2022
The road to implementation
Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore
Following the raised climate ambition achieved with the Glasgow Climate Pact last year, global attention is now turning to the effective implementation of headline pledges. For countries to meet their targets, practical policies and solutions need to be urgently implemented.
Cities, being the biggest carbon emitters, are at the heart of this climate action. Their transformation would determine the fate of the global economy. The latest IPCC report has declared the 21st century an urban one, defined by a massive increase in urban populations reaching 68 per cent by 2050 – with Asian and African cities seeing the biggest increases. The carbon emissions of cities have correspondingly been on the rise – reaching over 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Aggressive climate action can bring city emissions to net-zero by 2050 – but failing to act could see urban emissions double in that time, the IPCC report said.
Many cities are already taking action to combat climate change and its impacts, such as by using renewable energy sources and transitioning to cleaner industrial systems. But more needs to done and at a faster rate. What are the other implementation strategies that will accelerate change, so that cities can be more climate-resilient, resilient and inclusive?
Held in the week before COP27, the global climate change meeting hosted by Egypt this year, this year's edition of Cities: Possibilities forum will focus on the practical 'how' to fulfil net zero pledges, investigating what how cities can implement better, faster and more effective climate initiatives.
The 2023 edition of The Liveability Challenge, Asia’s largest sustainability solutions platform presented by Temasek Foundation, will also be launched at this event for the first time. Join us as we unveil the new themes for the sustainability innovations we are looking for in the year ahead.
Many cities around the world have announced emissions-cutting goals and set ambitious climate strategies. However, translating these goals into effective actions can be challenging, especially in developing, coal-dependent countries with limited resources and urgent developmental needs.
This session takes stock of the concrete steps that Asian countries have taken towards net-zero, as well as the gaps in implementation. It will also discuss the most effective ways of bridging these gaps so that cities can decarbonise across sectors such as energy, transport and infrastructure.
Tracks:
Delicious plant proteins, climate-friendly architecture, biodegradable plastics, alternative energy sources: The best minds across the world have been creating disruptive solutions to solve our biggest challenges. The question is — how do we scale these innovations so that they are widely adopted and generate the most impact?
From moving innovations from the research labs into commercial markets to funding strategies, we will convene leading minds to explore how to accelerate sustainability innovations for cities. The discussion will focus on innovations in the key themes of The Liveability Challenge 2023.
