World Urban Forum

5 November, Cairo

DUT partners are co-organising two networking sessions and one library session at the World Urban Forum in Cairo, Egypt. Find all details below.

Climate-neutral and smart cities – Sparking global system transformation locally

November 5, 13:00 – 14:30

A networking event focused on how a new instrument, “System demonstrators”, can go beyond pilots to scaling system transformation in cities and help achieve the mission of climate-neutral and smart cities globally.

‘System Demonstrators’ provides a methodological and logical way to transform a city through stakeholder mobilisation, system innovation and new models for governance. By addressing deep structural challenges within a designated and delineated system, the system demonstrator accelerates and amplifies the transition to climate neutrality. The system approach is operationalized by addressing five system dimensions: Finance, Policy, Behaviour, Infrastructure and Technology. These provide insights about the system’s “acupuncture points”, where several challenges can be tackled simultaneously.

The system demonstrator concept is developed in cooperation by Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova, the strategic innovation platform Viable Cities and UN-Habitat. System demonstrators are currently being implemented in Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Uganda and the UK. Experiences will be presented from urban system demonstrator efforts focusing on mobility, housing and energy, ranging from Africa, Latin-America, North America, Asia to Europe.

Organiser: Vinnova

Co-organisers: Viable Cities (Vinnova), UN, Net Zero Cities 

Speakers

    • Björn Svensby Kurling (Vinnova) 
    • Thomas Osdoba (NZC) 
    • Namrata Mehta (UN Habitat)
      Olle Dierks (Viable Cities) 
    • Barbara Buchner (Climate Policy Initiative)

» Find out more at WUF event page

 

15-minute City and the city of proximity. Global examples and learnings in the context of African cities 

November 5, 17:00 – 18:30

In this session, we aim to explore the relevance and adaptability of concepts for cities of proximity in the context of African urban environments. By leveraging global experiences and incorporating local realities, the discussion will delve into strategies, policies, and practices brought up by transnational initiatives of Driving Urban Transitions Partnership and the Global Observatory of Sustainable Proximities and contextualise them together with partners from ICLEI Africa and C40 Africa. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the practicalities and potentials of implementing the 15-minute City in African urban environments.

More specifically, the session aims to create an open learning space to 1) understand and reflect strategies and policies for a 15-minute City and their outcomes, 2) showcase and offer learnings on good practice and innovative approaches that align with the specific needs and contexts of African cities, 3) engage with the audience to gather insights, experiences, and potential pathways for implementation in the Global South, with a focus on African cities.

Organiser: AustriaTech 

Co-organisers: DUT, C40, Sorbonne University Chaire ETI, ICLEI Africa 

Speakers

    • Maximilian Jäger, Coordinator of DUT’s 15-minute City Transition Pathway, AustriaTech, Austria 
    • Catherine Gall, Executive Director of Chaire ETI 
    • Sorbonne University Chaire ETI, France 
    • Paul Currie, Director Urban Systems, ICLEI Africa, South Africa 
    • Alice Kaumba, senior manager land-use planning,  
    • Hélène Chartier, C40,  Kenya 

» Find out more at WUF event page

 

Cultivating Wisdom for Urban Transformations – Lessons Learned by the Cities Reimagined Podcast

November 5, 10:30 – 11:30

Organiser: Cities Reimagined Podcast 

Co-organisers: DUT

Speakers

    • Luisa Bravo (President, City Space Architecture, Bologna, Italy);  
    • Stephan Fugger (Editor in Chief, Regional Media Carinthia, Klagenfurt, Austria);  
    • Marcella Arruda (CEO, The City Needs You, Sao Paulo Brazil); 
    • Jonas Bylund (Anthropocene.City; Stockholm, Sweden); Johannes Riegler (DUT / Cities Reimagined Podcast, Vienna, Austria)  

» Find out more at WUF event page

 

Full programe