By John J. Berger, PhD, an energy and environmental policy specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who is currently working on a new book on resolving the climate crisis. — Finding ways to reduce cities’ greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) is vital to global efforts to mitigate climate change. Cities account for around 70
A Member of ICLEI and the Global 100% Renewable Energy Cities & Regions Network, Växjö, Sweden is leading the way in urban renewable energy strategies, and is on track to become a fossil fuel-free city by 2030. We got in touch with the mayor to find out more about the key to success in the
Nature-based solutions can address urban challenges exacerbated by growing urban populations and the impacts of climate change. They are multi-functional, cost-effective and provide a wide range of benefits, from improving public health to reducing energy costs and pollution to regenerating urban spaces. Local governments can use green roofs and green infrastructure to help cities become
Cities in China face significant water-related challenges, including flood, reduced water quality and severe water scarcity – exacerbated by rapid urbanization and more frequent extreme weather events. Nearly half of cities in China do not meet national flood prevention standards and over half are considered water scarce. To address these challenges, China is implementing the
The world is at a tipping point. Whether it is a tipping point that promises a bright, sustainable future or one in which we’ll have to face growing challenges from climate change and unsustainable urbanization, is up to us. This message by David Stevens, Head of the UNISDR Bonn Office, sums up what the 2017
Resilience is a tricky topic when it comes to urban transport. The Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals signal a sustainable, resilient path forward for urban transport. But is this translating into resilient transport systems in cities? Not exactly. At least not on a consistent basis. Transport resilience is way down on the priority list for
The regulars at the Resilient Cities congress might recall that when urban food first appeared as a topic in the congress series, it almost seemed out of place – a topic more fitting to the agricultural community than urbanists. The conversation started from the basics, emphasizing food as a system, which includes producers, consumers and many other stakeholders all along
By Laura Spray, MSc Candidate in Geography at Universität Bonn / UNU-EHS – United Nations University of Environmental Risk and Human Security and Resilient Cities 2017 communications volunteer Sustainable Development Goal 11 looks at the role cities can play in creating safe, inclusive and resilient urban environments. Four cities in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are working
In 2012, the City of Copenhagen came to present their freshly adopted Climate Change Adaptation Plan, during a workshop at the Resilient Cities Forum. Today, five years later, they come back to share their experience with implementing that plan with other cities. Indeed, the Danish capital is not the only city to be threatened by
Resilience has become an increasingly mainstream concept in global development. Around 2013, as nations and stakeholders shaped the post-2015 sustainable development frameworks, resilience emerged as a widely recognized concept that should crosscut policy and planning at all levels of government. Now, we are in a phase of action, and the Sustainable Development Goals are calling for integrated