The coming rise of urban infrastructure: turning infrastructure green

By Andrew M. Deutz, Ph. D., Director, International Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy — There are a handful of truly critical global sustainability challenges that will determine whether or not the world will be prosperous and healthy by the middle of this century—or by the time my kids are my age. Can we generate energy without 

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Learn how to learn with Quito

Quito appreciates learning from other cities. Last October, they demonstrated their spirit of sharing and collaboration during the EcoMobility Days – held during the Habitat III conference – where they presented their transportation plans to cities and transport enthusiasts from all over the world to collect ideas for more integrated transportation. Once again, at Resilient Cities 2017, they 

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Letter from David Jácome Polit, Chief Resilience Officer of Quito – March 2017

Dear ICLEI friends and colleagues, We live in a highly dynamic world. Along with our changing climate, social, technological, economic, demographic and ecological conditions are evolving, often at record pace. Resilience thinking is essential to understanding these forces and finding solutions for their effects. The Municipality of Quito has begun to make major transformations using 

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Shifting towards resilient urban development

The Paris Agreement establishes a clear goal: to keep the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius, with the intent to pursue a 1.5-degree target. However, the national climate commitments submitted under the Paris Agreement do not yet put us on track to achieve this goal. In fact, with current national commitments, the world 

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100 percent renewable energy is an imperative

Berlin, Germany voted to divest its €750 million public pension from oil, coal and gas companies, while Stockholm, Sweden, Sydney, Australia and San Francisco, California have joined a growing number of cities making similar commitments. Meanwhile, cities are also exploring ways to meet their energy needs entirely with renewable sources. Vancouver, Canada aims to hit 

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How cities are advancing climate action under the New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda establishes a vision for sustainable urbanization that requires strong action on climate. If we are to eradicate poverty, build sustainable and inclusive economies and achieve environmental sustainability, then mitigating urban emissions and building resilience are critical steps in the process. After all, cities are responsible for over 70 percent of global 

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Inequality in cities: an issue at the heart of our New Urban Agenda

Cities have the responsibility to manage many aspects of urban life, from the provision of basic services and job creation to safety and security. They must also plan in a way that acknowledges and addresses inequality as a very real and growing urban issue. Addressing inequality is a critical part of successfully implementing the New 

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From Paris Agreement to Habitat III: A Global Preview of Sustainability in 2016

According to the Mayan calendar, 2015 was to be the year of the apocalypse. While the Earth did not stop turning, global achievements on sustainability in 2015 certainly marked a turning point for the world, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. These achievements constitute a new beginning for global efforts on sustainability, 

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Cities in Action: Quito’s Climate Compatible Urban Development

Alice Reil of the ICLEI European Secretariat reports from a learning exchange organised by CDKN and ICLEI in Quito, Ecuador in late July. The gathering kicked off a new learning endeavour among the organisations and their partners to understand the success factors for delivering and scaling up climate compatible development from the local level. Over recent 

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