Public Spaces as Anchors
in Social Resilience and Climate Action:
The Role of Participation.

The Urban Thinkers Campus 2021 of NTNU and UN-Habitat

UEP, NTNU

How to link Public Space,
Climate Change, and People?

This year's Urban Thinkers Campus 2021, initiated by World Urban Campaign, is all about city climate action.

Public spaces are vital components when it comes to climate action. They are key in promoting the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (esp. 11, 13).

We need a more in-depth understanding of how public spaces support social resilience and climate responsiveness. That also requires investigating the mechanisms and effects of public participation, engagement, and co-creation.

The webinar aimed at uncovering and mainstreaming lessons that participation and co-creation offer. Keynote speakers introduced selected case studies. A panel discussion invited the panelists to open a discussion around the topic. Toward sustainable, resilient, inclusive, safe, and accessible public spaces and local adaptation!

Speakers and Panelists

Moderators

Peter Gotsch, Urban Ecological Planning, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (opening remarks)

Shveta Mathur, School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi

Jose Chong, Global Public Space Programme, UN-Habitat (Co-moderation and closing remarks)

Keynotes (11.10-11.55 GMT)

Jose Chong, United Nations Humans Settlement Programme

Jessica Thorn, African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town and University of York

Ayanda Roji, Centre on African Public Space

Simone Borelli, Urban Forestry Office, Food and Agricultural Organization

Panel (12-12.55 GMT)

Luis Miguel Artieda, Sustainable Cities Programme, Avina Foundation

Kristie Daniel, Livable Cities, Healthbridge

Arunava Dasgupta, School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi

Rolee Aranya, Urban Ecological Planning, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Time and Date

The online webinar took place on Thursday 18 February 2021, 11am - 1pm GMT

Partners

The M.Sc. Program on Urban Ecological Planning at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is the host of this webinar. The Global Public Space Programme by UN-Habitat acts as the co-organizer.

We want to thank our partners, the World Urban Campaign and its Urban Thinkers Campus, the Global Public Space Programme by UN-Habitat, the Centre on African Public Spaces, and the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi.