Climate Change and resilient cities

This two-week course discusses how local authorities can respond and adapt to climate change, plan and implement solutions for environmental and natural resource challenges and promote more sustainable ways of development. Leading international experts and practitioners will share the latest insights on climate change adaptation and mitigation and the impact for local authorities. We will zoom in on the design and implementation of sustainable local development programmes that protect the environment and improve the quality of life of citizens. In addition, we will discuss tools to recognise local vulnerabilities and instruments to become more resilient.

Best practices from different parts of the world will be discussed and linkages will be made to the local challenges that the participants are faced with. Furthermore, we will visit innovative projects in European cities that aim to prevent environmental pollution with respect to air, water and land.

Special attention will be given to Urban and Peri‐urban Agriculture and Forestry (UPAF) which can play a strong role in enhancing food security for the urban poor, greening the city and improving the urban climate, while stimulating the productive reuse of urban organic wastes and reducing the urban energy footprint.