What does the VGTA methodology entail?

C40 Cities helps 97 cities around the world draw up a Climate Action Plan. Part of this is an adaptation strategy. But how do you make sure this strategy is feasible? And what do you need to realise the ambitions in the strategy within a limited timeframe? For that, as a city, you first need to know what your vision is, what goals you want to achieve, how you want to achieve those goals and what measures you will implement to achieve them. We have developed the VGTA method to help cities with these steps. We have visualised a summary of the steps in a tree diagram.

How did Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta apply the VGTA method?

After conducting a Rapid Climate Risk Assessment for Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta, we started working with the VGTA method during a workshop. More than 30 officials came together to discuss the vision, ambitions, goals and actions. In a joint exercise, participants first drew up a vision statement. Then they went into ‘breakout rooms’ to discuss more concrete ambitions, such as less flooding and more heat resistance. They also talked about measurable goals, such as higher dykes and more trees. Finally, during the workshop we showed the cities the importance of combining reactive, preventive and transformative climate actions: for example, you combine a reactive alarm system with the preventive construction of a dike and with transformative actions such as infiltration and more greenery. This is how you make the city water-robust and climate-proof in a sustainable way.

What is C40 Cities?

C40 Cities is a network of more than 90 megacities committed to addressing climate change. This network helps those cities to develop a Climate Action Plan to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. The action plan stimulates the cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming. The action plan also encourages the cities to protect residents from the effects of climate change. Part of a Climate Action Plan is therefore also a QCRA.