The Climate Lens Brent Toderian & the Common Sense of Climate Smart Cities
Aug 20, 2025
Brent Toderian, a leading Canadian urbanist, has influenced the future of sustainable city planning for decades. In this discussion, he emphasizes the critical role of urban development in achieving climate goals, especially with the upcoming COP30 summit. Toderian breaks down the innovative '15-minute city' concept, debunking myths and advocating for accessible neighborhoods. He also stresses the importance of civic engagement in local climate action, urging citizens to hold politicians accountable during elections for a prosperous, climate-smart future.
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Cities Drive Climate Outcomes
- City design and suburban form determine our climate future more than many other actions.
- Rapid mitigation through smarter city regions is essential to limit worsening climate outcomes.
Local Leadership Outpaces Nations
- National governments have done too much talking and not enough acting on climate.
- Local cities are pragmatic leaders that can deliver measurable climate actions now.
Lead With Visible Quality-Of-Life Wins
- Lead climate policy with tangible quality-of-life benefits like cleaner air and cooler streets.
- Use visible wins to build public support for broader climate measures.