Unlocking Transformation in City Governments

EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Urban Mobility and cirka CPH are pleased to invite for a day of learning and exchanging knowledge to understand the following:

• What do city and local governments need in order to take true innovative action?

• How can city and local governments, with their partners, use momentum for change to rapidly change city systems (services, energy, mobility, culture, etc.)?

and

• How to to hold perspective towards sustainable development and climate resiliency, when faced with a pressing energy crisis? 

This half day conference and workshop is free of charge. Secure your spot by registering today!

AGENDA

10:30 - 11:00 Welcome

Arrival, check-in and freshly baked buns

11:00 - 12:30 Talks and discussions

Introduction by Solla Zophoniasdottir, Head of Learning at EIT Climate-KIC

Fresh off the city innovation scene at COP27, Solla will outline the key inquiry around the core capabilities, that helps local government meet both ambitious climate targets and core human needs. What are the shifts in mindset and approach needed by those tackling the climate challenge in cities? How do they enable systems innovation and how to embed them in practice?

Keynote by Laila Kildesgaard, renowned climate leader and former Director for Climate at the Asssociaton of Local Governments Denmark (also available for online participants)

Laila Kildesgaard will join us to dissect the capabilities and local anchoring required to succeed with implementing Paris-aligned climate plans, based on insight from the 98 danish municipalities. Laila brings us up to date on the emerging role of local government, including municipal climate diplomacy, local arenas and stakeholders and redefining what success looks like.

Laila is something as rare as a local government leader who understands countryside, suburbs and cities alike. Raised in a small village in western Denmark, Laila has served over a decade in municipal top positions, in suburban Helsingør, at the rocky island of Bornholm, and in downtown Copenhagen.

Interactive sensemaking workshop by climate participation specialists from cirka cph

Municipal officials and partner organizations engage in dialogue to make sense of the value and potential of the capabilities and transformative approaches to systemic climate innovation in local government, that are being proposed by the speakers.

12:30 - 13:15 Lunch

Enjoy a complementary vegetarian lunch in company with city and local government representatives, experts and partners from across the Nordics.

13:15 - 15:30 Cases and workshop

Case presentation by Jens Gille, Head of Environmental Strategic Unit at City of Helsingborg (also available for online participants)

Jens Gille gives us insight into success and challenges in how the city of Helsingborg is transforming its operating environment to better deliver on sustainability goals and citizens’ needs.

Jens is a senior environmental strategist leading an interdisciplinary unit in the City of Helsingborg. Home to 150.000 people, the city has become known for demonstrating a suite of innovative solutions for sustainability.

Presentation by Chin-Yu Lee, Climate Adviser at City of Trondheim (also available for online participants)

Big questions, some answers? Case finance: How can local governments adopt "green public finance" as a tool for climate transition? Case multi-level governance: How can major cities in Norway contribute to achieving the national climate goals?

Presentation by Bjarke Kovshøj, Strategic Programmes Lead at EIT-Climate-KIC (also available for online participants)

Key insights from a consortium of European cities on bringing forward and building on momentum of multi-stakeholder engagement from Climathons. How to not get stuck in bottlenecks?

Interactive transformation workshop by climate participation specialists from cirka cph

How will transformation appear in your city, town or district - and which path can take you there?

Put key insights to good use in your own context and identify core challenges en route to climate transformation in your local government. With support from the Sustainability Backcasting approach and likeminded peers, you'll even have a good time doing it!

15:30-16:00 Closing

Closing remarks, drinks and networking

Round off the day with a refreshing drink and connect with ambitious colleagues from local governments from near and far.

Registration confirms participation in the full program on December 7 from 11:00 to 16:00 in Copenhagen and includes a complementary vegetarian networking lunch. The registration does not include transportation to and from Copenhagen.

Why join?

Get up to date on how cities and local governments are innovating practice, and take part in a growing movement of practitioners and leaders. All participants will be issued a certificate of succesfully participating in this one-day workshop on Unlocking tranformation in city governments by EIT Climate-KIC.

- Keynote presentations by leading experts in the field

- Connect with local transformation frontrunners from across the Nordics and Baltics

- Get new perspectives on implementing systems innovation in your context

- Get input on how to work with your locally unique challenges 

- Share and gain new insights on challenges and successes in innovating operating environments and when working with local governments

- Get a high-level visual summary, to easily recall and share your insights with colleagues.

Background

While OECD and other international thought leaders have defined overarching capability frameworks to support systems transformation, what does this look like in practice in local government and in their work with other actors?

The day is held to support cities, local governments and actors working with them in bringing local transformations into practice.

Questions

For any inquiry feel free to reach us by using the contact button below or on tom@climate-kic.org

Hosted by EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Urban Mobility and cirka CPH