The Hemispheric Dialogue (Dialogue) on Climate Resilience & Adaptation, a precursor to the ICLEI World Congress 2024, played a pivotal role in the Cities Forward program. It offered a platform for knowledge exchange and best practices to address climate challenges and enhance urban resilience. This event took place in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 18th, 2024, reflecting the collective effort to tackle urban problems and foster connections among participating cities.
The Cities Forward program, a joint venture involving the U.S. Department of State, three regional and country offices of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and The Institute of the Americas, focuses on peer interaction, capacity building, and diplomatic engagement to address urban challenges around sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. This program aims to empower Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) cities to build a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future through knowledge exchange with U.S. cities.
The Dialogue, facilitated by esteemed panelists, highlighted the need for cross-sector collaboration in tackling climate change and sustainability. It acknowledged city leaders’ crucial role in addressing challenges like climate change and migration. The key takeaway was the necessity for ambition, realism, and optimism in enhancing community life.
Panel 1: Insights to Urban Resilience: Reforestation, Green Corridors and Nature-based Solutions
Speakers:
- Deputy Principal Officer Benjamin Wohlauer, Consulate of the US in Brazil
- Jennifer Littlejohn, Acting Assistant Secretary, OES Bureau, US Department of State
- Angie Fyfe, ICLEI USA Executive Director
- Edgar Villaseñor Franco , ICLEI México, Centroamérica y el Caribe Executive Director
- Cristina Romcy, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Fortaleza
- Martin Camilo Perez Lara, Director of Forest Climate Solutions Impact and Monitoring, WWF-US
- Claudio Castro Salas, Mayor of Renca, Chile
- Emilio Vargas, Urban Planning Director at the Municipality of Guatemala City
- Francisco Alberto Castillo Gonzalez, Environmental Advisor of Cartagena
The first panel was led by individuals with a range of expertise in environmental science and climate solutions, who emphasized the crucial role of reforestation, green corridors, and nature-based solutions in enhancing urban resilience. Cristina Romcy underscored the importance of green corridors, stating, “The relevance of green corridors is to connect spaces that have been fragmented through a connection channel to promote an expansion of the green coverage.” The dialogue provided insights on the link between nature and cities, stressing the need to monitor their interaction. It underlined the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in mitigating disasters and enhancing urban life quality. The importance of community participation in NbS was also discussed.
Martin Perez Lara extended this conversation, emphasizing, “Nature is essential inside and outside the city,” and “It’s not the only solution, but it’s part of a set of solutions, it has to happen inside and outside the cities.” Case studies from cities like Renca, Bogota, and Cartagena demonstrated NbS implementation and challenges such as deforestation and water scarcity. The panel asserted the importance of monitoring NbS success and the need for education and community engagement for fostering an urban NbS culture.
Panel 2: Housing Risks & Ecosystem-based Adaptation
Speakers:
- Hugo Mesquita, Project Director of URBEM (Institute of Urbanism and Studies for the Metropolis)
- Mariana Nicolletti, Director of Climate Adaptation and Risk Management, Getulio Vargas Foundation
- Pablo López, Urban development specialist, CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-
- Alejandra Bolio Rojas, Environment Unit Sector Chief, Merida, Mexico
- Mauricio Mira Pontón, Director of the Administrative Department of Environmental Management, Cali, Columbia
- Lucía Groos, Director of the Center for Research and Social Innovation, TECHO Argentina
In the second panel, experts in the fields of urban planning, climate adaptation, and risk management shared their insights and experiences. They examined the significant challenge of housing risks and emphasized the necessity of ecosystem-based adaptation in urban environments. Mariana Nicolletti emphasized the importance of forward-thinking, stating, “Infrastructure has to be thought of for the present climate events, but also for future climate events.” The discussion highlighted the need for proactive measures, community involvement, and innovative solutions. It underscored the importance of understanding community perceptions of risk and working proactively to generate housing solutions that respond to climate change.
The need for integrated urban development projects and the mass production of housing solutions was emphasized. The conversation also stressed the need for preventive action and institutional implementation in disaster risk management. The importance of ecosystem restoration, raising awareness, and empowering communities to implement solutions was also discussed.
Panel 3: Building Resilience for Critical Water Infrastructure
Speakers:
- Atha Phillips, RLA, LEED AP, Senior Policy Advisor for Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, City of Austin
- Ravinder Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey
- Luciana Lobo, Secretary of Urbanism and Environment of Fortaleza.
- Ruth Moncayo, Director of Operation and Maintenance at Ambato Municipal Water Company
- Tamoy Sinclair, Parish Coordinator Disaster Preparedness at St. James Municipal Corporation
- Chevonia McBride J.P., CAPM. McBride, Grand Bahama Senior Project Manager, Freeport
The third panel was led by speakers with diverse backgrounds in politics and public service, who collectively shifted the discussion towards the significance of resilience in critical water infrastructure. The conversation highlighted the strategies of cities like Austin, Hoboken, and Fortaleza. Austin is investigating the viability of older aquifers and new engineering methods to mitigate drought and intense rain patterns. Hoboken, severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy, has implemented a comprehensive flood management program, including the creation of resiliency parks and integrated flood protection barriers. Mayor Ravinder Bhalla stated, “Superstorm Sandy was a disaster for Hoboken in terms of flooding and a breach of the city from the North and South by coastal surge. He added that “the idea isn’t to disrupt the quality of life for residents, but to enhance the quality of life for residents through parks and other improvements, as well as to protect against climate change.” Fortaleza has focused on the creation of micro-parks and linear parks in vulnerable areas, emphasizing the use of wetlands as a nature-based solution to flooding and water treatment.
Panel 4: Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Climate Adaptation
Speakers:
- Jeb Brugmann, Founding Principal, Resilient Cities Catalyst
- Olayinka Lawal, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Google
- Virginia Burkett, Chief Scientist for Climate and Land Use Change, U.S. Geological Service
- Amb. Nina Hachigian, U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy
- Architect Jose Carrillo, General Director, IMPLAN (INSTITUTO MUNICIPAL DE PLANEACIÓN URBANA DE HERMOSILLO)
- Silvina Di Nucci, Environmental Engineer at the Municipality of Rosario
- Antonio Ademir Stroski, Secretary for the Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, City of Manaus
The fourth and final panel focused on the critical theme of cross-sector collaboration in tackling climate change and sustainability. Olayinka Lawal, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Google’s Office in Sao Paulo, emphasized the importance of urban greenery, stating, “The more trees we have, the more we have cooling areas to reduce the cost of energy cooling sources and allow communities to have improved air quality and better long-term health conditions.” Their combined experience in resilience planning, strategic partnerships, and climate science fueled a thought-provoking discussion on how technology and innovation can be harnessed for climate adaptation. Jeb Brugmann, Founding Principal of Resilient Cities Catalyst, highlighted the role of technology, stating, “Technology is rapidly evolving to help us do these assessments when a few years earlier we didn’t have access to project-level climate risk assessments.”
The panel highlighted the role of reforestation, green corridors, and nature-based solutions in enhancing urban resilience and mitigating the heat island effect. The use of geospatial applications for disaster risk reduction and the importance of monitoring environmental changes were also discussed. Case studies included Google’s initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and urban planning efforts in Austin and Houston using tree canopy data.
Olayinka Lawal, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Google, spoke about Google’s Environment Insights Explorer.
Conclusion
The Hemispheric Dialogue on Climate Resilience & Adaptation emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts across cities, sectors, and varying levels of government in addressing climate change and sustainability. The Dialogue highlighted the vital role of city leaders in implementing practical solutions to pressing issues such as climate change, migration, and natural disasters. The discussions underscored the need for ambition, optimism, and realism in enhancing the quality of life in communities. Topics discussed during the panels ranged from reforestation, green corridors, and nature-based solutions in urban resilience, to housing risks, essential water infrastructure, and the potential of technology and innovation in climate adaptation. The insights from these discussions will significantly contribute to the Cities Forward program’s ongoing endeavors to empower cities in Latin America and the Caribbean to build a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.
About the Authors
Caio Pereira
Caio, originally from Brazil, has a diverse professional journey with a focus on project management, research, and technical writing in the international development and climate sustainability sectors. He has worked with organizations like Global Americans, The Brookings Institution, and the United Nations Development Programme, leading projects, managing teams, and conducting research. Fluent in English and Portuguese, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Colorado State University and a Master’s Degree in International Development from the University of Denver.
Anne Marie Cleary Rauker
Anne Marie, an atmospheric chemist turned science communicator, is dedicated to fostering strategic communications strategies for governments, organizations, and communities. They are particularly focused on environmental science, climate resilience, and promoting comprehensive community engagement. She hopes their writing bridges communication divides, advocating for multilevel and inclusive approaches to local climate action.