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Presentation

International Environmental Law

Cities and Climate Change in the Context of COP21

TimeLoc

2 November 2015

Shanghai

China

Susanne Langsdorf

At the International Symposium on COP21, Susanne Langsdorf spoke about the role non-state actors can play in international climate negotiations, with a focus on cities. While by definition non-state actors cannot be subject of international law; the Lima-Paris Action Agenda, the "Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action" and activities such as the "non-state actor zone for climate action" provide new options for non-state actors to play a role in the climate negotiations. The presentation "Cities and Climate Change in the context of COP21" is available for download.Read more

Project

Cities

Climate

Sustainability

Post-Carbon Cities of Tomorrow in Germany (POCACITO in Germany)

November 2015 to August 2018

The global transition to a sustainable, post-fossil fuel future poses specific, unprecedented challenges. Because cities serve as cultural, economic, and political hubs across the world, they are central to developing the solutions necessary to confront these challenges. Dramatic population increases, resource scarcity, and outdated infrastructure systems compound the pressures on the world's urban areas to implement effective strategies to improve their resiliency with respect to societal megatrends, natural disasters, and the impacts of global climate change.Read more

Presentation

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – complementing grey with green for improved adaptation

TimeLoc

18 October 2015

Bonn

Germany

McKenna Davis

On 18 November 2015, McKenna Davis, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, gave a presentation at the European Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. The biennial conference, organized by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA), focused on "Nature-based solutions to climate change in urban areas and their rural surroundings: Linkages between science, policy and practice." The presentation slides are available for download.Read more

Publication

Energy Alliance Rostock

an expert and stakeholder platform to assist in the urban energy transition

The Rostock Energy Alliance (Energiebündnis Rostock) was founded in April 2011 by the City of Rostock and nine other municipal stakeholders from sectors such as public transport, housing and waste and water management. Their united goal is a locally based energy supply fully sourced from renewables. While CO2 emissions should be reduced, quality of life should not. The Alliance meets face-to-face biannually to exchange knowledge and experience, as well as to seek synergies for various constituent activities. The Alliance aims to reduce the annual CO2 emission per person to 2.5t or less by 2030. Compared to 2010, this is equal to a 2% reduction per year. To date (2015), the Energy Alliance supported the city in the creation of an energy transition concept and the current implementation of associated measures, in addition to the foundation of an energy cooperative.

Project

Post-Carbon Cities of Tomorrow in the US (POCACITO in the US)

September 2015 to August 2017

In pursuit of the world's most ambitious climate goals, the European Union recognizes the ability and necessity of cities to lead the way. Initiatives such as Smart Cities, the European Green Capital Award, and European Mobility Week highlighting sustainable urban mobility plans, illustrate how urban areas are at the forefront of the global carbon revolution, breaking established structures and dependencies and devising new models for integrated systems. Further, the Covenant of Mayors and C40 Cities demonstrate the viability and value of city-centered international networks in the 21st century.Read more

Project

Cities

Energy

Education

The Emerging Leaders in Environment and Energy Policies (ELEEP) Transatlantic Energy and Climate Dialogue

August 2015 to August 2017

The Emerging Leaders in Environment and Energy Policies Network (ELEEP) is helping to deepen transatlantic cooperation on climate and energy by organising a Transatlantic Energy and Climate Dialogue. Specific themes of the ELEEP Transatlantic Energy and Climate Dialogue are the transition to low-carbon energy systems in the EU & the US, local adaptation of energy systems to climate change impacts and the potential for transatlantic cooperation in carbon markets. Over the course of two years, 40-60 new ELEEP Fellows will join the network and engage in a variety of offline and in-person activities. Based on these activities, members will collaborate on online platforms to produce jointly published policy papers and impact projects, which will be presented at an ELEEP Conference in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2017.Read more

Project

Internet of Services and Things and Compliance of Technical Infrastructure with Environmental Standards – A Conceptual Study for Schwerin and its Surrounding Areas

August 2015 to December 2017

Several regions, notably in eastern Germany, are faced with the challenge of maintaining infrastructure and services while coping with shrinking populations and financial constraints. Could up-to-date information and communication technologies, such as the internet of services and things, be part of the solution? A conceptual study focusing on Schwerin and its surrounding areas has been launched to help answer this question.Read more

Project

Multi-level Governance and Partnership Practices in Development and Implementation of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP)

July 2015 to December 2015

Signatories to the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) and their Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) play a major role in the task of designing and implementing policies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the local level. The success of the CoM to win close over 6000 signatories required– and still requires – flexibility as well as guidance. The municipalities need at the same time flexibility for their SEAPs to adapt to local governance and financing frameworks, and guidance regarding their design and implementation.Read more

Publication

Wie können Städte voneinander lernen?

Netzwerke im Klimaschutz

Cities and municipalities play a key role in finding solutions for climate change issues on the local level. A number of research projects already provides best-practice examples and strategies for their implementation. An effective exchange of municipalities facilitates the spread of available knowledge much faster. Within this article Ecologic Institute's Doris Knoblauch, Arne Riedel, and Monica Ridgway discuss the central challenges of both groups and elaborate on the themes and methods used for networking. The article is available for download.Read more

Project

"City of the Future" Ahrensfelde 2030 and beyond – Living together sustainably

June 2015 to May 2016

What can the city of the future look like? What do visions of a sustainable resilient city encompass? As part of the contest "City of the Future" funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research 52 municipalities were developing their vision 2030+. This participatory process engaged citizens and further city actors such as associations or organizations to think holistically of their city in the future, give some recommendations for action and proposals for implementations. Together with the citizens the vision was graphically visualized.Read more