COP 26 Side Event: Transformation of South Asian Cities to Climate Friendliness and Social Justice

Future Urban infrastructure investments will be a decisive factor for the achievement of the 1.5° goal. Investing in sustainable infrastructure is a prerequisite to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty, fulfil their basic rights to adequate food, access to water, health, education and housing, and to realize the Sustainable Development Goals. By 2030, USD 6 trillion are projected to be invested in urban, energy, water, information and communications technology, and transport infrastructure every year. 70% of it will occur in the developing world, mostly in Asia. This event’s objective is to strengthen perspectives on cities and urban societies as transformative actors through climate-friendly decisions on infrastructure. Based on two studies on urban climate challenges, the side event will provide examples of the specific vulnerability of urban poor and urban ecosystems. Speakers will explore options to mitigate poverty and carbon footprints and increase climate resilience in South Asian countries. Case studies will exemplify contributions towards urban transformation to social justice and ecological sustainability.

Speaking at this event: Anumita Roy Chowdhury (Centre for Science and Environment - CSE), MD Shamsuddoha (Center for Participatory Research and Development - CPRD), Sanjay Vashist (Climate Action Network South Asia - CANSA), Philipp Knill (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development - BMZ) and Almuth Schauber (Misereor).

Moderated by Rixa Schwarz (Germanwatch e.V.).

The event will be livestreamed on the website of the German Pavilion. Please register via https://german-climate-pavilion.de/register to receive a registration number and follow the live stream on Wednesday. You can join the discussion with our panelists during the event via a Slido-Chat.