2020•10•06     Bonn, Germany

Photo: Unsplash/Jurriaan Snikkers

UNU-EHS is the main research partner for Daring Cities 2020, an action-oriented forum, designed to empower urban leaders to tackle the climate crisis. The conference is organized by Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the City of Bonn, and it takes place virtually 7 – 28 October 2020. It is directed at mayors, city councilors, administrators, and urban thought leaders, as well as researchers, technical staff, business leaders, civil society decision-makers, community organizers and national government representatives, and it will showcase and catalyze exemplary local climate action.

UNU-EHS and ICLEI have recently struck up a partnership in an effort to advance evidence-based research on sustainability, urban issues, and bridge this gap between knowledge sharing.

A central question of their partnership is: How can research support urban leaders in adapting their cities to the consequences of climate change?
We know we must adapt to the consequences of climate change. We also have an idea in which sectors and how this can happen. Nevertheless, we are not making enough progress so far, despite a large number of publications and research outputs available.

How do we bridge the gap between science and action? Where would city leaders like to see more support from research, policy and international advocacy? What are the most promising leverage points to solve the urban climate crisis? These are questions that UNU-EHS and ICLEI would like to address at the Daring Cities Forum.

To this end, three sessions have been designed by UNU-EHS and ICLEI to share cutting-edge research and best practices, inform on capacity development materials available and thereby strengthen the dialogue between researchers and city leaders. They will focus on ways to reduce urban vulnerabilities from natural hazards and climate change, including holistic planning, introducing nature-based solutions, and establishing new stakeholder coalitions. This is based on the realization that sustainable change can only be achieved when social factors are taken into account and communities have an active role in the process.

These three joint UNU-ICLEI sessions at Daring Cities are as follows:

Friday, 9 October, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CEST: Addressing Climate Risks through Planning in Growing Cities

Tuesday, 20 October, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m CEST: Nature-Based Solutions For Cities – What Are They And How Can Their Uptake Be Increased?

Tuesday, 27 October, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. CEST: Decarbonizing Cities: How To Build Coalitions And Get People On Board,

In addition to the sessions hosted, UNU-EHS speakers will be involved in two further activities:

Wednesday, 7 October, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CEST: UNU-EHS Director Dr. Shen Xiaomeng will speak at the Opening, Session 2.

Tuesday, 13 October, 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. CEST: Senior Researcher Dr. Kees van der Geest will be a speaker in the session @BonnGlobal: Climate, Migration and Role of Networked Science – Stories from the Field

To visit the Daring Cities website and register for the conference and individual sessions, please click here.

To read more about UNU-EHS’ involvement with Daring Cities, please click here.