Innovate4cities Conference

To link cities, climate change science, and findings from the first Global Stocktake, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) have announced that the next Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C2024) is set to take place for the first time in Montreal, Canada from 10-12 September 2024.

I4C2024 will convene leaders from cities, academia, civil society, and industry at the intersection of urban development and climate change science to inform the Seventh Assessment Report Cycle (AR7) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and progress on innovative cross-sector solutions that address critical sustainability gaps. In anticipation of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change & Cities, the Innovate4Cities Conference in 2024 is a key opportunity to elevate the latest science, reflect on progress since the first Innovate4Cities Conference in 2021, and highlight collaboration pathways across sectors. 

I4C2024, part of the Innovate4Cities initiative, builds on insights from the first Global Stocktake, the SURGe initiative launched at COP27, and the recent launch of the Coalition for High-Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) initiative to broker knowledge, research, and solutions that meet urban needs – as enshrined in the Global Research and Action Agenda (GRAA) and City Research and Innovation Agenda (CRIA). It builds on the successful Innovate4Cities Conference in 2021, which hosted nearly 7,000 participants from 159 countries across 220 different sessions. 

Since its inception in 2018 with the Cities & Climate Change Science Conference in Edmonton, the Innovate4Cities initiative has played a crucial role in uniting city and local government leaders, academics, civil society, and businesses – at the nexus of cities, climate change science, and policy innovation – thus bridging the gap between city climate ambition and tangible action. I4C2024 in Montreal underscores the continued growth of the longstanding partnership between GCoM and UN-Habitat.

Aiming for diverse, inclusive, and science-led perspectives, I4C2024 will provide a creative space to discuss and exchange views on challenges, solutions, and pathways forward – inclusive of the regional sensitivities critical to fair and inclusive climate action. With around 65% of the 169 targets of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals requiring the engagement of local and regional governments, I4C2024 is going to be a crucial forum for dialogue and insight – with a focus on sharing regionally-grounded knowledge needed to inform the global discourse on climate change and cities, regardless of the language of publication. 

Researchers and academics are invited to participate ahead of I4C2024 by sharing knowledge and insights from their own work. Find out more information about submitting manuscripts for two special issues on City Led Research and Innovation for Climate Action, to be published in August 2024 and August 2025, respectively.

Submit your interest in attending I4C2024, for researchers, local leaders, stakeholders, businesses, and climate enthusiasts by visiting the I4C2024 website. Be an integral part of this key initiative towards sustainable & resilient cities worldwide. Together, let’s innovate for cities and drive concrete climate action on a global scale.