EU Cities Mission – Challenging the Competitiveness Paradigm: Cities Meet Philanthropy
The EU Cities Mission will host the third webinar in its “Philanthropy Talks: Towards Climate-Neutral Cities through Imagination, New Skills & New Economies” series on 20 March, on “Transforming Economies Through Cities: A Fair Transition to Climate-Neutrality”, with Climate-KIC.
The new political landscape across the globe is radically shifting the way in which alliances, trade and growth strategies are rolled out. Mario Draghi suggests that Europe is facing an “existential challenge” which can only be met by becoming more productive, yet the path towards European competitiveness seems to be at a crossroads and the way in which Europe makes choices in terms of research and innovation, industrial strategy, skill shortages and energy security will directly impact the pace of its transition to climate-neutrality.
Cities keep playing a leading role in implementing the European Green Deal on the ground, by investing in green infrastructures despite limited funding and resources. However, the green transition cannot be fully implemented if it isn’t rooted in behavioural change, shift of values and patterns of consumption. Philanthropy can step in to provide patient capital as well as ensure that the transition goes beyond decarbonisation and embraces solutions that include social and cultural dimensions, and adopts vision-based funding models that support ecosystems of actors rather than isolated projects.
This webinar will feature a moderated conversation around organisations that are implementing cities’ transition on the ground. It will also be an opportunity to discuss about next steps around the dialogue between cities and philanthropic organisations.
Achieving climate-neutrality is an unprecedented challenge which requires unparalleled (re)actions, mind-bending visions nurtured by hope instead of fatalism. Public administrations and citizens cannot do it alone. Foundations are increasingly involved in supporting cities committed to reach net-zero emissions: by fostering the shift to renewable energies, by facilitating the increase of energy efficiency, or implementing sustainable practices in transportation, industry and agriculture.
Philea and Climate-KIC are launching the “Philanthropy Talks Series” to bring together thought leaders on three topics: imagination, new skills and new economies, and spotlighting emergent programmes around them.
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