Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 26 - Championing urban heat resilience: Global Chief Heat Officer Eleni Myrivili

In this episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, hosts Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson dive deep into the critical issue of extreme heat with Lenio Myrivili, Global Chief Heat Officer for UN-Habitat and the Atlantic Council. The conversation explores how rising temperatures are transforming urban experiences across the globe, from Athens to London, and the profound challenges cities face in managing increasingly intense heat waves.

Myrivili shares her journey from being Athens' Chief Resilience Officer to her current global role, highlighting the dramatic transformation of urban heat challenges over the past decade. She reveals shocking statistics about global temperatures, including how 70 large cities already experience over 150 days per year of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. The podcast also delves into the physiological impacts of extreme heat, explaining how prolonged high temperatures can cause significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Myrivili emphasises that heat's impact is deeply localised, making it challenging to create universal measurement standards.

A key theme is the importance of nature-based solutions, particularly urban trees and green spaces, which can help mitigate heat island effects. The discussion also touches on technological approaches like digital twins, with Myrivili advocating for focused, practical applications rather than comprehensive data collection. The episode highlights the growing recognition of cities' roles in addressing climate challenges, with urban leaders increasingly gaining platforms to share their experiences and solutions at global forums.

Tune in for a sobering yet hopeful conversation, and understand how cities are confronting one of the most pressing climate challenges of our time, making this a must-listen for anyone interested in urban resilience and climate adaptation.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 25 - Understanding AI-powered water resilience

In this insightful episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, sponsored by Sand Technologies, host Lauren Sorkin delves into the critical challenge of clean water and resilience, with a focus on how artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool to address these pressing issues.

Joined by Byron Roelofsz, the AI Solutions Director at Sand Technologies, and Beam Furr, the Mayor of Broward County, Florida, the conversation explores the unique challenges faced by coastal communities like Broward County, which is highly susceptible to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion.

Together, our guests dive into the innovative initiatives Broward County has undertaken, including mapping underground conditions, creating dashboards for developers, and enacting laws to consider long-term sea level rise projections. The discussion also highlights the importance of university partnerships in providing credible data and consensus-based projections to support data-driven decision-making.

Elsewhere, we look at the potential of AI in water management, covering how it can help cities manage and improve the quality of massive data sets, create digital twins for scenario simulation, and enable intelligent automation in operational systems. There's also time to address the significance of delivering AI insights to a wide range of stakeholders, from executives to the public, to ensure transparency and build trust.

Looking to the future, the conversation explores the anticipated trends in the next five years, including the focus on breaking down data silos and integrating information across sectors, as well as the push for greater public access to city and utility data to enable community engagement in water conservation efforts.

Find out more about the role of AI in water management by visiting Sand Technologies.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 24 - The City Resilience Framework & the next decade of resilience

This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast focuses on the evolution of urban resilience and the critical role of the City Resilience Framework. Hosts Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson welcome Jo Da Silva, the Global Director of Sustainable Development at Arup, who shares insights from her decade-long journey in developing this influential framework.

The conversation begins by exploring the resilience challenges cities faced in 2024, from heatwaves and wildfires to political upheaval. Sorkin highlights how the sub-national community rallied together, citing the Resilient Cities Network's work on the intersection of climate and health. The discussion then delves into the Urban 20 (U20) initiative, which aims to amplify city voices in the G20 process, particularly around the need for increased investment in climate resilience, social safety nets, and urban infrastructure.

Da Silva provides a compelling overview of the City Resilience Framework, tracing its origins back to 2007 and research conducted in Asian cities. She explains how the framework evolved to identify the 52 (now 22) key elements that contribute to a city's ability to cope, adapt, and transform in the face of disruption. The framework's four pillars – health and wellbeing, institutions, infrastructure, and governance – are explored in depth, showcasing its practical application for cities.

The interview also examines the challenges of measuring and comparing city resilience, as well as the critical role of finance in driving resilience initiatives. Da Silva emphasises the need to move beyond pledges and into tangible delivery, with the City Resilience Framework serving as a tool to help cities attract investment and implement transformative projects.

Find out more about the City Resilience Framework here.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 23 - Identifying urban solutions at the intersection of climate, health, and equity

This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast focuses on identifying urban solutions at the intersection of climate, health, and equity.

Resilient Cities Network's Lauren Sorkin hosts, joined by Patricia Himschoot and Catalina Thela from the Buenos Aires City Government, and Jeannette Ickovics from Yale University to discuss the key findings from the Urban Pulse report.

The guests emphasise the need for better early warning systems, health surveillance capabilities, and multi-sector collaboration to address challenges related to extreme heat, flooding, air pollution and the related health threats.

The conversation turns to the specific impacts of climate change in Buenos Aires. Catalina describes the extreme weather conditions the city experiences, highlighting the need for proactive measures, and Patricia outlines the city's efforts to engage vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and residents of low-income neighbourhoods, through public awareness campaigns and preparedness programmes.

Together, our guests delve into the solutions being implemented in Buenos Aires, including greening initiatives and health-related interventions. Here, we explore the importance of cross-city collaboration, and how cities like Buenos Aires are learning from the experiences of others, such as Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City.

Finally, we dedicate time to the need for increased investment in capacity development and cross-city knowledge sharing. Here, Jeannette focuses in on the need to prioritise funding at the intersection of climate, health, and equity in order to tackle them holistically and find co-benefits across systems.

Find out more about Urban Pulse here.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 22 - Digital solutions shaping the urban landscape

This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast explores the role of digital financial innovation in building urban resilience, featuring experts Daniel Sullivan, Director of Resilience for the City of Cape Town, and Tanya Filer, Founder and CEO of StateUp.

Together, we look at the findings of StateUp's latest research, conducted in partnership with the Resilient Cities Network, on the transformative power of public financial technologies in building urban resilience. Tanya highlights some of the common challenges such as fiscal constraints, climate change, and social inequalities, and looks into the importance of digital and emerging technologies in urban resilience.

Daniel shares his and Cape Town's experience in deploying digital initiatives to advance urban resilience, including the use of digital financial technologies to build resilience outcomes. He discusses the city's parallel journeys in developing a digital strategy and a resilience program, focusing on using data insights and technology to inform city responses and support vulnerable communities.

The conversation then delves into the challenges of bridging the gap between digital and resilience teams within city governments to maximise the impact of digital transitions. Tanya and Daniel highlight the cultural barriers and the need for a cohesive strategy that combines digital insights and policy implementation. The episode also explores the potential for cities to use digital technologies to address specific resilience goals, such as using spend data to better plan and prepare for food and water shortages.

Listen in to uncover insights into the role of digital financial innovation in building urban resilience, emphasising the importance of collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and leveraging partnerships within the city ecosystem.

For more information on the work between Resilient Cities Network, StateUp and Visa, click here.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 21 - 10 years of urban resilience in Rotterdam

This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast takes a look back at Rotterdam's resilience journey over the past decade. Host Paul Wilson speaks with Arnoud Molenaar, Rotterdam's Chief Resilience Officer, who was one of the first city CROs to be appointed in 2014.

Molenaar discusses how Rotterdam first addressed resilience through climate adaptation efforts due to its location near water. We discover how the city developed two resilience strategies focused on issues like water management, social challenges, and pandemic preparedness, as Molenaar takes us through notable projects like the city's "water squares" and the "Resilient BoTu District 2028" initiative.

We also delve into Molenaar's vision for resilience to be fully embedded in all of Rotterdam's operations and governance by 2034, uncovering valuable insights for other cities on Rotterdam's pioneering resilience journey over the last decade as one of the early adopters of the Chief Resilience Officer model.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 20 - Tackling plastic waste in our water

This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast explores solutions to the global challenge of plastic pollution, with a focus on cities' role in addressing this issue. R-Cities' Lauren Sorkin is joined by Dr. Parama Roy of Okapi Research and Advisory in Chennai, and Taylor Maddalene of the University of Georgia, to discuss the scope of plastic waste problems worldwide and their impacts on urban areas.

Taking Chennai as a case study, our expert guests outline the city's rapid growth and relationship with its extensive network of waterways, which have become threatened by waste dumping. There's discussion of the Urban Ocean programme's holistic, science-based approach to tackling plastic waste in cities like Chennai, including conducting assessments to understand waste systems and identify improvements.

Dr Roy explains how pilot projects in Chennai aim to encourage source segregation and composting through community outreach and innovative infrastructure. Conversation also turns to the challenges around enforcement of existing policies, emphasising why cities should tailor sustainable solutions to local contexts while combining grassroots initiatives with national policies.

In this episode, listeners learn about practical strategies for monitoring plastic pollution and driving change at multiple scales. Listen now for the latest actionable advice for city professionals invested in solving the global plastic crisis through collaborative, long-term solutions.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 19 - The intersection between risk, resilience and insurance

This episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast explores how risk, resilience and insurance measures come together to support the future of cities. The episode delves into innovative partnerships to strengthen climate resilience in Miami Dade County, with Galen Treuer from Miami Dade explaining how rising insurance costs due to hurricanes and flooding have impacted many residents.

Through the Resilient 305 initiative, Miami Dade is collaborating with Miami and Miami Beach to better manage regional climate risks. Peter Adams from insurance firm Howden also joins the conversation to discuss how the Global Risk and Resilience Fellowship (GRRF) aims to bridge the gap between cities and insurers facing climate change.

Discover how Miami Dade has worked with vulnerable communities to design parametric policies providing quick flood payouts, and why these policies target timing gaps where smaller flood events disproportionately impact low-income households without support networks.

Both Treuer and Adams emphasise the value of sharing local data with insurers. Treuer explains how canal water levels impact flooding in specific neighbourhoods, while Adams demonstrates how collaboration in Miami Dade creates a "safe space" for insurers to innovate based on new discoveries.

Finally, you can find out how multidisciplinary partnerships between climate, finance, engineering and other teams can boost resilience in cities, with inclusive collaboration across disciplines necessary to comprehensively address climate change through a variety of policy, engineering and insurance solutions.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 18 - Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, City of Bangkok - Holistic disaster resilience

Bangkok, a city of rapid growth, faces the challenges of a complex urban landscape. In this episode, we delve into Bangkok's resilience journey with Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor in Bangkok, and a specialist in disaster resilience.

Join Lauren Sorkin, executive director of the Resilient Cities Network, in conversation with the Deputy Governor, as they discuss:

• The city's biggest resilience challenges and how the current leadership is approaching disaster risk reduction through the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative
• The crucial role of SMEs in Bangkok's economy and their unique vulnerability to shocks and stresses, discussing specific programmes and partnerships, including with the Resilient Cities Network, that are empowering these vital businesses
• Collaboration as key to success. Dr. Kamolvej explains her approach to working with diverse groups, including local communities, and the inspiring "micro capillaries" approach championed by Governor Chadchart.

This episode is packed with insights and practical examples, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in urban resilience, community engagement, and the future of Bangkok.

Listen in to discover:

• Dr. Kamolvej's vision for Bangkok's resilience and the highlights of her tenure
• The biggest challenges Bangkok faces and how they are being addressed
• Innovative programmes supporting small and medium-sized enterprises
• The importance of community engagement and the "micro capillaries" approach
• Key takeaways and lessons learned for building resilient cities.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 17 - Digitalising government disbursements to enhance urban resilience

The latest episode of the Urban Exchange delve into the transformative impact of technology on government disbursements to enhance urban resilience. Joining host Paul Wilson are Agustin Botteron, author of a new Visa report on government disbursements and former Chief Resilience Officer of Santa Fe, and Robert L. Matthews, Director of the Washington D.C. Child and Family Services Agency.

Agustin shares insights from his experience as a city practitioner, emphasising the critical role of local government support programmes in addressing urban challenges, and the barriers such as capacity and funding. The conversation then shifts to the Visa report, exploring how cities worldwide are managing digital disbursements to enhance urban resilience. Agustin underscores the multifaceted nature of the process, encompassing finding potential beneficiaries, screening, and the actual payment.

Director Matthews provides valuable insights into the Washington DC Child and Family Services Agency's shift from a paper-driven system to a digital platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. He focuses on the need for a rapid transition at that time and how it enabled more efficient support for families in need.

As the conversation unfolds, the guests highlight the increasing relevance of digital disbursements in responding to extreme weather events and conflicts. They discuss the role of organisations like Visa and the Resilient Cities Network in fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and infrastructure development. The Grandparent Caregivers Program in Washington, DC, serves as a case study, demonstrating the positive impact of financial subsidies and digital support on families caring for children.

We wrap up by discussing the need for collaboration and trust among various stakeholders, including technology providers, payment platforms, government officials, and NGOs. The acceleration of digital transformation, prompted by the challenges of the pandemic, requires proactive measures to build resilient infrastructures and partnerships for future crises.