Climate Hub Rio at the U20 Summit: Leading Discussions on Urban Resilience and Sustainability
Climate Hub Rio will lead key discussions on climate finance and urban resilience, advancing the city’s role in the global climate agenda.
Climate Hub Rio will play a prominent role in the upcoming Urban 20 Summit (U20 Summit) in Rio de Janeiro, which takes place right before the G20 Leaders’ Summit. This event gathers representatives from cities around the world to discuss innovative pathways for climate action and sustainable urban development. As part of the event’s official program, Climate Hub will facilitate important discussions on leveraging climate finance, enhancing urban resilience, and integrating sustainable planning frameworks.
The contributions of Climate Hub Rio to the U20 Summit highlight its commitment to urban climate resilience and tackling global climate challenges through local, science-based solutions. By aligning with the G20 agenda, Climate Hub Rio’s participation at the U20 underscores the significance of collaborative, city-led efforts in driving meaningful climate action and strengthening urban resilience in response to an evolving global climate landscape.
Leveraging Climate Finance for Urban Resilience
Our first session on November 14, titled "Leveraging Climate Finance to Strengthen Urban Resilience: Cities Leading the Change," aims to emphasize the crucial role that cities play in combating climate change. With over 70% of the global population now residing in urban areas, cities are on the front lines, facing the direct impacts of climate change while also pioneering innovative solutions. A recent report from UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience highlights the need to enhance the role of cities in national climate strategies, revealing that only 27% of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) currently focus on urban solutions.
The leadership demonstrated by Rio de Janeiro in the U20 alongside São Paulo underscores the importance of climate finance in empowering cities to achieve the ambitious goals set by the Paris Agreement. This session will foster productive discussions on financial mechanisms that can enhance cities’ capabilities to implement bold climate policies.
G20 and Sustainable Urban Development
On the morning of November 15, we will discuss sustainable urban development, governance, and policy in collaboration with the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). This session will mark the launch of the book "Sustainable Urban Development: Governance, Finance, and Policy," developed by CEBRI in partnership with the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro. This publication addresses multi-level governance, emphasizes the essential role of local governments, and investigates innovative financial mechanisms for sustainable urban initiatives. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders dedicated to promoting sustainable city development.
Several chapters have contributions from scholars at Columbia University, including Paul Gallay, Director of the Resilient Coastal Communities Program at the Center for Sustainable Urban Development, and Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Senior Staff Associate II at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), who will be attending the event.
Enhancing Urban Climate Resilience Leadership in Rio de Janeiro
In the afternoon session titled “Enhancing Urban Climate Resilience Leadership in Rio de Janeiro”, the Climate Hub Rio will lead discussions on bridging the gap between policy and science to foster urban resilience. This event comes at a crucial time, as cities worldwide strive to build comprehensive, science-backed strategies that prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities, especially those in Brazil and the Global South. Key speakers include Thomas Trebat, Director at CGC Rio; Marcus Belchior, CEO of Rio’s Operations Center; Daniel Mancebo, General Coordinator of the City Planning Office and Rio Climate Visitors Program alum; and Daniel Zarrilli, Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer at Columbia University.
As part of an ongoing research project led by Columbia’s Cynthia Rosenzweig and financed by the Climate Hub Rio and the Municipality of Rio, this session will explore urban climate initiatives like Rio's Sustainable Corridors and strategies from the Urban Climate Change Research Network's (UCCRN) workshops. By identifying synergies and encouraging collaboration among local and global city leaders, the event aims to generate resilient, net-zero pathways for urban areas, contributing actionable insights toward the U20’s goals.
The “Cities Summit” will conclude the Climate Hub Rio’s participation by bringing together urban planners, public administrators, and sustainability experts from cities in Brazil and around the world. This session aims to foster dialogue on how to implement and monitor the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda at the local level. Key topics will include citizen-centered urban planning and the sharing of best practices for building resilient, sustainable cities.
Moderated by Thomas Trebat, this session will focus on initiatives that promote sustainable city planning, including the proposal for a National Forum on Sustainable City Planning. The participation of notable figures such as Daniel Mancebo will offer valuable insights for local governments striving to implement effective sustainable policies.