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Empowering Park Cities--Harnessing NbS, Parks, & Urban Forestry for Climate Intelligence and Socio-Economic Growth

Nan Shi

Moderator

date November 5, 2024 | 13:00 - 14:30
place
Multipurpose room 06
organization
Research Centre of Park City Index
country
China
language
English
Reference: 
NE 06-01

Summary

Reports widely acknowledge that human activities, particularly the destruction of natural habitats for agriculture, timber, urbanization and resource extraction, have overwhelmingly impacted nature. The 2024 WEF Global Risks Report confirms that environmental risks remain predominant, with extreme weather, critical changes to Earth systems, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, natural resource scarcity and pollution among the top 10 most severe risks expected over the next decade.
In response, urban researchers have proposed various development models, such as the garden city, reflecting human ideals for harmonious urban living with nature. Over the past decades, more and more cities have recognized the resilience contribution made by urban parks, forests, and river basins. These explorations have gradually evolved into the Park City concept, with cities like London, Milan, Adelaide, São Paulo, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Shenzhen actively pursuing Park City initiatives.
Recognizing the urgent need to identify and mitigate climate resilience risks, particularly in global south cities, this event aims to bridge the gap in interdisciplinary programmatic solutions at the city level while emphasizing the importance of cross-disciplinary, multi-scale collaboration to address the most pressing issues.
Co-organized by the Research Center of Park City Index (RCPCI), FAO and the City of São Paulo, this event builds upon RCPCI's decade-long efforts to establish a systematic framework for urban development. The event seeks to refine this framework based on collective knowledge from multiple perspectives to facilitate the realization of SDG11, 13, and 15.
With a focus on the potential of cities and international/regional organizations in addressing climate change, the event will explore the interactions between cities and nature. We will exchange experiences in urban sustainable development with experts from local governments, academic institutions, corporate think tanks, and other sectors. Also, this event is an opportunity to build communication networks with agencies sharing similar aspirations. This network will facilitate future knowledge exchange and ongoing cooperation in tool development and case studies for global south cities to enable a holistic, balanced and sustainable approach to urban development.
Target Audience:
1.Local government officials and community leaders involved in local governance and economic advocacy.
2.Stakeholders working on climate resilience and greening of cities, including those engaged in public space planning, river and waterfront regeneration and urban forestry.
3.Academics and experts from corporate think tanks specializing in urban studies, sustainability and environmental sciences.
4.Delegates of donor organizations interested in investing in or sponsoring climate-resilient initiatives.
5.Professionals from the urban planning and building sectors interested in NbS and urban forestry interventions.

Objectives

The main goal of this event is to convene stakeholders from various sectors to collaborate, share knowledge, and identify innovative solutions for promoting climate-resilient urban development and green infrastructure.
1.Facilitating knowledge exchange: Provide a platform for sharing insights, experiences, and best practices among diverse stakeholders involved in urban development, environmental conservation, and climate resilience.
2.Promoting collaboration: Foster partnerships and collaboration among local governments, NGOs, academia, private sector entities, and donor organizations to address the challenges of urbanization and climate change.
3.Raising awareness: Increase awareness about the importance of integrating nature-based solutions, sustainable urban planning, and climate adaptation strategies in urban development initiatives.
4.Showcasing innovations: Showcase innovative technologies, policies, and projects that contribute to climate-resilient urban development and green infrastructure.
5.Identifying opportunities: Identify opportunities for investment, funding, and support for climate-resilient urban development projects and initiatives.
6.Generating commitments: Encourage participants to make commitments and pledges towards advancing climate-resilient urban development goals and initiatives.

Session panelists

Panelist
Role
Organization
Country
Mr. Simone Borelli
Urban Forestry Officer & Coordinator, the FAO Green Cities Initiative Forestry Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Mr. Rodrigo Ravena
Secretary, São Paulo Municipal Secretariat of Green and the Environment
Municipality of the City of Sao Paulo
Ms. Hellen Wanjohi
Climate & Engagement Lead (Cities), World Resources Institute-Africa
World Resources Institute-Africa
Ms. Livia Shamir
Director, Research Department of Stefano Boeri Architetti
Stefano Boeri Architetti