Futureproofed – part of Sweco’s Post

Despite all the climate action planning, greenhouse gas emissions from cities are not declining fast enough. Why? Because too often, plans stall and get overshadowed by other priorities, leaving city teams frustrated and without the resources to take real action. On 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 7𝐭𝐡, we’re hosting the 12th edition of our 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 in Brussels, an annual climate event for local authorities. This time, we’re 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 that can transform urban development. In the afternoon programme there is a panel that takes on the elephant in the room: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. Our discussion will tackle the financial challenges cities face and explore solutions to get climate initiatives off the ground, even with tight budgets. Our panelists bring hands-on experience and fresh perspectives: - Piet Colruyt, impact investor, will show how finance can be a force for good in driving climate action. - Fedra Vanhuyse, PhD Vanhuyse, Stockholm Environment Institute, will share insights on unlocking climate finance. - Filip Coenen, financial architect of Leuven 2030, will offer practical strategies for city transformation. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭—a fresh start and a six-year window to make a real difference. If you're ready to move from talk to action in your city or municipality, this event is for you! 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠. Join us, bring a colleague, and let’s start turning ambition into action. Register for your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/exCgTEkz (PS: the morning programme is exclusively for Futureproofed for Cities users)

On Nov. 15, a new book, Urban Sustainable Development: Governance, Finance & Politics, highlighting the complexities of sustainable development in an urban landscape, will be discussed at the #U20RioSummit. https://ow.ly/RbY150U7vo5 In this book, Amy Campbell & Jeff Schlegelmilch discuss "Policy Implications for Climate Adaptation in the Context of Nonlinear Impacts of Catastrophic Risks." Researchers Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Camila Pontual, Jessica Weinberg, Isabella Pereira, and Walter Baethgen also discuss "Integrating Climate Disaster Risk within an Interdisciplinary Urban Agenda: Lessons Drawn from the Brazilian Experience" in this book. Columbia Climate School CEBRI - Centro Brasileiro de Relações Internacionais

🌆 New Report Alert! "From Informality to Impact" reveals the untapped potential in scaling urban resilience solutions for informal settlements. With urban climate investments at only 1.2%, it’s time to diversify solutions across sectors. Dive into findings on how philanthropy, policy, and finance can help bridge gaps. 🌍💼 #UrbanResilience #ClimateAction https://lnkd.in/dpG5nBxe Watch the report launch here: https://lnkd.in/dPGfxdgs World Urban Forum Transitions Research

In dialogue 3 at hashtag #WUF12, we’ll explore how these collaborations can drive progress and build sustainable cities. #KhalidOrakzai

I am really happy to share the publication of Part I of a three-part research on financing adaptation and resilience in London, which I have co-authored together with Raffaele Della Croce and Stella Whittaker during my time at Centre for Climate Finance & Investment at Imperial College London last year. ✍ 🌡 Cities, in which 56% of us live, are at the forefront of the impacts of climate change. Among other impacts, London has experienced flash floods in 2021 and a 40°C heatwave in 2022. Bratislava, my hometown, is projected to warm by up to 3°C by 2050, making its climate similar to today's Bologna. 📈 To prepare for these physical impacts of climate change it is necessary to invest in adaptation. At the moment, only around 10% of all climate finance go towards adaptation, compared to mitigation. The research below identifies and discusses drivers and challenges for investing in adaptation and resilience and necessary changes for developing capital market solutions in London and the UK. 🇬🇧 In Part I, we look at several case studies across the UK. Parts II and III will focus on urban adaptation financing and policy recommendations, with implications spanning beyond the UK. 🏙 👀 Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/dsAHwerB

The UN Environment Programme released an inspiring and comprehensive report outlining why more data and tools are needed for cities to integrate nature-based solutions in city financial and planning frameworks. "From Grey to Green: Better Data to Finance Nature in Cities," outlines why urban nature-based solutions are vital for climate resilience, biodiversity, and human wellbeing—and it lays out the path city's must take to realize these benefits and overcome challenges. Watch their video summary: https://bit.ly/3YVj7Aa Read the report: https://bit.ly/3NZlfjQ

Dive into latest findings on #urban #resilience #solutions in informal contexts. Report is launched and will be discussed at #WUF today. See details below and join our team in Cairo if you are attending #WUF.

Earlier this spring, I wrapped up all of my courses for the MPA Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), and started working on my dissertation. This time feels like the deepest privilege – time to ask (and explore answers to) questions I’ve been curious about, synthesize my big learnings, chat with folks wondering the same, and connect the dots. I feel so deeply grateful for this time and am really savouring it, especially getting to be supported by/co-learn with my always-inspiring MPA peers and my brilliant supervisors Rainer Kattel, Gabriella Gomez-Mont and Ryan Bellinson. My thesis is focused on my niggling questions related to governance, climate transitions, leadership and cities that have been building for me through my work with local governments and institutions via CityHive Vancouver and beyond, and the questions that brought me to this MPA. I’m specifically focusing on urban climate transitions that aim to destabilize existing systems and the capabilities and conditions for civil servants to be able to push forward transformative, long-lasting climate policies. I’m exploring questions like: ➡ What capabilities and mechanisms are needed for civil servants to push forward transformative climate policy (and especially when strong direction from political leadership might not be there)? ➡How can democratic engagement help overcome destabilization challenges or help accelerate destabilization, without becoming a scapegoat for lack of political/administrative leadership and accountability? ➡How can city networks or network-based entities (ie C40, NetZeroCities, ICLEI) support cities in destabilization?  ➡What do civil servants deem as the biggest impediments or barriers? What are the collectively implicit rules within institutions and what are the cases of these being surpassed? One of my north stars with my thesis is for it to be relevant and helpful to the real needs of cities and practitioners too; if anyone wants to have a conversation to explore these (and other) questions, 💡 let’s chat! 💡 Or know anyone that I should chat with? I’m focusing on cities in Europe for the purposes of the scope of this thesis, but very open to thinking and chatting about cities beyond Europe too.

How can local solutions shape global agendas? To achieve the #GlobalGoals, we need partnerships that connect governments, businesses, and communities. In dialogue 3 at #WUF12, we’ll explore how these collaborations can drive progress and build sustainable cities. 🔍 The dialogues are high-profile discussions led by global thought leaders to drive action on issues like housing, climate, and urban development. Don't miss out on this conversation: https://lnkd.in/dE-RsKHZ

Check out the latest paper from our seed grant recipient, Dr. Claudia Diezmartínez, on the implementation of Boston's Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)!