Past Program

Loneliness, crime, and fractured communities are frequent symbols of city life, and nine of the top 10 causes of death are related to poor urban design. Many cities have a fundamentally parasitic relationship with their surrounding ecosystems and exacerbate climate change and its symptoms. How can we make these urban environments better for both their populations and the planet?

Cities are key drivers of greenhouse gas emissions. But they are also home to the majority of the world’s population, frequently located next to the sea, and are designed in a way that exacerbates the effects of climate change, such as increased heavy rain and heatwaves. Drawing on previous discussions on community cohesion and safety, this session will explore how parks, public spaces, and other aspects of the city can be designed and utilized to increase cities’ resilience to climate change while also reducing their carbon and environmental footprints. Participants will hear from leading actors on climate resilience before holding a group discussion that centers around questions such as: 

• What role can parks and public spaces play in protecting cities against climate change?
• How can efforts to fight climate change and improve climate resilience be used to increase community cohesion and a shared sense of purpose? 
• Which cities are innovating and leading community cohesion and security or climate resilience efforts?
• Where is the financial and investment leadership in social building design and better city planning coming from? 
• How can we make the case that investing in people-centred social design is a sound investment and that belonging is a critical component of economic competitiveness?

If you are interested in taking part in the Parks for the Planet Forum 2021, please send an email explaining your motivations and what you would bring to the program to Dominic Regester and Jennifer Dunn.