EIT Climate-KIC will play a prominent role at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, 9-12 October 2019

Climate change and the booming urban population pose major challenges for the future of our planet. The upcoming Mayors Summit will demonstrate how cities are already concretely delivering on their strong commitments to accelerate the bold climate solutions needed for a sustainable, healthier, resilient and inclusive future.

EIT Climate-KIC, the European Union’s largest public-private partnership addressing climate change through innovation, will organise and participate in several events at the C40 World Mayors Summit taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark from 9-12 October 2019. C40 is a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change.

Next Generation City Action Tech Bazar

As cities set the agenda for a new and innovative set of solutions aimed at a greener tomorrow, youth plays a prominent role as our next generation of leaders driving city climate action.

On 8 October, EIT Climate-KIC is co-hosting an event focused on global partnerships and the next generation, where entrepreneurs and influencers meet 16 groups of students from Denmark, Kenya, Columbia, Mexico, South Africa and Ethiopia, showcasing their solutions to urban sustainability challenges. The event and reception is co-hosted together with C40, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, P4G, DTU Skylab and the Technical University of Denmark.

City Industry Dialogue for Clean & Healthy Construction

Buildings and infrastructure already contribute close to 40% of global CO2 emissions and the expected boom of urban populations will drastically exacerbate the need for energy efficiency. The built environment value chain thus plays a vital role in responding to the current climate urgency.

On 9 October, the Master Class and Market Dialogue for Clean and Healthy Construction will explore how to leverage on green public procurement and innovation in order to achieve low-to-zero emissions materials and machinery. The event is co-organised by EIT Climate-KIC, The Municipality of Copenhagen, C40, Gate21, ICLEI and Innovation Norway with support from the European Commission, Bellona, Innovative Procurements, EUROCITIES and CNCA. 

Opening of the Reinventing Cities Exhibition

On the same day, EIT Climate-KIC and partners will host the opening of the Reinventing Cities Exhibition, a showcase of how local innovators can transform underutilised urban spaces into carbon neutral and resilient urban projects.

The exhibition will display models and materials from a selection of the greatest winning projects. The convivial opening will bring together city representatives, winning teams and more. The event is co-organised together with C40 Cities, the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish Association of Architectural Firms.

Systemic change in our food system

The changing climate and demographics of our planet bring to life the need for a rapid shift in diets and agricultural practices. To reach the targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the climate change objectives for 2030, habits, production systems, metrics and governance will have to change drastically.

On 10 October, EIT Climate-KIC will co-host an event together with Copenhagen House of Food inviting stakeholders involved in the food value chain around public meals to discuss how to shift the food system towards sustainability.

Access Cities Open Innovation Day

As climate change and a booming urban population pose major challenges for our planet, cities must be prepared to deal with the risks and impact. The outputs from the event will reflect this and move to creating the climate-resilient, zero-carbon towns and cities of the future.

During an Open Innovation Day on 11 October, Access Cities – an international public-private programme aiming to strengthen sustainable urban development in five progressive cities and co-financed by EIT  Climate-KIC and others – will crown the winner of the recent Open Innovation Call in Copenhagen targeting urban air pollution and the heat island effect. Here, the five finalists will deliver their final pitches to the judging panel consisting of high-level representatives from the City of Copenhagen and prominent Danish companies.

For more information on all EIT Climate-KIC events, please visit the event page below.

EIT Climate-KIC at the C40 Summit