Summer School 2024: Innovation in Town and City Climate Action

Summer School 2024: Innovation in Town and City Climate Action

The Glasgow Climate Pact, signed at COP26, was a step forward in our effort to tackle climate change. But there are serious concerns that it is not enough. While the Glasgow Climate Pact gives guidelines on how we tackle climate change, it’s not legally binding.

A clear sign that we are not moving fast enough is that COP26 aimed to ‘keep 1.5ᵒC alive’, to minimise a rise in global temperatures. In 2023, just two years later, 1.5ᵒC has already been breached. More needs to be done.

Slow progress is not a new problem. The friction between countries on a global stage has always been a barrier to progress. That’s why there is a growing consensus that climate action has to be driven by towns and cities at a local level. The place management industry has every incentive to lead on this.

Not only are our towns and cities exposed to extreme weather events which are taking a toll on the business community in areas hit by repeated storms and flooding, but there are also a number of co-benefits to climate action which can bring economic growth. Furthermore, as outlined in our ground breaking virtual event 'Divided We Fall' there needs to be the type of coordinated approach that necessitates the involvement of place management.

Following the legacy of COP26, Summer School 2024 will take place in Glasgow with a range of keynote sessions, workshops, study tours and panel debates. We will explore a number of issues crucial to local climate action including recovering from extreme weather, business engagement on sustainability, the 15 minute city, and the impact of net zero on regeneration. We will use an amended format to deliver more interactive workshops and panel debate to allow members to share best practice.

Summer School 2024 will, once again, include the Town and City Management Industry Awards Dinner. These will be held at the Marriott in Glasgow city centre on the evening of the 19th June. The Awards Dinner will include Round 39 of the Purple Flag Awards. Further details on the year's awards process will be made available soon.

Not paying by credit card? Contact the ATCM Membership Manager, Karen Shields (Karen.Shields@atcm.org) to request a booking form.

Refreshed Format

18th June: (Evening) Drinks Reception

19th June: (Morning/Early Afternoon) Keynote Sessions, (Late Afternoon) Study Tours, (Evening) Town and City Management Industry Awards Dinner

20th June: (Morning/Early Afternoon) Panel Debates and Interactive Workshops

Elected Members Invited to Attend Free of Charge

To increase engagement with political decision-makers in an era where local authorities face financial challenges, we are delighted to offer a maximum of 50 tickets to elected members free of charge.

The elected member must be a serving councillor, MP, MSP, AM, TD or equivalent at the time the ticket is requested. With a UK General Election on the horizon, parliamentary candidates will also be considered, but ATCM reserves the right to refuse entry.

Elected members can attend only if they are accompanied by a fee paying delegate from their constituency such as their local town centre manager, BID manager or property owner. There is a cap of just two free tickets available for elected members per constituency. The offer of a free ticket is inclusive of the entire event including the conference, study tours, awards dinner and interactive sessions. Finally, all free tickets are offered at the discretion of ATCM and can be refused.

To apply for a free ticket, contact Karen Shields directly at Karen.Shields@atcm.org.

About Scotland's Towns Partnership

Scotland’s Towns Partnership is the voice of the country’s towns - championing their place at the heart of the nation and advocating their pivotal part in a stronger, more sustainable future.

We are helping shape a better future for towns and places more widely, representing and promoting their diversity while supporting those organisations and groups who have an interest and ownership of them.

You can find out more info on our website here: https://scotlandstowns.org/