The Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C Conference) is a virtual global and regional event that convenes science, innovation, policy, and practice united by a common objective: enabling cities to take accelerated and more ambitious climate action.
As communities worldwide tackle COVID-19 recovery and sociopolitical challenges in earnest, there is a real opportunity to build back better — with cleaner, more resilient, sustainable societies and a fairer world.
Underpinning the I4C Conference are key themes from the Global Research and Action Agenda (GRAA) on Cities and Climate Change Science. These broad topics – combined with prevailing issues and challenges such as the post-pandemic recovery, climate justice, and green strategies – continue to frame and inform discussions.
From the 2018 Edmonton Cities and Climate Change Science Conference – and the resulting Edmonton Declaration – to today’s updated City Research and Innovation Agenda, Innovate4Cities is driven by the efforts of GCoM alliance partners in shared pursuit of a safe, sustainable, and just world.
GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, uniting more than 11,700 cities and local governments in a coalition that also includes 100+ supporting partners. Together, the members of this network share a common long-term vision: supporting voluntary action to combat climate change in creating resilient, low-emissions societies.
In 90+ countries, UN-Habitat supports people in cities and human settlements reach for a better urban future. This largely involves addressing natural and manmade crises —building back greener, safer, more resiliently and inclusively. With governments and local partners, UN-Habitat projects harness world-class expertise and local knowledge in delivering timely, targeted solutions.
Regional curators
From across the globe, curatorial teams working and researching in the space between science and practice will brought valuable regional voices and perspective, share learnings and opportunities and highlight priority innovation pathways and partnerships to the table, all in service of the ambitious delivery of climate goals.
innovate4cities 2021
Building on the 2018 Edmonton Cities and Climate Change Science Conference and the resulting Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA), Innovate4Cities 2021 focused on the nexus between science and practice with a focus on innovation — vital to realizing ambitious climate action. The conference also closely examined local challenges and priority needs as well as cross-sector, cross-topic pathways to achieving success. This iteration of the conference promises to feature a much stronger focus on regional voices.
To find out more about the 2021 Edition of the conference click here.
Innovate4Cities: accelerating city climate action through research and innovation
Innovate4Cities is GCoM’s city-focused research and innovation initiative. Building on the GRAA, Innovate4Cities identifies and tackles the data, information, and technology gaps that cities have prioritized and – if addressed – would drive science-based, replicable, and sustainable action at the speed and scale the world needs and cities demand. Recognizing that no one sector or organization alone can realize the actions needed to limit global warming to 1.5ºC, Innovate4Cities builds partnerships across national and regional government, academia, business, and civil society to deliver on local needs and accelerate global action.
The Science and Innovation Steering Committee (SISC) and The Partners’ Network Organizing Committee (PNOC)
The I4C Conference and programming are supported by a Science and Innovation Steering Committee and a Partners’ Network Organizing Committee.
The Science and Innovation Steering Committee coordinates the substantive conference programme inputs and oversees the conference’s objectives and proceedings.
The Partners’ Network Organizing Committee is co-developing the conference programme through member and partner outreach, content development and linking relevant programming and initiatives.
