Building climate resilience with local communities: Insights from Izmir

Building climate resilience with local communities: Insights from Izmir

ByMatteo Bizzotto

Climate adaptation is most impactful when it centers on local communities, addressing real climate impacts and ensuring the most vulnerable are informed about neighborhood actions. In Türkiye, the Climate Resilience for Communities (CRC) project in Izmir exemplifies this by uniting ICLEI, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the Z Zurich Foundation, and Zurich Insurance Group Türkiye to help communities understand and manage climate risks, particularly from flooding and extreme heat.

Latin America leading: From ICLEI World Congress 2024 to COP30

Latin America leading: From ICLEI World Congress 2024 to COP30

ByMatteo Bizzotto

Amidst the urgency of global climate action, São Paulo, Brazil, stands out for its dedication to sustainability and for being the host of the ICLEI World Congress in June 2024, to advance environmental goals and foster international cooperation. The city’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is evident through initiatives like expanding bus lanes, transitioning to a greener bus fleet, promoting urban agriculture, and enhancing green spaces to improve air quality, food security, and urban biodiversity.

(Circular) cities at the forefront: Insights from UrbanShift’s Latin America Forum

(Circular) cities at the forefront: Insights from UrbanShift’s Latin America Forum

ByMatteo Bizzotto

As the world shapes the framework for the “Global Plastic Treaty,” the urgency to address plastic pollution has never been more pronounced, with completion aimed by the end of 2024. Regional initiatives like the UrbanShift Latin America Forum in Belém, Brazil, highlight how local actions and policies can align with global efforts to foster sustainable urban development.

Latin American cities rally in unprecedented line-up of events as UN cancels regional climate week

Latin American cities rally in unprecedented line-up of events as UN cancels regional climate week

ByMatteo Bizzotto

The cancellation of this year’s UN Regional Climate Weeks, raised concerns about the regional dimensions at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Contrasting this, local and regional governments in Latin America are advancing their own ‘regional dialogues,’ with Belém, Brazil, emerging as a key hub for climate discussions and preparations for a successful COP30.

Insuring our future: Strengthening disaster resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean

Insuring our future: Strengthening disaster resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean

ByMatteo Bizzotto

During the first in-person event in San José, Costa Rica, the Urban Infrastructure Insurance Facility (UIIF) Project united representatives from Latin American and Caribbean cities to enhance their disaster management strategies. The workshop provided a platform to emphasize the role of insurance in disaster risk management and fostering a stronger foundation for future resilience efforts.

Top 10 global sustainability events not to miss in 2024

Top 10 global sustainability events not to miss in 2024

ByMatteo Bizzotto

In 2024, the global climate agenda is at a pivotal point following COP28, which marked the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era and highlighted the need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030. This year is poised to be a ‘super year’ for sustainability, with six major UN events converging and local and regional governments playing a critical role in advancing the global sustainability agenda amidst unprecedented climate challenges.

Addressing the climate crisis in socially unequal areas: Global funds, poverty eradication and risk management

Addressing the climate crisis in socially unequal areas: Global funds, poverty eradication and risk management

ByMatteo Bizzotto

Addressing the climate crisis in socially unequal areas involves utilizing tailored insurance mechanisms, such as those provided by the Urban Infrastructure Insurance Facility (UIIF), which support cities in managing risks and quickly accessing financial resources for their most vulnerable residents.

Fighting climate change in Pakistan: The case of Karachi

Fighting climate change in Pakistan: The case of Karachi

ByMatteo Bizzotto

Like many other industrial cities, Karachi faces problems that are further exacerbated by climate change.  This led to an urgent call to the local government for a comprehensive and integrated climate action plan to ensure low-emission development, with enhanced resilience to reduce its own carbon footprint. 

In a historic move, nature takes center stage at COP27

In a historic move, nature takes center stage at COP27

ByMatteo Bizzotto

COP27 emphasized the vital role of nature in addressing the climate crisis, marking the first time a full day was dedicated to nature and biodiversity, highlighting the need for integrated solutions and direct financing for local governments. This focus on nature precedes the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP15, underscoring the essential role of cities and regions in achieving global biodiversity targets and addressing climate change.

Cities responding to the climate emergency through innovative finance, people-centered approaches, and resilience initiatives

Cities responding to the climate emergency through innovative finance, people-centered approaches, and resilience initiatives

ByMatteo Bizzotto

Daring Cities 2022 highlighted the pivotal role of cities in responding to the climate emergency through innovative finance, people-centered approaches, and resilience initiatives, emphasizing the need for formalizing climate action processes, improving funding access, and including traditionally underrepresented groups.