Event Description

Today, we live in an increasingly urbanised world. According to the UN around 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase, rising to 68% by 2050. But cities are major contributors to climate change. If we are to tackle climate change and our many environmental challenges, it is clear that transforming our urban environments is vital.

In this session of the Earth Convention we will explore examples of cities across the world that are taking the lead on green initiatives. How can we design and plan urban infrastructure to be more sustainable? What can we learn from the response to the Covid-19 crisis about organising sustainable work and living in cities? We will look at how citizens are organising and working in partnership with city governments, civil society and businesses, and look at how transport is changing.

The Earth Convention

This is a critical time in the world’s response to climate change and the environment. The realities can no longer be ignored – from the Arctic to Australia, and our own changing weather patterns. If we are to tackle the issue every sector of society will have to play its part: energy, food, fashion, transport, finance. Why is it so hard for people to take steps towards solutions? Where does responsibility lie – with us, businesses or governments? What are the most effective things that we can do? And can we turn the pandemic into a defining moment in the fight against climate change? To explore the issues 5x15 and Rathbones have teamed up to launch the Earth Convention – a series of online events bringing together world experts for online conversations, focusing on both the problems as well as the opportunities and the actions that we can all take.