Two of the world’s leading urban networks and policy organizations, 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), today announced a partnership. The collaboration will leverage resources and facilitate cooperation between the two groups, along with member cities, to ensure for robust climate change and resilience plans.
Urban Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience. By focusing on both shocks and stresses, cities can prepare for a wide range of challenges both known and unknown, as well as become better in both good times and bad. Both organizations recognize that climate change policy is central to robust urban resilience and are committed to ensuring that the work to prepare for the impacts of climate change has a broad range of benefits – for job growth, health, social cohesion and more. The partnership will help ensure that cities maintain the necessary focus on climate change while also realizing these multiple benefits.
39 cities are members of both 100RC and C40 – an overarching goal of the partnership is to leverage the resources and expertise of the two organizations for these joint member cities as well as cities more broadly. This will include 100RC and C40 disseminating tools to cities, that include financing solutions to implement adaptation projects, facilitating city to city exchange and support to cities developing and implementing their climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience plans.
“C40 is a global leader in driving urban action on climate change, and has been a collaborator with 100RC since our inception” said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities. “We are thrilled to formalize our partnership to improve climate mitigation and resilience planning in cities worldwide. This partnership will capitalize on the resources we offer cities, and ensure that cities take a holistic, inclusive approach when addressing the challenges that lie ahead.”
"100RC has a fantastic track record of helping cities to plan for the long term and prepare for whatever the future holds,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40. “The reality is that the future for cities worldwide will mean greater threats from climate change. C40 cities are committed to action on climate change which also means building their resilience to its effects. Thanks to our partnership with 100RC we can provide even greater support to those efforts.
Read the press release here.