Global Sustainable Cities: Cities and Our Environmental Future

Over half of the world’s population now lives in cities, and this share is expected to increase in the coming decades. With growing urbanization, cities and their residents face substantial environmental challenges such as higher temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and increased flooding. In response to these pressing challenges, some cities have begun to develop local environmental regulations that supplement national and environmental laws. Experts from around the globe take stock of the policies that leading cities in the global north and south are taking to lessen the impacts of climate change and secure a more sustainable urban future.

This program is timed to coincide with the release of Global Sustainable Cities: City Governments and Our Environmental Future, a new book that is a collaborative effort of NYU’s faculty in New York City and Abu Dhabi. The book includes first-hand accounts of recent environmental initiatives adopted by Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Delhi, London, New York, and Shanghai.

OPENING REMARKS

John Coughlin, Global Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies and Law, NYUAD

PANELISTS

Daniel Zarrilli, Special Advisor for Climate and Sustainability, Columbia University; former Chief Climate Policy Advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio

Elena De Nictolis, Post-Doctoral Global Fellow, New York University School of Law

Harry den Hartog, Professor, Tongji University, Shanghai

Hu Tao, Director, Lakestone Institute for Sustainable Development

Wolfram von Heynitz, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany New York

MODERATORS

Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Executive Director and Adjunct Professor of Law, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law, NYU School of Law

Katrina Wyman, Wilf Family Professor of Property Law, NYU School of Law