Our brilliant opportunity: Daring Cities 2021 wraps up with a sense that local voices are finally being heard.

For the past 20 years, Saleemul Huq has been working with people living in what he described as “the poorer parts of the developing world,” and as he spoke on what was the final day of Daring Cities 2021 – billed as 2030 Visions Day –, Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change 

Continue Reading →

Why the end of Daring Cities is just the beginning…

After five packed days of discussion, workshops and networking on everything from multi-level collaborations to addressing land capture, Daring Cities 2021 has come to a close. But the journey doesn’t end here. We reflect on the achievements of the week and how Daring Cities’ outcomes will sow the seeds for the climate discussions at COP26 

Continue Reading →

Why city-level data will be the key to unlocking impactful climate action

Data. It permeates every aspect of our lives, there’s more of it now than ever, and it might just be the key to us reaching our climate goals. Together with cutting-edge modelling systems, it’s helped us understand the gravity of the climate crisis. And together with innovative technologies, it is helping us build our capacity 

Continue Reading →

Financing resilience to combat compounding climate hazards

In the opening address of the Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Supporting Ambitious Climate Action, Dr. Jürgen Zattler, Germany’s Director General, Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, reflected on the devastating flooding that took place in his country this past summer, causing 165 deaths and resulting in an estimated $2.3 billion USD in damage. He was quick to 

Continue Reading →

This is what leadership in an emergency looks like.

What does leadership in a climate emergency mean? Midway through Daring Cities 2021, this was the question occupying our panelists as they exchanged how they were taking on the climate crisis.   Leadership is responding now and planning for tomorrow. Looking back on this year and 2020, to the catastrophic floods that churned up entire 

Continue Reading →

It’s game on: Going from setting ambitious climate goals to impactful, on-the-ground solutions.

The need to set aggressive goals, backed by meaningful numbers, is an obvious starting point in the fight against climate change. It’s common knowledge that if global warming exceeds 1.5C, we face the prospect of everything from the increased incidence of extreme weather conditions to irreparable damage to our ecosystems. Which is why a growing 

Continue Reading →

Practical workshops help cities navigate action in the climate emergency

After Day 1 focused on the approaches cities are taking to mobilize in the climate emergency, Day 2 of Daring Cities brought in practitioners from the field to share their expertise and show urban leaders what tools they can use to propel climate action. Anna Reynolds, Lord Mayor of the City of Hobart, Australia and 

Continue Reading →

The starting point for handling our climate emergency? Treat it like a house on fire.

If we’re going to take climate change seriously, we need to treat it like a house on fire. That analogy came from not just one, but two presenters in two separate ICLEI Daring Cities sessions yesterday, hailing from two different continents. “If your house is on fire, then everyone needs to respond to put it 

Continue Reading →

3 takeaways from the opening day of Daring Cities 2021. Here’s what you missed.

Daring Cities got off to a flying start on Monday with four live sessions that brought together inspirational local leaders to share their experiences in taking on the climate emergency. ICLEI’s Secretary General, Mr. Gino Van Begin kicked off the opening session with a reminder of the central role cities will play in climate action. 

Continue Reading →

Bonn continues to lead as global hub for sustainable development

With the launch of this week’s Daring Cities 2021 virtual conference, thought leaders from around the world are poised to exchange their knowledge and problem solving skills as part of the ongoing fight against climate change. And not unlike what it has done in supporting numerous other climate-focused events in the past, Bonn is hosting 

Continue Reading →