In addition to Africities, the 21st United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) is also a major event for the Cities Alliance partnership. For the first time in over 20 years of United Nations negotiations, COP21 will aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate. The event is being held in Paris, France 7-8 December 2015.
Within that context, COP21 is a fitting place for the Cities Alliance to announce a new Joint Work Programme on Resilient Cities. This new Joint Work Programme will include over 14 international development partners to highlight and address the relationship between resilience and poverty.
The Cities Alliance Joint Work Programme will also partner with the Medellin Collaboration on Urban Resilience (MCUR), a global partnership formed at the World Urban Forum in 2014 to build urban resilience. The MCUR partners collectively work in over 2,000 cities globally and commit more than $2 billion annually toward advancing resilient urban development.
Joint Work Programme on Resilient Cities Events:
- “Launch of Guiding Principles for City Climate Action Planning,” 4 December, 10:00 – 11:00 Blue Zone Studio
- “Launch of the Joint Work Programme on Resilient Cities,” 8 December, 16:30 – 17:30 at the Cities and Regions Pavilion, Workshop Room
Joint Work Programme on Habitat III Events:
The Cities Alliance Joint Work Programme on Habitat III is also supporting two high-level events at COP21. Through these events, the Joint Work Programme – which aims to create and deliver a common set of priority messages for Habitat III – will share the message that Habitat III is an opportunity to further consider climate change through an urban lens. Both sessions are being organised by UN-Habitat.
They are:
- A high-level event “Cities Take Climate Action” on 7 December 15:00-16:30 at the Cities and Regions Pavilion, in the Green Zone. Moderated by Al Jazeera English host Femi Oke, the panel will include UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos and Cities Alliance Director William Cobbett, among other high-level delegates.
- “Financing Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Urban Projects” on 9 December 16:00-17:30 at Cities and Regions Pavilion. This event will showcase the roles, opportunities and constraints faced by Cities Alliance members and cities in developing and financing urban climate investments.
Both events will contribute to the dialogue on climate action in cities, highlight the importance of cities in tackling and preparing for climate change, and offer direction to this discussion following COP21.
