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Event

Leveraging Climate Finance to Strengthen Urban Resilience: Cities Leading the Change

Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (BRT)

Date & Time

Thursday

Nov. 14, 2024

9:30am – 11:00am ET

Location

Armazém da Utopia - Armazém 6, Avenida Rodrigues Alves, 1794 – Praça Mauá, Santo Cristo / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Event Sponsor

Brazil Institute

From November 14 to 17, Rio de Janeiro will host the U20 Rio Summit at Armazém da Utopia in the city’s port area, bringing together mayors and delegations from around the world. As leaders of the Urban 20 (U20) in 2024, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo play a pivotal role in representing cities within the G20, highlighting their importance in the global climate agenda.

On November 14, the Wilson Center Brazil Institute, the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI), and Columbia Global Center Rio will host the event “Leveraging Climate Finance to Strengthen Urban Resilience: Cities Leading the Change.” The focus will be on cities, which bear the brunt of climate change impacts while simultaneously striving to design innovative solutions that can strengthen urban resilience.

Although cities stand on the front lines of climate impacts, much of the debate on climate finance and policy instruments for climate change remains centralized among stakeholders like federal governments, international organizations, and a few highly visible cities, generally leaving aside relevant issues like the challenge of implementation. According to the UN, seven out of ten people now live in urban areas, yet a recent report by UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience reveals that only 27% of national climate plans (NDCs) focus on cities. With countries expected to update these plans by 2025, there is a critical opportunity to expand urban-focused strategies, ensuring that cities of all scales can participate effectively in achieving climate goals.

Thursday, November 14

11:30am – 11:40am ET

Opening Remarks

A discussion on the critical role cities play in building climate resilience and how climate finance is essential for empowering urban areas to achieve their climate objectives.

Feliciano de Sá Guimarães, Academic Director of Brazilian Center for International Relations
Thomas Trebat, Director of the Columbia Global Center | Climate Hub Rio

11:40am – 12:00pm ET

Keynotes

The keynotes will highlight urban leadership’s role in tackling climate change. Speakers will share strategies for building climate resilience, stressing collaboration with governments, stakeholders, and communities, while discussing the importance of innovative policies and investments to foster sustainable cities, setting up the panel on policy and financial tools for urban resilience.

Eduardo Paes, Mayor of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal

12:00pm – 12:55pm ET

Panel: Policy and Financial Instruments to Leverage Urban Resilience

This panel will explore policy and financial instruments crucial for empowering cities to enhance urban resilience while addressing the challenges of effective implementation. Speakers will discuss actionable solutions and frameworks that enable cities of all sizes to overcome barriers and contribute to climate goals.

Format:

Initial Panel Presentations: 5 minutes per speaker to share insights.
Moderated Discussion: 30 minutes guided by the moderator, focusing on common challenges and solutions.
challenges and solutions.

Moderator: Marina Caetano, Institutional Development Manager at Instituto Talanoa

Speakers:

Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary for Urban Environment and Environmental Quality of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
Federica Ranghieri, Practice Manager for Urban, Resilience and Land Management in Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank
Rene Silva, President of Voz das Comunidades Organization
Mark Watts, Executive Director for C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
Maria Dombrov, UCCRN Global Coordinator, Senior Staff Associate at Columbia University The Climate School and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

12:55pm – 01:00pm ET

Closing Remarks

Summarize key takeaways from the session, thank participants and partners, and provide any final announcements.

Speaker:

Giulia Branco Spiess, Wilson Center Brazil Institute

Speakers

Feliciano de Sá Guimarães

Academic Director, Brazilian Center of International Relations (CEBRI)

Thomas Trebat

Founding Director, Rio Global Center

Eduardo Paes

Mayor, City of Rio de Janeiro

Valérie Plante

Mayor, Montreal

Adalberto Maluf

National Secretary for Urban Environment and Environmental Quality, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

Federica Ranghieri

Practice Manager for Urban, Resilience and Land Management in Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank

Rene Silva

President, Voz das Comunidades Organization

Mark Watts

Executive Director, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

Maria Dombrov

Senior Staff Associate, Columbia University

Giulia Branco Spiess

Program Coordinator, Brazil Institute

Moderator

Marina Caetano

Institutional Development Manager, Instituto Talanoa

Hosted By

Brazil Institute

The Brazil Institute—the only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington—aims to deepen understanding of Brazil’s complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and U.S. institutions across all sectors. Our mission is to provide thoughtful leadership and innovative ideas to help democracies evolve and enhance their capacity to deliver results. We achieve this by producing independent research and programs that bridge the gap between scholarship and policy, while serving as a hub for policymakers, scholars, and private sector leaders. Read more