David  00:01
[pensive music plays] Last season on Cities 1.5, we showed you how cities are taking ambitious steps to address the climate crisis. We sat down with mayors, city leaders, youth climate activists and economists to discuss the actions they are taking to help avoid climate breakdown - and what still needs to be done. Global temperatures are on track to rise to nearly 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. But, there is hope…because cities are demonstrating that transformative climate action can deliver healthy, resilient and more equitable communities.  [music fades out]

[hopeful music plays] From rethinking economics to create shared prosperity, to equitably transitioning to a clean energy future, cities across C40 - and beyond - are taking action to ensure a future where everyone can thrive. [music fades out]

[upbeat music plays] I’m David Miller, and I’m the host of Cities 1.5, and the editor-in-chief of The Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy from the University of Toronto Press. I’m also the Managing Director of the C40 Centre, and the former Mayor of Toronto. In our first season, we featured inspiring voices who are leading the way to deliver a 1.5 degree world - like the climate scientist Sir David King, the Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen, and a leading wellbeing economist, Katherine Trebeck, along with a whole host of inspiring city and youth leaders…but we’re just getting started. [main theme plays] This season, we’re speaking with more city policy makers and experts to explore all things cities and climate - from developing sustainable transport, to divesting from fossil gas, to looking beyond growth to measure progress and prosperity.

The fight for a resilient and equitable planet is closer than you think - learn about the actions of international communities by listening to the first season of Cities 1.5 wherever you get your podcasts. And don’t forget to subscribe, so that you can be the first to listen to the debut of Season 2 this fall - you won’t want to miss it. [music fades out]