Climate Policy Initiative’s Post

With adequate financing and establishment of effective policies, infrastructure can be used as a tool for capacity development across all levels and government sectors. This means that as opposed to tax and revenue collection, the government, in collaboration with other sectors, must be involved in urban development and investment in infrastructure, to tackle the surge in urban population. "As we mark World Cities day, let's resolve to work together for urban areas that are not only engines of growth but beacons of sustainability, resilience, and prosperity for all." #WorldCitiesday #sustainabledevelopment #sustainable #urbandevelopment #sgeinitiative

Infrastructure: it's a question of scale. Can decentralised infrastructure solve the ongoing decline in infrastructure services and assets? The major benefit of decentralised infrastructure is that there is no single point of failure (think Eskom). This not only applies to service delivery inadequacies but the impacts of climate-related extreme weather events too. Both climate action and infrastructure investment are urgently needed. Read more in Green Economy Journal Issue 61: https://bitly.ws/34BdA #greenbuilding #greeninfrastructure #decentralisation #naturebasedsolutions Llewellyn van Wyk #greeneconomy

Ministers need to think of #devolution as an iterative process that will be refined over time, writes Cllr John Merry, chair of #KeyCities and deputy mayor of Salford City Council in his latest Local Government Chronicle op-ed.               Local authorities are already taking decisive action over #climatechange, with notable examples of success including:                            -Newport City Council's local community partnership to generate 100% #renewableenergy via solar panels across 27 sites                                           -Lancaster City Council's #energy consumption data dashboard     -Doncaster Council's regional #hydrogen logistics systems, one of the UK’s first.     Devolving more power to local authorities who know and understand their local contexts is key to pushing through many important policies which can change people’s lives by tackling the climate challenges we face. "Our net zero ambitions can be achieved with support and commitment from central government...but ministers must act, and act quickly." He argues. "Delay is not an option." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eUaQ3sQZ  #cities #towns #climate #energy #devolution #levellingup #community #local #urban #localauthority #council #government #uk

We’re pleased to share the Resilient Cities Index 2023, a new study sponsored by Tokio Marine Group and developed by Economist Impact. Assessing 25 cities globally, it examines critical infrastructure, environment, socio-institutional, and economic pillars to provide insights into resilience. 🌍🏙️ Tokio Marine supports this research to empower policymakers, city planners, and communities in formulating targeted strategies for thriving amid challenges. Explore the rankings: https://lnkd.in/gJKGK8dF #TokioMarineGroup #ResilientCitiesIndex #ResilientCities

This #WorldHabitatDay let’s celebrate not just our cities but also their potential to be engines of sustainable growth and recovery. #CitiesAreReady and need #Finance4Change There is a missing link in the global fight against climate change: Finance for local action. It's crucial to center our conversation around this pressing issue that intersects both urban development and global well-being. While cities have been leading the charge in creating sustainability initiatives—whether it's through #renewableenergyprojects, efficient public transportation systems, or adaptive #urbanplanning—there is still a glaring issue that hampers progress: #financing. To move from planning to implementation, from vision to reality, cities need more than just political will; they need capital. Investments in climate projects within cities aren’t just a moral imperative but a financial one. Sustainable infrastructure not only mitigates the risks from climate-related disasters but can also offer a strong economic return. This is why #climatefinance is not giving money away; it’s an investment with considerable short and long-term dividends. The #citiesareready. Are you? https://lnkd.in/eYHXHydm

#netzeropathways: Ready to turn your #ESG #climate #nature commitments into actions? Join us on February 27 for part two of our three-part webinar series for cities and municipalities, as we explore #decarbonization pathways to a low-carbon future: • What strategic plans have been put in place to transition from high-level commitments to tangible actions? How are you securing needed approvals and financing for key investments? • Is your operating model ready for a low-carbon economy? • Is there sufficient organizational knowledge to drive and implement change? How are you ensuring the allocation of adequate resources to meet these commitments? Register today!

More Canadian municipalities are considering implementing #embodiedcarbon limits. Join us on Nov. 28 to discuss why and how embodied carbon reductions can be achieved at a city scale. Register now: https://ow.ly/J8lX50Q8q0n #AcceleratingToZero

More Canadian municipalities are considering implementing #embodiedcarbon limits. Join us on Nov. 28 to discuss why and how embodied carbon reductions can be achieved at a city scale. Register now: https://ow.ly/J8lX50Q8q0n #AcceleratingToZero

#Funding Act now to bridge the gap! The City Climate Finance Gap Fund is offering support to cities for early-stage technical assistance in developing low-carbon and climate-resilient urbanization plans and projects. Learn more and apply by December 13, 2023: https://lnkd.in/d2TBpr4z #ClimateAction #Urbanization #FinanceGapFund

Elites Going Off-Grid? The Unequal Power of Infrastructure Choice in South African Cities The Gauteng City-Region Observatory's NRF-funded "Off-Grid Cities" project tackles a thought-provoking question: what happens when the wealthy disconnect from public utilities? This project explores the social and environmental implications of this trend. Here's why this matters: 1. Widening Inequality: Elite "secession" from state-provided infrastructure can exacerbate existing inequalities in resource allocation. 2. Climate Change Impact: The project examines how off-grid solutions by the wealthy might affect overall climate goals and broader city-wide sustainability goals. We need to understand if these trends are truly sustainable in the long run. 3. Social Justice & Climate Action: The Off-Grid Cities project brings a new perspective to climate change discussions in developing countries. It highlights how decisions by privileged groups can impact resource allocation across the entire city and underscores the need for a more inclusive approach to achieving both environmental and social justice in urban spaces. The project delves deeper by: - Analysing how elite infrastructure choices are impacting the provision and consumption of essential services. - Examining the policies and programmes of government stakeholders responsible for infrastructure. - Contributing to climate change scholarship by introducing a social justice lens to understand resource allocation in unequal cities. Want to learn more? Join us on Monday, 22 July, from 10:00 -12:00 [SAST] for an engaging online knowledge exchange event and share your thoughts. Politics and Urban Governance Research Group (PUG) Register here: https://lnkd.in/gKeksUx9 and check out the project website here: https://lnkd.in/eQG9T-a2 [Image courtesy of Johnny Miller: https://lnkd.in/e-sfUkFZ] #ClimateJustice #SocialJustice #UrbanSustainability #SouthAfrica