Our cities and built environments have profound impacts on people and planet. Where people live and work, how they get from one place to another, and the level of access they have to basic services and infrastructure all have impacts not only on quality of life but on climate change and biodiversity as well.

Please join Systems Change Lab, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and NewClimate Institute on October 31st to celebrate World Cities Day and explore the current state of our cities and the built environment as well as what action is needed this critical decade and beyond.

The cities and buildings systems are deeply interconnected, both with each other and with other key systems in the Systems Change Lab platform like governance, transport, and energy supply. Intentional planning with a systemic lens is needed to decarbonize buildings and cities — and to ensure equity and access to basic needs like housing, transportation, energy, water and sanitation, food, green space and more.

High-level voices in these fields will come together to discuss the major shifts needed for sustainable cities and buildings, where we are falling behind, and where we are finding signals of hope. Join us to discover the role of cities and buildings in systems change.

Research insights:

  • Emily Daly, NewClimate Institute
  • Maeve Weston, Research and Engagement Manager, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Moderator:

  • Rogier van den Berg, Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Recorded Remarks:

  • Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Panelists:

  • Aloke Barnwal, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Sustainable Cities Program, Global Environment Facility
  • Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council
  • Gregor Robertson, Special Envoy for Cities in CHAMP
  • Harini Nagendra, Director of Research Centre, Azim Premji University

Virtual event: "Tracking policy implementation in ASEAN’s energy transition: launch of the Power Policy Tracker"
Venue Online
Date 17 Jun 2025
Start time 10:00 am

The energy transition requires a clear vision, followed by coherent implementation. To support this, the Clean, Affordable and Secure...

Virtual Event: “Foreign policy without a climate compass? International climate policy of the new German government”
Venue Online
Date 05 Jun 2025
Start time 08:00 pm

Europe Calling e.V. hosted this discussion together with NewClimate Institute, which explored how international climate policy could...

Briefing: Net Zero Good Practice - what defines a credible net zero strategy?
Venue Online
Date 31 Jan 2025
Start time 01:00 pm

The briefing will discuss the five standard-setting initiatives and one summary review of 37 guidelines, and highlight the areas of...

Internet Explorer is no longer supported