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Climate Resilience in Mediterranean Cities from Strategies to Local Action

This event will present best practices from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Spain and France to mainstream urban climate resilience into their strategic planning, in order to strengthen the equity, livability and resilience of their cities.

Tamer Elshayal

Moderator

date November 6, 2024 | 13:00 - 14:30
place
Multipurpose room 08
organization
General Organization for Physical Planning
country
Egypt
language
Arabic, English
Reference: 
NE 08-04

Summary

Cities in the Mediterranean region are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Spain and France, planning authorities, municipal councils and municipalities are taking significant steps to mainstream urban climate resilience into their work in order to strengthen the equity, livability and resilience of their cities. This event will present best practices from the Five countries, showcasing different approaches (strategic planning, institutional mechanisms, legislative frameworks, and local action) adopted by national and municipal governments to address climate change.
The event is structured into two policy dialogues and a roundtable discussion:
Policy dialogue 1, engaging Egypt and Jordan, will focus on the strategic and institutional aspects of urban resilience. First, the Egyptian General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP) will present their efforts at mainstreaming climate considerations into their strategic planning frameworks, using the example of a climate vulnerability assessment and profiling instrument. The conversation will then touch on the joint efforts between GOPP and the Urban Development Fund (UDF) to translate those policy recommendations into local resilience and climate adaptation action plans. The Greater Amman Municipality will present their efforts to incorporate and institutionalize the climate action plan within urban planning regulations to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of climate actions.

Policy dialogue 2, engaging Palestine, France and Spain, will address implementation and local governance, focusing on the role of public spaces. The Ministry of Local Government in Palestine (MoLG) will present their efforts to empower local government units (LGUs) and municipalities in climate adaptation measures through green public spaces and retrofitting public facilities into green buildings. MoLG will also discuss their approach to empowering women, youth and civil society in the local governance of climate adaptation action. Barcelona's city council will then present their efforts in creating urban resilience in public spaces focusing on the adaptation and transformation of those spaces that enhance inclusion, livability and disaster-risk reduction. Marseille’s city will then present their efforts in enhancing heritage, improving public spaces and the role of water in the city.

The event will conclude with a roundtable brining the five cases into a conversation with Mayors from other municipalities in the Mediterranean and closing with reflective commentaries from C40 and GIZ.

Objectives

The key objective of this event is to emphasize the importance of integrating climate resilience into governance and urban planning processes and to promoting participatory approaches and institutional development to achieve resilient urban environments by:
● Exploring how vertical and horizontal coordination among local, regional, national, and international entities can help to share best practices and innovate in urban climate resilience.
● Highlighting the importance of building capacities and empowering local governments to deliver improved services and practice responsive governance in the face of climate challenges.
● Discussing strategies to integrate climate resilience into urban planning frameworks encompassing participatory approaches and community responsiveness.
● Sharing lessons learned from projects that have successfully incorporated climate resilience into municipal planning and development.
● Promoting inclusivity in urban climate action specifically considering gender perspectives and the needs of marginalized groups.
● Explaining how data-driven decision-making and digitalization can contribute to improving the efficiency of climate-resilient urban planning.

Session panelists

Panelist
Role
Organization
Country
Ms. Maha Fahim
Chairperson
General Organization for Physical Planning
Ms. Rema Odeh
Executive Director for Planning
Greater Amman Municipality
Ms. Maria Buhigas
Chief
City Architect of Barcelona
Ms. Perrine Prigent
Ms
Municipality of Marseille
Ms. Shuruq Jaber
Local Urban Planning Department Manager
Ministry of Local Government Palestine