2024 Innovate4Cities Conference

Co-hosted by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and UN-Habitat, the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference is convening leaders from academia, government, civil society, and industry to bridge the gap between city climate ambition and tangible action. 

The Conference is set to inspire meaningful dialogue and actionable solutions driving toward a more sustainable future in cities. 

Cities Alliance will co-host the following events:

• Equitable, Just, and Inclusive Nature-based Solutions in informal and low-income urban communities. Tuesday, 10 September 2024 at 1.30 pm Montreal (GMT -4) - watch recording

• The Centrality of Informality: recognizing the innovation and transformative potential of informal areas for sustainable climate action in cities. Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at 4.00 pm Montreal (GMT -4) - watch recording

   

Watch the live stream 

Some of the key highlights and expected outcomes of the event include:

1. Elevating the discussion on climate science and cities. There will be ample opportunity for discovery and meaningful exchanges at I4C24, confirming the leading role that Innovate4Cities has in curating knowledge on cities and climate change science. With over 100 20 and 30-minutes sessions, attendees will be able to explore the full spectrum of topics related to climate science and cities. Deep dive and networking sessions will allow for in-depth discussions on the critical challenges and solutions in fostering sustainable, climate-resilient cities.

2. Advancing scientific research and policy integration. A major focus of I4C24 will be on understanding and disseminating the latest scientific climate research. This knowledge will be crucial for informing policies and contributing to key climate processes, including the upcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change & Cities.

3. Fostering innovative solutions. While advancing knowledge is a critical part of Innovate4Cities, the conference also provides a platform for creative discussions, enabling participants to exchange views on challenges, solutions, and pathways forward. With such a collaborative environment, there’s ample opportunity to reconnect and form new alliances to accelerate innovative cross-sector solutions.

4. Strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships to bridge science and action. The Conference is designed to bring diverse stakeholders together, from academia and industry to government and civil society. One of the themes of the Conference is Multi-level Governance and Partnership, so the Conference will showcase the diverse types of knowledge and science needed for cross-sectoral and multilevel governmental collaborations, emphasizing interactions between government and business stakeholders to foster networked resilience across cities and advance transformative climate change responses.

5. Energizing and mobilizing people. The conference aims to inspire those who can join us especially in Montréal. With a thoughtfully designed programme, expect to gain a lot of knowledge on climate change and cities, actionable insights to implement in respective fields, and to be energized by the passion of speakers and other attendees.
    

Text: Innovate4Cities