Science and Innovation partnerships driving inclusive, resilient, and climate-neutral cities.
October 11–15, 2021 / Online
UN-Habitat and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) invite you to be part of Innovate4Cities 2021 this October. Also known as I4C, Innovate4Cities 2021 is a virtual global and regional event that promises to bring together science and innovation, policy and practice united by a common objective: enabling cities to take accelerated and more ambitious climate action.
Across the globe, as societies tackle COVID-19 recovery in earnest, there is a real opportunity to build back better — to build cleaner, more resilient, sustainable societies and a fairer world.
Aligned with other international conferences, events and consultations focused on complementary themes, Innovate4Cities 2021 is strategically timed. It will follow marquee events, including Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), and the Convention on Biological Diversity. It will precede arguably the biggest climate change event taking place this year, virtually and on a limited in-person basis in Glasgow, namely the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) discussions this November.
I4C’s key theme is the Global Research and Action Agenda. Discussions stemming from this broader theme will address more specific topics, such as post-pandemic recovery, climate justice and green strategies.
GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, uniting more than 10,000 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 bring 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 will focus on the nexus between science and practice with a focus on innovation — vital to realizing ambitious climate action. The conference will also closely examine 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.
Innovate4cities initiative
Innovate4Cities is GCoM’s city-focused research and innovation initiative. An outcome of Edmonton 2018, based on the Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA), the Initiative’s focus is on answering the most pressing questions posed by cities and local governments when evaluating why and how to take climate action. That extends to defining and addressing knowledge and innovation gaps and opportunities. Creating meaningful partnerships between and among members of the scientific and academic communities, business and government is also at the heart of the Innovate4Cities Initiative; experience shows that partnerships are vital in overcoming many barriers local governments face in taking real climate action.
sisc and 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.
