Uccrn Education Held from 11:20 to 12:05 on the Clean Cities Stage, the session explored how urban areas are responding to intensifying climate impacts through innovative planning, climate finance mechanisms, and nature-based solutions designed to strengthen disaster risk management and emergency response systems.
From Climate Ambition to Practical Urban Solutions
As cities face increasing exposure to extreme heat, flooding, and other climate-related shocks, adaptation and resilience have become urgent priorities. The session examined how municipalities are leveraging financial instruments, governance tools, and environmental design strategies to support recovery and long-term transformation.
Cristina Visconti presented the Urban Design Climate Workshop, a methodological tool aimed at integrating climate science into urban design and planning processes. She shared insights from its implementation within the UP2030 pilot projects in Thessaloniki and Rio de Janeiro, highlighting how evidence-based approaches can guide concrete climate action at the neighborhood scale. Her intervention emphasized the importance of bridging scientific knowledge and urban design practice—ensuring that climate resilience is embedded not only in policy frameworks but also in the physical transformation of cities.
The session was moderated by Olga Chepelianskaia (UNICITI) and featured contributions from Odmar van den Berg (Vortex Aquatic Structures B.V.), fostering a cross-sectoral dialogue between researchers, urban experts, and private-sector leaders.
By participating in Smart City Expo World Congress, UCCRN reaffirmed its role as a global platform connecting climate science, urban policy, and practical implementation. As climate risks accelerate, such international exchanges are essential to scaling up strategies that move beyond adaptation planning toward structurally resilient, future-proof cities.
