inclusion of cities as key partners in the delivery of these critical climate negotiations.
A thread 👇 (1/7)
A thread 👇 (1/7)
Reposted by Mark Watts
#Disinformation is a core topic at #COP30. C40's @mark--watts.bsky.social on how mayors are tackling it:
"C40 supports the importance @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social has placed on information integrity and tackling disinformation. Cities can play a critical role in making this the ‘COP of Truth’.
"C40 supports the importance @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social has placed on information integrity and tackling disinformation. Cities can play a critical role in making this the ‘COP of Truth’.
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
#Disinformation is a core topic at #COP30. C40's @mark--watts.bsky.social on how mayors are tackling it:
"C40 supports the importance @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social has placed on information integrity and tackling disinformation. Cities can play a critical role in making this the ‘COP of Truth’.
"C40 supports the importance @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social has placed on information integrity and tackling disinformation. Cities can play a critical role in making this the ‘COP of Truth’.
In case you missed it: Yesterday, I joined the COP30 Briefing Room and spoke with @projectsyndicate.bsky.social about climate disinformation, how local leaders are driving progress and our yearly offers of action.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaY...
The COP30 Briefing Room Day 2 – 11 November
YouTube video by Project Syndicate
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
In case you missed it: Yesterday, I joined the COP30 Briefing Room and spoke with @projectsyndicate.bsky.social about climate disinformation, how local leaders are driving progress and our yearly offers of action.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaY...
It’s time to move from promises and negotiations at #COP30 to delivering climate action.
To unlock progress, we should focus on where the decisions are really made: cities.
Read my op-ed in @politico.com with Jader Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities, Brazil.
www.politico.eu/sponsored-co...
To unlock progress, we should focus on where the decisions are really made: cities.
Read my op-ed in @politico.com with Jader Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities, Brazil.
www.politico.eu/sponsored-co...
Cities stand ready to lead the decade of delivery at COP30
It’s time to move from promises and negotiations to delivering climate action. To unlock progress, we should focus on where the decisions are really made: cities.
www.politico.eu
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
It’s time to move from promises and negotiations at #COP30 to delivering climate action.
To unlock progress, we should focus on where the decisions are really made: cities.
Read my op-ed in @politico.com with Jader Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities, Brazil.
www.politico.eu/sponsored-co...
To unlock progress, we should focus on where the decisions are really made: cities.
Read my op-ed in @politico.com with Jader Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities, Brazil.
www.politico.eu/sponsored-co...
Reposted by Mark Watts
🚨BREAKING: #COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago opens COP highlighting the role of cities 🏙️
"Subnational entities play a central role in implementing the decisions made at COPs. To stop climate change, multilateralism is unquestionably the way forward.”
"Subnational entities play a central role in implementing the decisions made at COPs. To stop climate change, multilateralism is unquestionably the way forward.”
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 PM
🚨BREAKING: #COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago opens COP highlighting the role of cities 🏙️
"Subnational entities play a central role in implementing the decisions made at COPs. To stop climate change, multilateralism is unquestionably the way forward.”
"Subnational entities play a central role in implementing the decisions made at COPs. To stop climate change, multilateralism is unquestionably the way forward.”
This week, I’m at @cop30brazil.bsky.social in Belém where cities are backing the COP30 Presidency's call in moving from negotiation to implementation.
Here’s what to expect from C40 Cities over the next two weeks ⬇️
Here’s what to expect from C40 Cities over the next two weeks ⬇️
November 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This week, I’m at @cop30brazil.bsky.social in Belém where cities are backing the COP30 Presidency's call in moving from negotiation to implementation.
Here’s what to expect from C40 Cities over the next two weeks ⬇️
Here’s what to expect from C40 Cities over the next two weeks ⬇️
Reposted by Mark Watts
"Mayors, we get the job done" ⭐
Meet the local leaders taking real climate action, defying populist governments who dismiss and deny science.
Meet the local leaders taking real climate action, defying populist governments who dismiss and deny science.
November 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"Mayors, we get the job done" ⭐
Meet the local leaders taking real climate action, defying populist governments who dismiss and deny science.
Meet the local leaders taking real climate action, defying populist governments who dismiss and deny science.
Reposted by Mark Watts
During #WMS25 @outrageoptimism.bsky.social spoke with mayors about how they are turning ambition into action.
Listen to interviews with the mayors of Paris, Freetown, and Portland about how cities are cutting emissions, investing in resilience, and driving progress.
Listen to interviews with the mayors of Paris, Freetown, and Portland about how cities are cutting emissions, investing in resilience, and driving progress.
Inside COP: The Power of Cities - from the Local Leaders Forum
In the first Inside COP episode from Brazil, we go inside the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro - where mayors, governors, and regional leaders are driving climate progress from the ground u...
www.outrageandoptimism.org
November 8, 2025 at 11:13 AM
During #WMS25 @outrageoptimism.bsky.social spoke with mayors about how they are turning ambition into action.
Listen to interviews with the mayors of Paris, Freetown, and Portland about how cities are cutting emissions, investing in resilience, and driving progress.
Listen to interviews with the mayors of Paris, Freetown, and Portland about how cities are cutting emissions, investing in resilience, and driving progress.
Reposted by Mark Watts
At the city-business roundtable, @mark--watts.bsky.social and María Mendiluce @wemeanbusiness.bsky.social spoke to how local partnerships can lead to real progress.
The mayors of Tshwane and Oslo shared how working with businesses drives tangible results in the places where people live and work.
The mayors of Tshwane and Oslo shared how working with businesses drives tangible results in the places where people live and work.
November 5, 2025 at 8:20 PM
At the city-business roundtable, @mark--watts.bsky.social and María Mendiluce @wemeanbusiness.bsky.social spoke to how local partnerships can lead to real progress.
The mayors of Tshwane and Oslo shared how working with businesses drives tangible results in the places where people live and work.
The mayors of Tshwane and Oslo shared how working with businesses drives tangible results in the places where people live and work.
The @ec.europa.eu announced today that the European Union has officially endorsed CHAMP – the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships – and in doing so, committed to continue working with cities and regions to deliver stronger climate action. climate.ec.europa.eu/news-other-r...
Ahead of COP30, EU joins CHAMP, backing cities and regions as key partners for boosting climate action and resilience
The European Union’s endorsement reinforces the crucial role of cities and regions as key partners in delivering the Paris Agreement global goals
climate.ec.europa.eu
November 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The @ec.europa.eu announced today that the European Union has officially endorsed CHAMP – the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships – and in doing so, committed to continue working with cities and regions to deliver stronger climate action. climate.ec.europa.eu/news-other-r...
It was fantastic to join the #WMS25 session on South-South cooperation hosted jointly by CPAFFC & C40 Cities.
I talked about how inspired I always am by the speed and scale of progress of the green transition in China, which I recently visited. Some of my thoughts here: www.c40.org/news/theres-...
I talked about how inspired I always am by the speed and scale of progress of the green transition in China, which I recently visited. Some of my thoughts here: www.c40.org/news/theres-...
There's something new on climate coming out of China - C40 Cities
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40, explores why China's "irreversible" green transition and growing global ambition are offering a new source of hope for climate action.
www.c40.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
It was fantastic to join the #WMS25 session on South-South cooperation hosted jointly by CPAFFC & C40 Cities.
I talked about how inspired I always am by the speed and scale of progress of the green transition in China, which I recently visited. Some of my thoughts here: www.c40.org/news/theres-...
I talked about how inspired I always am by the speed and scale of progress of the green transition in China, which I recently visited. Some of my thoughts here: www.c40.org/news/theres-...
Rio is a real leader in tackling extreme heat: a huge priority for @cop30brazil.bsky.social & @c40cities.bsky.social. Its Extreme Heat Response Protocol provides inspiration & learnings for cities worldwide.
Thank you @eduardopaesoficial.bsky.social for hosting the Local Leaders Forum here in Rio!
Thank you @eduardopaesoficial.bsky.social for hosting the Local Leaders Forum here in Rio!
November 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Rio is a real leader in tackling extreme heat: a huge priority for @cop30brazil.bsky.social & @c40cities.bsky.social. Its Extreme Heat Response Protocol provides inspiration & learnings for cities worldwide.
Thank you @eduardopaesoficial.bsky.social for hosting the Local Leaders Forum here in Rio!
Thank you @eduardopaesoficial.bsky.social for hosting the Local Leaders Forum here in Rio!
The World Mayors Summit 2025 opened with a powerful call: move negotiation to implementation.
20 years ago, a small group of forward-thinking mayors created this organisation because they feared no one else would act.
20 years ago, a small group of forward-thinking mayors created this organisation because they feared no one else would act.
November 4, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The World Mayors Summit 2025 opened with a powerful call: move negotiation to implementation.
20 years ago, a small group of forward-thinking mayors created this organisation because they feared no one else would act.
20 years ago, a small group of forward-thinking mayors created this organisation because they feared no one else would act.
Reposted by Mark Watts
C40 Executive Director @mark--watts.bsky.social celebrated cities' progress and said what must come next to reach 2030 targets.
“Thanks to the tremendous leadership in this room and efforts by city residents, emissions across C40 cities are now falling despite growing populations and economies.”
“Thanks to the tremendous leadership in this room and efforts by city residents, emissions across C40 cities are now falling despite growing populations and economies.”
November 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
C40 Executive Director @mark--watts.bsky.social celebrated cities' progress and said what must come next to reach 2030 targets.
“Thanks to the tremendous leadership in this room and efforts by city residents, emissions across C40 cities are now falling despite growing populations and economies.”
“Thanks to the tremendous leadership in this room and efforts by city residents, emissions across C40 cities are now falling despite growing populations and economies.”
I’m in Rio de Janeiro for the @c40cities.bsky.social World Mayors Summit ahead of COP30 in Belem.
This COP is the most critical since Paris in 2015. Mayors showing that cities are leading the way. While others talk, mayors are delivering tangible, measurable progress that builds a fairer future.
This COP is the most critical since Paris in 2015. Mayors showing that cities are leading the way. While others talk, mayors are delivering tangible, measurable progress that builds a fairer future.
November 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I’m in Rio de Janeiro for the @c40cities.bsky.social World Mayors Summit ahead of COP30 in Belem.
This COP is the most critical since Paris in 2015. Mayors showing that cities are leading the way. While others talk, mayors are delivering tangible, measurable progress that builds a fairer future.
This COP is the most critical since Paris in 2015. Mayors showing that cities are leading the way. While others talk, mayors are delivering tangible, measurable progress that builds a fairer future.
Congratulations @eduardopaesoficial.bsky.social for being one of TIME’s 100 most influential climate leaders of 2025.
Great news ahead of Rio de Janeiro welcoming 300+ mayors from all over the world to discuss city climate action at World Mayors Summit, part of COP30 Local Leaders Forum. #WMS25
Great news ahead of Rio de Janeiro welcoming 300+ mayors from all over the world to discuss city climate action at World Mayors Summit, part of COP30 Local Leaders Forum. #WMS25
October 31, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Congratulations @eduardopaesoficial.bsky.social for being one of TIME’s 100 most influential climate leaders of 2025.
Great news ahead of Rio de Janeiro welcoming 300+ mayors from all over the world to discuss city climate action at World Mayors Summit, part of COP30 Local Leaders Forum. #WMS25
Great news ahead of Rio de Janeiro welcoming 300+ mayors from all over the world to discuss city climate action at World Mayors Summit, part of COP30 Local Leaders Forum. #WMS25
How do we build cities that prioritise health for all of their residents? That’s the question we’re tackling with partners like Novo Nordisk – a Gold Sponsor of next week’s C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio.
October 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
How do we build cities that prioritise health for all of their residents? That’s the question we’re tackling with partners like Novo Nordisk – a Gold Sponsor of next week’s C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio.
For 200+ years, fossil fuels have been at the heart of the global shipping industry.
The 21st century must be a time of change: port cities can unlock billions in investment, create new green jobs, and deliver cleaner air by transforming into clean energy hubs.
From @c40cities.bsky.social & Arup:
The 21st century must be a time of change: port cities can unlock billions in investment, create new green jobs, and deliver cleaner air by transforming into clean energy hubs.
From @c40cities.bsky.social & Arup:
Opinion: From fossil fuels to clean energy — the future of port cities
As clean energy hubs, port cities can unlock billions in investment, create new green jobs, and deliver cleaner air for millions of people.
www.devex.com
October 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
For 200+ years, fossil fuels have been at the heart of the global shipping industry.
The 21st century must be a time of change: port cities can unlock billions in investment, create new green jobs, and deliver cleaner air by transforming into clean energy hubs.
From @c40cities.bsky.social & Arup:
The 21st century must be a time of change: port cities can unlock billions in investment, create new green jobs, and deliver cleaner air by transforming into clean energy hubs.
From @c40cities.bsky.social & Arup:
Last week, I attended the UN NDC Summit during Climate Week NYC, which was an unexpectedly positive week for climate action. My top highlights:
October 3, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Last week, I attended the UN NDC Summit during Climate Week NYC, which was an unexpectedly positive week for climate action. My top highlights:
Reposted by Mark Watts
I remember being told that it would take 193 years to reach legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.
I decided this was unacceptable.
Thanks to the bold policies we put in place, we've managed to do it in nine years - 184 years earlier than expected.
I decided this was unacceptable.
Thanks to the bold policies we put in place, we've managed to do it in nine years - 184 years earlier than expected.
October 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I remember being told that it would take 193 years to reach legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.
I decided this was unacceptable.
Thanks to the bold policies we put in place, we've managed to do it in nine years - 184 years earlier than expected.
I decided this was unacceptable.
Thanks to the bold policies we put in place, we've managed to do it in nine years - 184 years earlier than expected.