Webinar 

Presentations:

Research: Effectiveness and cost-efficiency of NbS for tackling urban heat

By Stefan Greiving, Professor and Regional Development and Risk Management Chair, Department of Spatial Planning, TU Dortmund University

Practical applications and policy frameworks

By Sudeshna Chatterjee, Program Director, Sustainable Cities and Transport, World Resource Institute

With intervention from: Raja Asvanon, Research Associate, Stockholm Environment Institute Asia

Moderator: Liam O’Connor, Associate Urban Climate Change Specialist, Environment and Development Division, ESCAP

The year 2024 went down as the hottest year in recorded history and left cities across the globe grappling with the effects of extreme urban heat. With soaring temperatures exacerbated by urban heat island effects affecting over half of the world’s population, cities remain at the front lines of adverse climate impacts. This is particularly true in regions like Asia and the Pacific and consistently affects vulnerable populations the most. Fortunately, amidst these challenges lies a powerful and often underutilised solution – biodiversity. Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer a promising pathway to combat urban heat while delivering a myriad of co-benefits for climate resilience and sustainable living. The discussion will explore the latest research, practical applications, and policy frameworks that leverage biodiversity as a transformative tool for cooling cities, enhancing urban resilience, and supporting sustainable socioeconomic development.

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/790wf_Oi4do?si=ihZ_it5gCE_X5qx7

(Collaboration: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission on Climate Change for Asia and Pacific)