Issues which the lecture addresses

The Innovate4Cities initiative grew out of the 2018 Cities and Climate Change Science Conference in Edmonton, Canada, to accelerate global city climate action. The conference purpose was to assess the state of academic and practice-based knowledge related to cities and climate change, and to establish a global research agenda based on the joint identification of key gaps by the academic, practitioner and urban policy-making communities.

This conference was the foundation upon which Innovate4Cities, convened by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, was launched at the end of 2018, as a city-focused research and innovation initiative that addresses critical data, innovation and technological gaps to enable cities to take accelerated and ambitious climate action. Co-developed by cities, city networks, scientists and research institutions and leading private sector entities, the initiative focuses on the areas most critical to drive climate action in cities. The lecture presents the history and objectives of Innovate4Cities, and unpacks the currently identified research and innovation gaps to meet cities climate action ambition.

Short analysis of the above issues

Innovate4Cities is facilitated by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy through its Research and Innovation Technical Working Group (TWG). Through this, TWG city networks and other urban focussed researchers are working together to align efforts and establish a single collaborative research agenda that addresses the identified gaps. This has involved the identification of research ‘gaps’ by analyzing ongoing and upcoming projects from leading city climate organizations, with the purpose of ensuring the efficient use of time and resources, maximizing opportunities for collaboration and minimizing duplication of effort.

Propositions for addressing the issue

The intention of this lecture is to emphasize that accelerated and coordinated knowledge generation is essential to best position city climate leaders to implement innovative climate solutions.