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OnDemand Panel Debate: How to make climate action progress in cities of all sizes
How can cities create urban environments that are resilient and sustainable for the long term?
The threat posed by climate change means that every city on earth is facing the same challenge in how they plan their response to create urban environments that are resilient and sustainable for the long term.
Following the release of SmartCitiesWorld’s inaugural Cities Climate Action Report, produced in partnership with ThoughtLab, discover some of the key findings and hear from some of the cities profiled on what their climate goals, priorities and actions look like at this key stage of the climate crisis.
Together with these cities and lead sponsors on the report, we’ll take deep dive into:
- Future-proofing infrastructure to build urban climate resilience
- Transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources
- Mobility technology and encouraging modal shift
- Making the most of existing assets and data to progress climate action goals.
Speakers:
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James Nowlan Executive Director City of Toronto, Environment and Energy Division
James Nowlan is the Executive Director of Environment & Climate at the City of Toronto. He oversees the team responsible for the development of corporate environment and climate policies, such as TransformTO the City’s strategy to be net-zero by 2040, the Net-Zero Existing Buildings Strategy and the Electric Vehicle Strategy, working with many City of Divisions, agencies and external partners in the community. The Division also works on a number of innovative projects that support achieving City climate goals, and oversees a number of funding programs such as the Energy Retrofit Loan program and the Home Energy Loan Program.
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Victoria Simon Executive Officer for LA Mayor Garcetti’s Sustainability Office City of Los Angeles
Victoria supports the implementation of LA’s Green New Deal, the City’s sustainability plan to aggressively address the climate crisis, with a specific focus on water, urban ecosystems, resilience, and waste. She also oversees the Mayor’s Youth Council for Climate Action. Prior to this role, she produced the podcast Political Climate and provided policy consulting for state and national political campaigns. She helped create New York City’s first sustainability plan while serving in Mayor Bloomberg’s administration, and has served as Chief of Staff and Director of Energy Policy at the New York Power Authority. She is also a member of Southern California Public Radio (KPCC) Regional Advisory Council.
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Orren Shalit Director of Community ClimateView
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Hélène Chartier Director or Urban Planning and Design C40 Cities
Hélène Chartier is the Director of Urban Planning and Design at C40. The team she leads develops programs and activities that support cities to accelerate sustainable and resilient urban planning policies and design practices.
Her team leads the C40 Land Use Planning network which supports cities to institutionalise climate action through urban planning regulations; the Reinventing Cities competition that delivers decarbonised and resilient urban regeneration projects; as well as the Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods program and C40’s workstream on 15-minute City. |
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Harry Verhaar Head of Global Public & Government Affairs Signify
Harry Verhaar has over 30 years of experience in the lighting industry and is Head of Global Public & Government Affairs and Vice-President at Signify. He is responsible for the strategy, outreach and stakeholder management on energy & climate change, resource efficiency and sustainable development, with a key focus on the role of the LED lighting revolution. He is also the chairman of the Signify Foundation.
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Luke Antoniou Senior Editor SmartCitiesWorld
Luke has been reporting on the implementation of smart technologies that benefit the public and public sector for four years.
He has particularly keen interest in smart and sustainable mobility and its role in influencing the decisions of urban planners, citizens and governments alike. |
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Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
(Please note this is an experimental service)
How can cities effectively future-proof infrastructure for climate resilience?What strategies best support transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources?How does mobility technology encourage modal shifts in urban environments?In what ways can existing urban data optimize climate action progress?How can urban planning integrate 15-minute city concepts for sustainability?
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