Cities are at the frontline of the climate crisis. As pressures mount—from rising temperatures and climate risks to growing infrastructure needs—local governments are facing an increasingly complex financial landscape. At the same time, they are expected to lead the transition toward low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive urban development.
A new Call for Papers from the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy (JCCPE) invites researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to contribute to a Special Issue on “Financing Sustainable Cities: Mobilizing capital for equitable, resilient and low-carbon urban futures.”
This Special Issue seeks to advance the conversation on how cities can bridge the widening gap between climate ambitions and financial realities—while ensuring that equity, human wellbeing, and environmental limits remain at the center of decision-making.
Why this matters for local governments
Municipalities are increasingly responsible for delivering climate action on the ground, yet they often lack the financial tools, autonomy, or access to capital needed to do so effectively. This Call for Papers presents an important opportunity to shape the global discourse on urban climate finance and provide practical insights for mayors and city leaders.
Scope of the Special Issue
The Journal welcomes a wide range of article types, including original research, policy analysis, and case studies. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Social, political, and ecological impacts of climate finance mechanisms in cities
- Underused financing and de-risking tools for urban climate adaptation
- What “innovation” really means in city climate finance—and for whom
- Opportunities and risks of carbon markets for municipal finance
- How existing finance practices can reinforce inequities—and how to address this
- Protecting residents and municipal budgets from escalating climate risks
- Policy reforms that expand cities’ own-source revenues for climate action
- Accessing green bonds and the implications of the “green” label
- Budgeting approaches that prioritise vulnerable populations
- Divestment of municipal pension funds from fossil fuels
- Wellbeing economy and post-GDP approaches to urban budgeting
- Fiscal strategies that emphasise resource circularity and reduced throughput
- Financial mechanisms for a just transition for workers and small businesses
- The role of finance in enabling transformative adaptation at city level
- How urban planning frameworks affect access to climate finance
Key dates
- 250-word abstract submission deadline: June 30, 2026
- Submission deadline: November 13, 2026
- Final papers deadline: May 17, 2027
Abstracts (maximum 250 words) should clearly outline the research question, methodology (for research articles), and relevance for city decision-makers.
How to apply
Abstracts should be submitted via email to Sarah Lewis, Managing Editor, at slewis@c40.org. Applicants are encouraged to indicate their intended manuscript type and may reach out in advance to discuss the suitability of their proposal.
A call to LPSA members and partners
LPSA encourages researchers, practitioners, and local government collaborators to consider submitting proposals and to use this opportunity to amplify local public sector perspectives in global urban climate finance debates.
Full call for papers from the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy: https://utppublishing.com/journals/jccpe/call-for-papers-special-issue-financing-sustainable-cities
Feature image: Brick houses in Barcelona by Jorge Vidal on Unsplash.
