Cities face unprecedented pressure to protect the health of their residents, provide access to outdoor green spaces, and address social disparities. At the same time, cities are facing rising costs from climate change, a global economic downturn and the prospect of tight municipal budgets.

Forests and other nature-based solutions can provide valuable health and economic benefits for city residents while fighting climate change. Cities should design their forest-related plans and policies thoughtfully to avoid aggravating existing inequalities.

This event will showcase the city of Kochi's (Kerala, India) efforts to redesign and expand public spaces through several projects influenced by policies and practices that incorporate greening strategies, engaging stakeholders, building resilience, and addressing public health concerns both during and post COVID-19.

Speakers will also demo two new online resources from the Cities4Forests initiative, of which Kochi is a founding member city. These guides are being deployed as a tool to help cities adapt to climate change through the Global Commission on Adaptation’s Cities Action Track . They will also be highlighted at the upcoming Climate Adaptation Summit in January:

Speakers

  • Rajeev Malagi, Manager, Sustainable Cities and Transport, WRI India
  • Priya Narayanan, Manager, Cities4Forests & Urban Development, WRI India
  • Ayushi Trivedi,  Research Analyst II, Gender and Social Equity Initiative & Cities4Forests, WRI