Urbanization in Asia: Overcoming barriers and scaling urban Nature-based Solutions

Speakers: Head of Impact Assessment and Adaptation at the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre Henry Neufeldt, Director of Renewable Energy at NRDC India Charu Lata, Head of Nature-based Solutions, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Najma Mohamed, Post Doc Researcher University of Southern Patrizia Gragnani

November 21, 2024 12:00 - 13:00

This expert panel discussion focuses on overcoming the predominant barriers faced by nature-based solutions inside urban areas, particularly around A) policy and regulation, B) finance, and C) space and scale.

Building on recent publications developed by UNEP-CCC on the subject (“Future-ready Urbanization: The Role of Nature-based Solutions for Climate Challenges in Rapidly Urbanizing Cities” and “Business Models for Financing Nature-based Solutions Addressing Climate Change), as well as UNEP’s “From Grey to Green Better Data to Finance Nature in Cities", the panel will offer several examples from cities in the Global South and Global North that demonstrate some of the processes and practices that can support NbS in cities and make them attractive to policymakers.

The panel debate will also include colleagues from WRI and ICLEI.
WRI’s Data for Cool Cities initiative conducted a survey with policymakers on initiatives to support urban cooling, and these findings will be presented and discussed in plenary.
ICLEI’s work on supporting local government to develop, implement, and to monitor NbS in urban areas will be presented and discussed in the context of rapidly urbanizing cities.

Henry Neufeldt

Head of Impact Assessment and Adaptation at the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre
Charu Lata

Director of Renewable Energy at NRDC India
Najma Mohamed

Head of Nature-based Solutions, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Patrizia Gragnani

Post Doc Researcher University of Southern