Strengthening Partnerships for Climate Action and Liveable Cities – Cities Day at COP 29 Singapore Pavilion

CLC curated the Cities Thematic Day at COP 29 in November, under the umbrella of the Singapore Pavilion. Cities Day convened stakeholders from across sectors and cities in discussion of key topics to strengthen multilevel climate action and build liveable cities of the future.

The 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, ran from 11 to 22 November 2024. As part of the Singapore Pavilion’s programming under its theme “Realising Our Shared Climate Vision Together”, CLC curated the Cities Thematic Day. Stakeholders from across sectors and cities came together to discuss key topics to strengthen multilevel climate action and build liveable cities of the future.

Singapore’s Planning Approaches for Climate Change

Keynote Address by Chairman CLC Advisory Panel Professor Cheong Koon Hean

Cities Day opened with speakers laying out the context of how Singapore is planning for climate change.

In his welcome video, Singapore’s Minister for National Development Desmond Lee emphasised the critical need for cities to proactively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change amidst rapid urbanization worldwide. He highlighted Singapore’s long-term, systematic and whole-of-society efforts in planning for climate challenges, including a Long-Term Plan Review every decade, the Long Island project, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and tapping on nature-based solutions as part of a City in Nature vision.

CLC’s Executive Director Hugh Lim expanded on Minister’s speech with two focal areas in his opening address, namely that that cities must be prepared for different possible futures, identify and understand trade-offs, and build in flexibility to cater to the changing needs of their residents. Secondly, that cities would benefit from a collaborative approach in sharing best practices and developing innovative solutions together, which can accelerate action.

Examples such as Singapore Housing & Development Board’s Designing for Life and Green Towns programme, and the Land Transport Masterplan 2040 were cited by Professor Cheong Koon Hean, Chairman CLC Advisory Panel, to illustrate how we take integrated approach in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and build resilient infrastructure and communities. She also said studying Regenerative Design could be the next leap in cities’ urban developmental approach to address climate challenges and optimise resources to achieve liveability goals.

Cities Day Panels – Enabling Regenerative Design

The three Cities Day panels covered topics related to regenerative design, looking at Low-Carbon Cities of the Future, Towards a City in Nature and Resource Circularity and Efficient Resiliency.

Through the insightful sharing by speakers and lively discussions, it was evident that a future challenge facing cities is the growing tension to balance liveability with climate challenges and resource constraints.

Five key enablers were distilled from the panels to prepare and address this challenge through a resilient and regenerative approach to urban development. They are:

1. Innovative and climate-sensitive planning and design

2. Supportive policies and regulatory frameworks

3. Use of smart technology

4. Sound financing and reporting mechanisms, and

5. Strong partnerships across the public, private and people sector

Over the course of the year to the COP30, CLC will be organising a series of engagements that convene cross-sectoral stakeholders across multiple cities, to further unpack these enablers to effectively implement regenerative design.

The Cities Day panel discussions may be viewed here COP29 Singapore Pavilion | Videos On Demand

Strategic Meetings

CLC delegation with His Excellency Eldar Azizov, Head, Executive Power of Baku City

On the sidelines of COP 29, the CLC delegation also met with His Excellency Eldar Azizov, Head of the Executive Power of Baku City and Mr Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Discussions centered on how Singapore and Azerbaijan are addressing climate and liveability challenges, and how both cities can continue to provide global platforms for leaders and stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue and knowledge sharing such as COP 29 and the World Cities Summit in Singapore.

Contributed by:

Andy Tan
Assistant Director
Research