Explore this FAQ to learn more about how I4C drives science-based and technology-driven climate action worldwide by identifying and sharing local knowledge, fostering innovation, and creating partnerships. Discover how we equip cities with the necessary tools and networks to implement sustainable solutions that meet global climate goals and address the specific needs of urban environments.
The Innovate4Cities (I4C) Conference is a 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. Held previously in 2018 and 2021, the 2024 Global Conference will deliver various opportunities to present climate scenarios, propose solutions, and offer updates on progress and action taken since the inception of I4C in 2018.
The 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C24) is a platform for alignment of local level governance networks to extend beyond their sector across local, regional, and national level actors to discuss with academia and the private sector the necessary actions to catalyze city-focused research and innovation, facilitate partnerships for early-stage implementation accelerators and enable urban innovation. I4C24 returns from the 2021 virtual format to an event held primarily in-person, taking place at Le Westin Montréal, in Montréal, Quebec, Canada from September 10th-12th 2024.
Innovate4Cities (I4C) is a core initiative of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), running in concurrence with the Invest4Cities and Data4Cities initiatives. It is the role of I4C to identify and tackle the data, information, and technology gaps prioritized by cities and local governments for climate action. I4C is positioned to facilitate science-based, technology-driven, replicable sustainable action and implementation at local level, across the world.
Your city/local government does not need to be a GCoM signatory to be involved in the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference . If you are interested in finding out more, you can click here.
For more information about becoming a signatory of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, please click here.
The Global Research & Action Agenda (GRAA) helps frame the need to catalyze action and implementation, focuses on new and emerging research gaps for the topical areas and cross-cutting issues, and hones in on regional insights to highlight variation in research and implementation gaps across different contexts.
The City Research and Innovation Agenda (CRIA) identifies and tackles the data, information, and technology gaps that cities have prioritized and, if addressed, would drive science-based, technology-driven, replicable sustainable action and implementation at the scale the world needs and cities demand.
As new participants register, the range of offerings will continue to grow for all participants. Public sector participants will offer opportunities for innovative sustainability practices in urban governance, private sector will offer goods and services to deploy in the interest of sustainable practices, and academia brings the opportunity to supplement these efforts under the GRAA/CRIA with iterative efforts in data collection, analysis, and synthesis of research to develop new innovations for application. The I4C24 provides a platform to generate knowledge around policy, research, and innovation gaps at the nexus of city climate action that feeds into longer-term engagement opportunities through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and UNHabitat cooperation.
Cities and local governments are crucial to creating pathways that achieve low-emission, resilient, and safe communities around the world. Converting your ambition into action, however, often requires partnerships, expertise, capacity, and knowledge of business, academia, and civil society to implement your plans. Innovate4Cities Marketplaces allow cities and local governments like yours to:
Businesses and private sector organizations are sharing their expertise, intellectual capital, and investment with the aim to forge ahead with urban climate change solutions at unprecedented scale. Investors play a crucial role in catalyzing local actions across all stages of project development. Uncovering investment opportunities, however, takes time, especially when ensuring a thorough due diligence process to evaluate fit-for-purpose investments. Maximizing returns on both climate response and enterprise performance goals, often requires knowledge and close collaboration with cities, local governments, and research institutions. Innovate4Cities Marketplaces allow businesses and investors to:
With ever-greater need to fill knowledge gaps and co-design research and solutions at the intersection of cities, policy, and climate science, academia is a core piece of the urban sustainability puzzle.The Innovate4Cities 2021 Conference highlighted that accelerated recruitment of urban scholars, city focused climate scientists and graduate research students are critical. Innovate4Cities Marketplaces allow research institutions, academics, graduate researchers to:
The composition and function of civil society is dictated by the spaces it occupies, and for sustainable, vibrant, successful societies to emerge and persist, active engagement is required to form both the conceptual discourse and physical environment in which we interact. Innovation is a response to necessity, and needs from civil society must be clearly understood to be addressed in coordination with the public sector, private sector, and the research community working to solve existing issues in urban environments. The 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference will allow non-governmental organizations and civil society stakeholders to:
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)’s three core initiatives focus on generating the next generation of knowledge, data, tools, and technical support for local policymakers to tackle sustainability challenges and contribute to a global climate solution.
Innovate4Cities delivers a nexus point between decision-makers and solutions providers,
Invest4Cities is GCoM’s platform to facilitate and mobilize cities’ access to climate finance and technical assistance for critical investment in urban climate change mitigation and resilience projects.
Data4Cities is the evidence-based foundation to measure and manage cities and local governments’ climate ambition and progress in a standard and consistent way as a means to drive innovation and investment.
Announced at COP26, the Urban Transitions Mission is a global initiative with the goal to catalyze action and investment in research and development and make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible to all this decade. This will accelerate progress towards the Paris Agreement goals and pathways to net zero.
This mission represents a collective effort of national-level government participants to address the urban innovation needs Innovate4Cities is designed to help us with . Mission Innovation (MI) is a global initiative of 23 countries and the European Commission (on behalf of the European Union)
Register your interest for the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference and join the GCoM network. As supporting events take place leading into the Innovate4Cities 2024 conference, develop an understanding of the scope of urban innovation required around the world through GCoM members and partner institutions. Expressions of interest for marketplace offerings may be submitted here.
The Cities and Climate Change Science Conference (CitiesIPCC Conference) took place from 5-7 March 2018, in Edmonton, Canada. The proposal for this conference was approved by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2016 and subsequently co-organized by a diverse group of organizations, including UN-Habitat, UN Environment (UNEP), C40, Cities Alliance, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), Future Earth, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). The conference brought together over 750 participants, including researchers, practitioners and policymakers.
The proceedings of Cities & Climate Change Science Conference held in 2018 are available here. and the resulting 2019 Global Research and Action Agenda for Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA) can be found here.
Building on the 2018 Edmonton Cities and Climate Change Science Conference and the resulting Global Research and Action Agenda (GRAA) on Cities and Climate Change Science, the Innovate4Cities 2021 Conference (I4C 2021) focused on the nexus of science, practice, and innovation – including local challenges, priority needs, and cross-sector opportunities to realize ambitious climate action.
The event highlighted more than 500 urban innovative solutions to address climate change and brought together more than 7000 practitioners, researchers, policymakers, innovators, youth, and business leaders to deliver a strong message on the knowledge and partnerships needed to raise climate ambition.
The Innovate4Cities 2021 Conference was co-hosted by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and UN-Habitat, and co-sponsored by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The Innovate4Cities 2021 Conference proceedings are available for review here.
For an understanding of the insights & outcomes of the I4C Marketplace activities informing the 2024 I4C Conference agenda, the report is available here.
Insret language here
The Innovate4Cities conference will be held from September 10-12, 2024, at Le Westin in Montréal, Canada.
This venue serves as both the conference site and a hotel, providing the convenience of booking your stay at the same location. After registering, you will receive a link to access an exclusive accommodation offer at Le Westin Montréal.
The deadline for submitting session abstracts has passed. The submissions have been reviewed, and selected session abstracts have received email notifications.
Yes, tea, coffee, snacks and lunch will be provided during the three days of the conference. All food served will be vegetarian. Breakfast can be booked with your accommodation at Le Westin Montréal. For dinner, there are multiple restaurants near the hotel venue. Visit this website for dining options in Montréal https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/food and this website for vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Montréal https://www.happycow.net/searchmap?s=3&location=Montreal%2C+Quebec%2C+Canada&metric=mi&limit=81&order=default&lat=45.5001&lng=-73.6825&zoom=11&page=1
The details of the three-day schedule are currently being finalized and will be published on the website soon.
We aim to have screens, microphones, speakers and interpretation services in every plenary and break-out room. Details are being finalized and will be updated on the website.
Yes, a mobile app will be available to registered participants for the conference, providing attendees with the latest updates, schedules, and live streaming. Details on how to download the app will be shared closer to the event.
To deregister and make your spot available to someone else, please use the link found in the confirmation email you received upon registering.
While in-person attendance is highly encouraged, we are offering limited virtual participation. Some sessions will be live-streamed, and a mobile app will be available to allow virtual attendees to submit questions and engage with the conference.
French is the primary language spoken in Montréal. However, English is widely spoken, especially in business and tourist areas, making it easy for English-speaking visitors to communicate.
It is customary to greet people with a friendly “Bonjour” (hello) and to say “Merci” (thank you) when receiving service. Tipping of waiters and taxi drivers is generally expected (around 15% of the bill).
Montréal is a generally accessible city with public transportation options, including buses and some metro stations, equipped for individuals with disabilities. The conference venue, Le Westin Montréal, is fully accessible and provides accessible hotel rooms. For more information on accessible activities and adapted accommodations in Montréal, visit https://lequebecpourtous.com/en/montreal-awaits-you/.
Montréal is great to visit year-round, but the best time generally is from late spring to early fall (May to October) when the weather is pleasant. During our conference in September, the average temperature in Montréal is 16ºC, reaching highs of 23ºC in the peak of the afternoon and dropping to a chilly 9ºC at night. You’ll need some warmer clothes for the evenings.
Business casual attire is recommended. Traditional or cultural dress is also welcome.
Essentials include (digital) business cards, a notebook, a laptop or tablet, and any necessary presentation materials. Don’t forget a reusable water bottle and comfortable shoes for walking.
Canada uses a standard voltage of 120V and a frequency of 60Hz. The plug types are A and B. If your devices use a different voltage or plug type, please bring an adapter.
Explore Old Montreal, visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, hike up Mount Royal, or enjoy the vibrant nightlife on St. Laurent Boulevard or Crescent Street.
For more information on activities in Montréal, visit Tourisme Montréal’s website: https://www.mtl.org/en You can download the official tourist guide and map here: https://www.mtl.org/en/city/visitor-information/resources-visiting-city
Montréal has good internet connectivity. The conference venue, along with most cafes and public spaces, offers free Wi-Fi.
For emergencies, dial 911 for police, fire, or medical assistance.
Visitors entering Canada must present a valid passport and, in most cases, a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Find out what documents you need to enter Canada here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada.html
After registration, you may receive a visa support letter to assist with your visa application process.
The nearest airport is the Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), located about 20 kilometers or a 20 minutes drive from the conference venue.
The conference will be held at Le Westin Montréal. We recommend staying at this hotel for convenience. After registration, you will receive a link to access an exclusive offer for accommodation at Le Westin Montréal.
It is recommended to arrive in Montréal at least one day before the conference begins. On the first day of the conference, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow time for registration and finding your way around.
Montréal offers a variety of transportation options, including buses, the metro (subway), taxis, ride-sharing services like Uber, and BIXI public bike rentals. The city has over 750 kilometers of bike paths. The metro operates daily from 5.30 a.m. to 1 a.m.. For more information visit https://www.mtl.org/en/city/visitor-information/getting-around.
It is recommended to have travel insurance that covers health, trip cancellations, and lost luggage, especially if traveling internationally.
To develop a methodology or process flow to assess the risks and vulnerabilities of Brazilian cities to climate hazards like heat extremes, droughts, sea level rise, and floods. Solutions should help cities understand their climate risks and prioritize impactful actions.
No. However, the methodology should be designed in a way that is scalable to cities and local governments in other countries and regions.
The evaluation criteria is based on four components: Innovation, Impact, Feasibility and Presentation. A board of judges was appointed to review the submissions according to said criteria.
Yes, participants will receive support from experts during the expert roundtable sessions taking place on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of July and the Q&A session on the 13th of August. If you miss these sessions the recordings will be available on the website.
Up to ten teams will be selected to present their solutions at the Innovate4Cities Conference on 12 September 2024. At the conference the best three ideas will be selected and showcased. The team or participant with the best idea will receive mentorship and networking opportunities within the GCoM Alliance for a period of 3 months to further develop their idea.
Follow our official social media channels and subscribe to our newsletter. Registered participants will receive email updates.
Reach out to our support team at support@innovate4cities.org
We are looking for participation from developers, data scientists, students currently enrolled in an academic institution, and practitioners who are working in the artificial intelligence and climate action space. We encourage collaboration between climate scientists and practitioners.
No. However, participants are encouraged to form teams before and during the hackathon.
There is no limit to the number of participants of a team. We encourage participant looking to team up to send a pitch to the organizing team that will be shared on the weekly update emails.
No. Please submit as many ideas as you think might be relevant to tackle the challenge.
The hackathon is fully hybrid and will take place from 16 July to 12 August. If you are one of the up to ten selected finalists you will be invited to pitch your idea virtually or in-person at the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference held in Montreal, Canada on 12 September, 2024.
23rd August 2024.
No, unless there is an extension to the deadline.
No, registration for the hackathon is done via the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference platform and is therefore free of charge.
We expect eligible participants to cover their own costs to attend the conference if they want to participate in person.
Yes, the hackathon is hybrid so selected finalists are welcome to showcase their entry virtually. We just ask that you ensure a representative from your team will be available to present on the 12th of September in case you are selected.
Yes, we will be able to issue a letter of invitation to help facilitate the visa application process.
