WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

The wait is over: Meet the 5 finalists for the 2023-2024 WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities #PrizeforCities! 🎉 These innovators are at the forefront of urban #climateresilience. Explore their transformative projects: https://bit.ly/4aOzXUx

Flooding in April and May wreaked havoc in Kenya and throughout East Africa. On June 18 the Kenya Red Cross reported that there were 294 fatalities, 162 missing persons, 101,132 affected households and 65,0377 acres of decimated farmland. How can Kenya increase resilience through #naturebasedsolutions? Our latest article written by Rebekah Shirley, Ph.D., Susan Onyango, Hellen Njoki Wanjohi-Opil and Obadiah Mungai highlights 4 measures the country needs to take: ✅ Adaptation Finance ✅ Nature-Based Solutions ✅ Early Warning Systems ✅ Community Engagement Read more ➡ https://bit.ly/4cuLgSO WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities WRI Africa.

Here's a reminder that nature-based solutions can spur urban resilience: 🌳Increasing tree cover 🥕Planting community gardens 🌆Greening rooftops 💦Enhancing permeable surfaces 🌱Implementing ecosystem-based protection via WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

🏢 #Buildings play a critical role in mitigating extreme heat waves, urban heat islands and local air pollution. Learn how #building design can improve urban resilience and quality of life for communities worldwide: https://bit.ly/3Xlhxan

🚧 The US Dept of Energy is investing $1.6 billion in 6 groundbreaking #cement projects that will avoid 4 million tons of emissions annually. Learn more about the projects being funded and if there's one near you: https://bit.ly/3Sh0TVQ

Studies show that #reforestation has a significant impact on local climate — lowering temperatures, encouraging rainfall and making communities more resilient. 🌳🌲🌳 For cities struggling with #extremeheat, reforestation can be a powerful #naturebasedsolution. Get the details: https://bit.ly/3Vf55pT

📢 Watch the 7th episode of The Urban Q podcast!       Jaya Dhindaw connects with Alain Bertaud (Senior Fellow, NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management), a renowned urbanist and researcher, to explore people-centered planning in cities. Alain highlights the pivotal role played by market forces in building accessible and responsive city infrastructure.   He points out that in addition to spatial and technical expertise, economic data is necessary to understand what makes cities work. Urban planners, architects, and economists, working together, could affect urban policy decisions for productive cities which cater to affordable housing needs and the preferences of all residents.    Tune in to the episode for a comprehensive exploration of the dynamics shaping our cities!  ▶ YouTube: https://bit.ly/4cPrOjL   🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/3LBDNFO        #TheUrbanQ #UrbanPlanning #EconomicPlanning #UrbanDevelopment #AffordableHousing #LiveableCities Madhav Pai  | Rogier van den Berg | Robin King | Sudeshna Chatterjee | Pablo Lazo | Anjali Mahendra | World Resources Institute | WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Urban heat is an intensifying challenge for cities. As climate change impacts unfold, cities are bearing the disproportionate impacts of the warming planet. And within cities, the effects of extreme heat vary widely and along socioeconomic lines. In more affluent communities, tree cover and more resilient building construction shield residents from the worst impacts, but in more economically vulnerable communities and informal settlements, lack of urban greenspaces and inadequate infrastructure, like steel roofs, magnify the impacts of heat. The challenges are great, but cities are not powerless in the face of intensifying heat. With equity at the center, cities can take proactive steps now to mitigate the worst impacts of heat and support health and wellbeing for their residents.      On August 13, join a dynamic webinar led by UrbanShift and World Resources Institute on how cities can take action against extreme heat. We’ll dive into data-informed approaches to assessing heat risk, and the range of innovative strategies and solutions that cities can employ to mitigate extreme heat, from green infrastructure to more efficient buildings to community-scale design.     Want to learn how to cool down our cities? Don’t miss this insightful webinar!  Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3SgSUYM Global Environment Facility UN Environment Programme WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities C40 Cities ICLEI

Oslo's Climate Budget wins: 📉💨 13% emissions reduction 🚴♂️📈 51% increase in cycling 🚶♀️🛡️ 0 pedestrian/cyclist deaths 🚍⚡️ Electrified public transport By integrating #climategoals into their budget, #Oslo sets a new standard for cities worldwide. Get the details: https://bit.ly/3WoNxt5 #PrizeforCities

💡🌆 From vision to real-world impact - WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities Global Director Rogier van den Berg discusses the enduring power of the #PrizeforCities: