UrbanShift: Catalysing Climate Action with Nature-Positive Cities

UrbanShift: Catalysing Climate Action with Nature-Positive Cities

Date & Time: Tuesday 15 November, 13:30-15:00 EET

Location: GCF-GEF Pavilion (Zone C - Pavilion P122) Blue Zone, Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, Egypt

Livestreaming link: https://gcfgefcop.org/ 

Organised by: United Nations Environment Programme, Global Environment Facility, World Resources Institute, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, C40 Cities - as a contribution to UrbanShift.

Event Description

Nature is at the heart of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, and the way we build our cities exacerbates land use change and ecosystem degradation. For cities to make peace with nature and achieve a climate-proof urban future that supports both people and the planet, business as usual is not an option: new planning and governance models that foster a healthier relationship with nature are crucial, and we need to implement them with all hands-on deck.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) can help cities leverage ecosystem services to counter climate risks, contribute to global climate goals, and protect the most vulnerable. NbS rooted in local context can offer an array of co-benefits for health, stronger food and water security, cleaner air, reduced risks from extreme heat and flooding. Despite its benefits to achieve global climate, biodiversity and land degradation targets, in 2020 nature received 0.3% of spending on urban infrastructure. Unlocking considerable investments at local, national and global level is urgently needed to enable further scale-up of NbS in cities. 

Nature-positive and climate-proof urban development can only be scaled up through multi-level governance, effective business models, and integrated approaches. The UrbanShift programme supports more than 23 cities in nine countries in building equitable, low-carbon futures and seeks to accelerate a movement of nature-positive urban development among cities that reverberates around the world. 

This session will showcase ongoing efforts from champion UrbanShift countries and cities in leveraging nature-based approaches to take urgent climate action. It will highlight opportunities to scale up climate action at the local level and increase investments in nature, to build urban futures where both people and planet can thrive. The event will enable exchanges on best practices between local and national governments and global experts, across regions.

Session’s Objectives

• Showcase best practices in deployment of nature-based solutions and climate action leadership of UrbanShift cities and countries, and other champion cities
• Raise ambition of local and national governments in delivering sustainable urbanisation practices that support nature positive urban development, climate mitigation, and increased resilience for urban communities
• Highlight opportunities to increase financing for NbS in the context of sustainable urbanisation as a contribution to climate ambition and SDGs achievement