Urbanization has brought both opportunities and challenges for development and growth. Our cities, which are centres of economic activity, are home to over 50% of the global population; represent between 70%-80% of the world’s total emission of greenhouse gases; and have increased the pressure on limited land resources. At the same time, urban areas are already experiencing negative climate change impacts such as higher sea levels, more heat waves, intense storms and heavy precipitation and extended drought events. These impacts are heavily affecting the vulnerable population and causing major loss of life, social disruption and economic hardship.

National urban policies are regarded as an essential instrument for addressing urbanization challenges and identifying opportunities for action. In 2017, the mainstreaming of the urban dimensions of climate change into the Philippines’ National Urban Development and Housing Framework (NUDHF), 2017-2023, has been completed. Through this mainstreaming process, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), as well as 14 other national government agencies which were part of the technical working group, was assisted and provided capacity building through a ‘learning by doing’ process. Benefitting from lessons learned of this process, local authorities are currently being assisted in implementing/applying the climate change considerations highlighted in the NUDHF in the formulation of their local climate change action plans and integrated development plans.

The Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change in Urban Development aims to provide a space for discussion of and agreements on the key elements of the NUDHF, and the entry points to highlight the urban dimension and built environment in the NCCAP and the NDCs. The event will bring together multiple actors in the urban ecosystem—policymakers, national and local government representatives, the private sector, academics and practitioners- to co-generate ideas and scalable solutions and recommend policies, strategies and actions for addressing urban climate issues; and explore policies and actions needed to deepen the linkages between climate action and sustainable urban development.

Download the full concept note and programme HERE.