Faster, more intense, with more devastating impacts: New IPCC report lays out the scientific basis of the climate emergency

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new report, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, which brings together the most recent advances in climate science to outline the current state of climate change. The results are grave. The opening line of the report’s Summary for Policymakers reads: “It is unequivocal that human 

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Malmö, Sweden: A testing ground for integrated sustainable solutions

The former industrial shipyard Western Harbour boasts a heavy concentration of green roofs and a heat pump plant that provides residents with heating and cooling. The neighbourhood of Augustenborg is known for its focus on climate adaptation and social and green regeneration initiatives. Hyllie for its smart energy solutions, Sege Park for its sharing economy, 

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Framing the future of urban resilience: An interview with Resilient Development Head Nazmul Huq

Ten years ago, ICLEI launched the first Resilient Cities Congress to respond to a growing and largely unaddressed need of local and regional governments to plan for the uncertain impacts of climate change in an integrated manner. Since then, resilience has gone from a fringe topic to a mainstream climate policy approach at all levels. 

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Key to Climate Fight: Involve Sub-National Governments in Each Step of Policy Development

The Daring Cities webinar on the ‘Role of Sub-national Governments in Advancing National Climate Goals and Beyond’ was organised by the ICLEI offices in South Asia, South-East Asia and other offices in the Asia-Pacific and with support from the Global LEDS Partnership. Watch here. Representatives from several national and sub-national governments participated in the event. 

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Moving back to greener pastures: why we need to protect high-altitude pasturelands

The Daring Cities webinar on Healthy High Altitude Pasturelands for Sustainable Development in Downstream Cities focused on the importance of high altitude pasturelands. Watch here. The high altitude pastureland and forest ecosystems provide a wide array of ecosystem services (provisional, regulating, cultural, supporting). These ecosystem services are critical for sustainable urban development in cities downstream. 

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CDKN webinars highlight knowledge brokering, climate finance and frontline experiences in battling the pandemic

ICLEI South Asia and SouthSouthNorth (SSN), under the Climate Development Knowledge Network-Knowledge Accelerator (CDKN-KA) project, organised three sessions over a fortnight in October during the Daring Cities 2020, a virtual global forum, to deliberate on the need to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. Given the climate urgency, the sessions discussed possible ways to 

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Managing waste: Create a circular economy for plastics

ICLEI South Asia and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) organised the Daring Cities webinar on ‘Enabling Circular Economy Through Reduction and Scientific Management of Plastic Waste’ to discuss the opportunities offered by circular economy measures to address the growing plastic waste menace. Watch here. Mr. Emani Kumar, Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia, set 

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The crucial role of local governments in South Korea’s bold actions towards carbon neutrality by 2050

On 5 June 2020, World Environment Day, 226 local governments in South Korea gathered at the national assembly to declare a climate emergency. One month later, on 7 July 2020, 80 sub-national governments (17 provincial and 63 local governments) launched the Korean Local Governments’ Action Alliance for Carbon-Neutrality and urged nation-wide action for carbon neutrality 

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Tracking progress en route from Madrid to Glasgow

In a parallel universe, we would be gathered this week in Glasgow for COP26, but instead we are facing a global pandemic that has disrupted life as we know it around the world. In the face of this challenge, we are forced to reimagine and redesign a new and healthier future for communities around the 

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Financing a post COVID-19 economy that’s green and inclusive

Cities are bearing the brunt of the combined effects of global warming and COVID-19. And far too many are contending with everything from limited health care systems to inadequate water sanitation services and transport systems to having enough space for public recreation and social distancing.  “These challenges are magnified in poorer communities where the pandemic 

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