Momentum for Change is an initiative spearheaded by the UN Climate Change secretariat to shine a light on the enormous groundswell of activities underway across the globe that are moving the world toward a highly resilient, low-carbon future. Momentum for Change recognizes innovative and transformative solutions that address both climate change and wider economic, social and environmental challenges.

The UNFCCC calls these solutions Lighthouse Activities. They are some of the most practical, scalable and replicable examples of what people, businesses, governments and industries are doing to tackle climate change. Sixteen game-changing initiatives from around the world were announced on October 27, 2015 as winners of the Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activity Award.

The second of these, the initiative on ChargePoint Electric Vehicle Charging Corridors shows improved implementation in the application of needed infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (EVs) across the United States of America. With over 25,000 charging spots across the USA and by adding up to 100 charging stations in “express charging corridors” on the east and west coasts of the USA, drivers can easily connect to a network of EV chargers, accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. Some key facts are shown in the graphic below:

The fourth of the 16-awarded initiatives, The Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI) addresses urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Already the second-most urbanized region on the planet, LAC has gone from a 62% urbanization rate in 1980 to 81% in 2011 and is expected to reach 89% by 2050. ESCI seeks to address the challenges of poor design, due to pace of urban sprawl, by developing planning tools like greenhouse gas inventories and risk maps as well as action plans to put cities in the LAC region on a sustainable pathway that includes low -carbon, climate-resilient development.

For example, an upgrade of the public transport system in La Paz, Mexico, provides cleaner, more efficient and comfortable buses for up to 50,000 people per day. Street improvements in Mar del Plata, Argentina, have enhanced walkability for more than 13,000 pedestrians every day. Urban rehabilitation plans in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and in Panama City, Panama, will make a real difference for the environment, citizen health, and quality of life.

Other inspiring projects include Microsoft’s Internal Carbon Fee, which holds its business units financially responsible for reducing their carbon emissions. Or Fairphone, an innovative smartphone that puts social values first.

For more details on these initiatives and the remaining ones, please visit the homepage of Momentum for Change.

Furthermore, the PPMC is also currently running the 80 Days Campaign which showcases 100+ transport-related initiatives in the lead up to COP21. See here for more examples of what people, businesses, governments and industries are doing to tackle climate change.