Cities 1.5

For hundreds of years, people have been pondering the power of information. In this past season of Cities 1.5, we’ve seen examples of cities from around the world who are using data and the lived experiences of their inhabitants to create policies that support healthier lives for people and planet: from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Tokyo, Japan, to Princeton, Canada. But while history - and our own conversations on this podcast - prove that knowledge is powerful…it isn’t always easy to come by. For the final episode of Cities 1.5 season 5, David meets two knowledge and dissemination specialists who speak with him about the importance of data and information for climate action and what other ingredients are key to effective communications about global heating. Featured guests:Katie Walsh, Head of Climate Finance for Cities, States, and Regions at CDPAndrea Learned, climate influence catalyst and strategistLinks:Leviathan by Thomas HobbesCities are responsible for over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions - World BankGlobal Covenant of MayorsEarth Positive Action - CDPCities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance ForumGlobal Snapshot Report 2024 - CDPParis Climate AgreementCHAMP - C40Andrea Learned’s Green Biz article on the five Ls of Twitter leadershipLiving Change podcastBike Talk podcastBowinn MA, Canadian politician elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 2017Album: Joy as an act of resistanceSustainable Development Goal 11 - United NationsIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

The building and construction sector is responsible for a mind-boggling 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The kinds of construction materials we use - and the building sector generally - are also responsible for almost a third of global resource consumption. Shifting to cleaner methods of construction is the only way to minimize the damage we are causing to the planet, while still providing homes, workplaces and vital infrastructure for all.Featured guests:Henrique Goes, Clean Construction Manager at C40Vivek Parekh, Fossil Fuels Program Manager at InfluenceMapLinks:The building and construction sector’s share in global greenhouse gas emissions - World Economic ForumUN prediction for rural to urban migration - Our World in DataPremature deaths from household air pollution - World Health OrganizationClean Construction Programme - C40 CitiesReport on clean construction and green job opportunities - C40 CitiesInfluence Map’s LobbyMapInternational Gas Union’s Climate Strategy - Influence MapElectrification as the clearest pathway for decarbonising buildings - IPCC reportState of Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap - Victoria State GovernmentEU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - European CommissionOverturned gas ban in the City of Berkley - The GuardianAdvanced Energy UnitedIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Capitalism is an illness: it’s killing our planet, and by extension, us. Economic instability and environmental concerns are symptoms that can only be cured by redefining prosperity in terms of health and wellbeing, so that we can create sustainable, equitable societies. In his new book, The Care Economy, returning guest Tim Jackson dives into historical and systemic reasons behind our current economic challenges and shares personal experiences that highlight the importance of systemic change in healthcare and beyond. He shares insights from his book around the philosophical and practical implications of fostering a balanced, care-oriented economic model - and how it might just save the world.Image credit: Fernando Manoso-Borgas Featured guests:Tim Jackson, ecological economist, radio dramatist, Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), and author.Links: Prosperity without Growth - Tim JacksonPhysiologist Walter Cannon - National Library of MedicineAneurin Bevin, architect of the NHS - BBCCurrent epidemic of chronic disease - CDCEcological Economics - The International Society for Ecological EconomicsThe Flexner Report - National Library of MedicineCities as Urban Laboratories - Cities 1.5If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, is on a mission to transform his city into a leading hub for innovation and resilience. Kathy McLeod Baughman, CEO of Climate Resilience for All, champions the needs of women facing extreme heat. They discuss Lisbon’s innovative drainage master plan and Ahmedabad’s strategies for combating heat. The guests highlight the importance of community-driven policies, parametric insurance as a safety net, and the urgent need for women's inclusion in climate resilience efforts. Together, they envision cities that thrive amidst climate challenges.

As global temperatures and sea-levels rise, so to does the frequency of climate-driven migration. The search for a safe, healthy, and prosperous place to live has been a feature of humanity since time immemorial...but an increasingly polarized and toxic global discourse sees migrants being increasingly demonized, which makes it hard to have much-needed conversations around the issue. For many migrants of the climate crisis, cities are the end destination, which means that our urban centres need to be prepared for these new realities by adapting infrastructure, services, and policies to create healthy and resilient environments for all residents - old, and new. It’s way past time to open up the conversation.Image credit: Jody FosterFeatured guests:Spencer Coyne, Mayor of Princeton, BC, Canada.Jazmin Burgess, Director, Inclusive Climate Action; Giovanni Pagani, Senior Manager, Climate and Migration; and Claudia Huerta, Senior Manager for City Diplomacy and Campaigns, Climate and Migration.Links: Simon Kofe’s speech to COP26 - New Scientist (Video)Why cities must prepare for climate migration - C40 Knowledge HubThe far right is weaponizing climate change to argue against immigration - VoxFlooded Princeton, B.C., faces days without heat, says mayor - CBC News (Video)$1.7 billion flood projects still stalled in Abbotsford, Princeton and Merritt - Vancouver SunFuture urban landscapes: Climate migration projections in cities - C40 Knowledge HubC40-MMC Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration - C40The ‘Climate Migration’ Narrative Is Inaccurate, Harmful, and Pervasive. We Need an Alternative - Centre for Global DevelopmentIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Angelos Varvarousis, a professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona specializing in degrowth economics, and Takehiko Nagumo, director of the Smart City Institute Japan, engage in a stimulating discussion about reimagining urban prosperity. They explore how cities like Barcelona and Girona are piloting innovative economic concepts that prioritize well-being over GDP. The duo also highlights Japan's focus on creating well-being indicators for smart cities, challenging traditional growth metrics and emphasizing the importance of equitable urban development.

The United States of America’s second withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord under the Trump administration has enormous implications for both international and local climate efforts - and the Inflation Reduction Act is also potentially under threat. If the IRA is even partially repealed, it would be a huge step backwards in the fight against the climate crisis. But all is not lost - engaged individuals and organizations are striving to ensure the it stays and place, and more broadly, cities, mayors, and subnational entities are playing a critical role in continuing climate action amidst federal challenges. This coalition of actors are leading the growing resistance movement stateside and globally, proving the importance of local level engagement in the bid to halt climate breakdown.Image credit: Chelsea Matson PhotographyFeatured guests: Kate Johnson, C40 Regional Director for North AmericaAmy Turner, Director of the City's Climate Law Initiative at the Sabin Center, Columbia UniversityLinks:Trump signs order to withdraw US from Paris climate agreement for second time - The GuardianElon Musk Says DOGE Aims to Finish $1 Trillion in Cuts by End of May - BloombergThe Data Hoarders Resisting Trump’s Purge - The New YorkerInflation Reduction Act Archives C40 websiteClimate action and the Inflation Reduction Act: A guide for local government leaders - C40 Knowledge HubOne Year After Trump Decision to Withdraw from Paris Agreement, U.S. Cities Carry Climate Action Forward - C40 websiteAppeals Court Keeps Order Barring Federal Funding Freezes in Place - New York TimesIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Risk is an integral part of the human experience…but risk also needs to be managed if we are to live safe, healthy and happy lives. The recent wildfires in Los Angeles were a tragic reminder of the risks that the climate crisis poses to health, homes, habitats, and the lives of human beings. But the risks posed by extreme weather events are also multi-faceted: disinformation in the wake of hurricanes and wildfires can lead to chaos, with online hate transforming into real-life violence. The insurance industry is based on mitigating risk - but for cities with high probabilities of climate impacts such as wildfires, the risk is becoming too great and financially unviable. There is hope, though: insurance can be used as a climate adaptation tool, reducing risk, to better protect people, cities and the planet. Image credit: This image was AI-generated and does not depict real events.Featured guests: Jodie Molyneux, Subject Matter Expert (mis- and disinformation) at Resolver Kate Stein, Director of the Climate-Resilient Insurance Strategy Project (CRISP) Links:Estimated cost of fire damage balloons to more than $250 billion - LA TimesMAGA Blames Homeless in Deranged California Fires Theory - The Daily BeastThe LA Fires Could Change the Insurance Industry - Harvard Business ReviewMan arrested over alleged violent threat against Fema staff in North Carolina - The GuardianCalifornia wildfires deliberately set for ‘Agenda 2030’ and smart cities? Fact-checking the bizarre claims - Hindustan TimesLA's wildfires prompted a rash of fake images. Here's why - NPRVigilance and protection service against foreign digital interference (VIGINUM)The 2024 Miami-Dade Property Insurance Strategy ForumIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

We live in the age of technology…in the blink of an eye, the Internet and social media have created new opportunities, jobs, and possibilities for connection. But they have also fuelled polarization, persecution, and real-world violence. Artificial intelligence, or AI, promises to turbocharge this revolution. But many questions remain unanswered by the advocates of these new technologies. Can we afford to let AI use infinite amounts of energy? Is it possible to create planetary responsible AI, or is that just a pipe dream? And if the need arises, how can we resist these dark machines?Image credit: This image was AI-generated and does not depict real events.Featured guest:Victor Galaz is an academic and author whose expertise lies at the intersection of governance, climate and technology. He is an Associate Professor in Political Science at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and a Program Director at the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics. His most recent book is Dark Machines: How Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization and Automation is Changing our Living Planet and he is also co-founder of the Biosphere Code. Links:AI and the Future of Cities - Fortune The workers already replaced by artificial intelligence - BBCAI voice cloning tools imitating political leaders threaten elections -  The IndependentNew AI Now Paper Highlights Risks of Commercial AI Used In Military Contexts - AI Now InstituteA.I. has a discrimination problem - CNBCGenerative AI’s environmental impact - MIT The ‘AI divide’ between the Global North and the Global South - World Economic ForumIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In times of uncertainty, leadership is key...but so is vision. As the climate crisis deepens, and people across the world are facing economic hardship and experiencing the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, mapping out an alternative to neoliberal economics, inequality and unmitigated climate breakdown has never been more vital. In our season opener, we speak to two women who are doing just that. Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown is using an innovative, inclusive and data-driven approach to addressing the challenges her city faces, and is a powerful advocate for unlocking urban climate finance. Gaya Herrington is one of the world’s leading voices in the wellbeing economics space, using her platform to argue for the transformation of our economic system away from unsustainable growth to one that prioritizes human and planetary wellbeing. Featured guests:Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has served as the Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, since 2018. She is also the Co-Chair of C40 Cities. Gaya Herrington is sustainability researcher, wellbeing economist, thought leader and author of “Five Insights for Avoiding Global Collapse”.Links:What happened at the U20 Summit in Rio? C40 websiteIDB and C40 to Strengthen Partnership for Climate Action - IDB websitePlanting 1 million trees to turn the temperature down - Cities 1.5 podcast episode, featuring Eugenia Kargbo, Freetown Chief Heat OfficerRegenerative Economics - The Regenerative CentreWill the end of economic growth come by design — or disaster? Gaya Herrington, TedTalkThe Limits to Growth model: still prescient 50 years later Gaya Herrington, Club of Rome websiteTurnaround Empowerment & Focus on gender equality Club of Rome websiteWho Cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner? A review Women’s Budget Group websiteIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/ Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/