Towards a Nature-Positive Future: Insights from COP29

At the Singapore Pavilion at COP29 Azerbaijan, SMU Urban Institute's Urban Fellow (Urban Growth) Terry van Gevelt, Associate Professor of Urban Sustainability from the SMU College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University moderated an engaging panel discussion titled "Towards a City in Nature." The session focused on how cities can accelerate the adoption of nature-based solutions to enhance urban well-being, resilience, and biodiversity.

Panelists included Jason Wright, Director, Design, National Parks Board; Léan Doody, European Director of Cities, Arup; Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited; and Dr Nirmal Kishnani, Associate Professor, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore. 

The panel explored challenges such as moving beyond monofunctional urban designs, fostering multi-disciplinary collaborations, and leveraging technologies like AI and ecosystem modeling. They also discussed the importance of creating business cases for nature-positive solutions and fostering strong public-private-community partnerships.

As Hugh Lim, Executive Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities noted, nature-positive developments are emerging as vital strategies to reconcile livability with climate and resource challenges. This session underscored the potential for cities to integrate resilience and regeneration into their planning and policies.

The Institute remains committed to advancing these ideas and driving impactful solutions for Asian cities. We wholeheartly support our Urban Fellows' participation in these critical conversations, as their expertise and leadership are key to shaping the future of sustainable urban growth. Together, we can create a future where people and nature thrive.

Recording of session: https://lnkd.in/gk754Dqi 

 Photo and video screen capture credit: COP29 Singapore Pavilion

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