Cathy Oke - Bridging the Gap Between Research and Policy for Climate Action

Cathy Oke: Bridging the gap between research and policy for climate action

Innovate4Cities is a city-focused research and innovation initiative (including knowledge, tools and partnerships) that addresses critical data, innovation and technological gaps to enable cities to take accelerated and ambitious climate action. Co-developed by cities, city networks, scientists and research institutions and leading private sector entities, the initiative focuses on the areas most critical to drive climate action in cities. The lecture presents the history and objectives of Innovate4Cities, and unpacks the currently identified research and innovation gaps to meet cities climate action ambition.
The Innovate4Cities initiative grew out of the 2018 Cities and Climate Change Science Conference in Edmonton, Canada, to accelerate global city climate action. The conference purpose was to assess the state of academic and practice-based knowledge related to cities and climate change, and to establish a global research agenda based on the joint identification of key gaps by the academic, practitioner and urban policy-making communities.
Innovate4Cities is facilitated by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy through its Research and Innovation Technical Working Group (TWG). Through this, TWG city networks and other urban focussed researchers are working together to align efforts and establish a single collaborative research agenda that addresses the identified gaps. This has involved the identification of research ‘gaps’ by analyzing ongoing and upcoming projects from leading city climate organizations, with the purpose of ensuring the efficient use of time and resources, maximizing opportunities for collaboration and minimizing duplication of effort. The lecture emphasizes that accelerated and coordinated knowledge generation is essential to best position city climate leaders to implement innovative climate solutions.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. The IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options.



The Global Urban Lectures are 15-minute lectures on themes related to sustainable urbanisation, delivered by renowned experts, UN-Habitat partners and UN-Habitat staff. The lectures have been ranked among the best MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) on cities.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–Habitat) is the United Nations agency working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
Report links:
5:56: Summary for Policy Makers, IPCC
6:30: Climate Emergency, Urban Opportunity, Coalition for Urban Transitions
8:29: Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science

Photo credits:

Slide 2 – GoM Graphic, courtesy GCoM
Slide 4 – GoM Graphic, courtesy GcoM, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (2019) Climate Emergency: Unlocking the Urban Opportunity Together – Impact Report 2019.
source credited on slide.
Slide 5 – GoM Graphic, courtesy GcoM, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (2019) Climate Emergency: Unlocking the Urban Opportunity Together – Impact Report 2019. source credited on slide.
Slide 6 – image of report covers, Summary for Urban Policy Makers; and For Cities By Cities, GcoM affiliated
Slide 7 - image of report cover of Climate Emergency, Coalition for Urban Transitions, GCoM affiliated
Slide 8 – graphic from Climate Emergency, Coalition for Urban Transitions, GCoM affiliated,
Source: Stockholm Environmental Institute for the Coalition for Urban Transitions, 2019
GCoM affiliated, source credited on slide.
Slide 9 - image of publicly available report cover, World Climate Research Programme (2019). Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science, source credited on slide.
Slide 10– GoM Graphic, courtesy GCoM
Slide 11 – GoM Graphic, courtesy GCoM
Slide 13 – Cathy Oke
Slide 14 – Cathy Oke
Slide 15 – Alexei Trundle (approval given)
Slide 16 – Cathy Oke
Slide 17 – Cathy Oke
Slide 18 – Cathy Oke