Hemispheric Dialogue on Climate Resilience & Adaptation: Lessons learned, best practices, and key takeaways.
This report summarizes the leading ideas, case studies, and tools shared during the Dialogue, an event organized by Cities Forward in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 18, 2024.
How can cities across Latin America and the Caribbean confront climate change while building more inclusive, sustainable futures? That’s the central focus of this report, which documents the key findings of the Urban Hemispheric Dialogue on Climate Resilience & Adaptation hosted by the Cities Forward Initiative.
More than 70 stakeholders from local governments, NGOs, academia, and the private sector gathered to discuss best practices and project co-development in areas like nature-based solutions, housing and environmental risk, water infrastructure, and urban technology.
This publication shares the most important insights from four thematic sessions, a selection of case studies from across the Americas, and a roadmap for building local capacity and climate resilience.
What you will find in the report
- Key takeaways from four thematic sessions focused on urban sustainability and adaptation
- Real-world case studies from cities in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, and the U.S.
- Best practices in nature-based solutions, community-led planning, and risk assessment
- The role of data, satellite imagery, and AI in supporting city decision-making
- Strategies for integrating resilience into housing, green spaces, and critical infrastructure
- Regional frameworks and standards that guide local-level project implementation
- An overview of the Cities Forward program and its collaborative approach to climate challenges
Key Questions
- How are cities in Latin America and the Caribbean addressing urban climate vulnerability?
- What nature-based and ecosystem-based strategies can enhance urban resilience?
- What are the links between housing inequality and climate risk in informal settlements?
- How can cities apply data-driven planning tools like satellite imagery and predictive modeling?
- What role does community engagement play in implementing sustainable adaptation projects?
- How can lessons from cities like Hoboken, São Paulo, and Renca inform regional strategies?
- What collaborative models and funding mechanisms support long-term urban sustainability?
Selected city pairings
Ambato, Ecuador + Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cali, Colombia + Baltimore, Maryland
Cartagena, Colombia + Denver, Colorado
Fortaleza, Brazil + Hawaii County, Hawaii
Freeport, Bahamas + Coral Springs, Florida
Guatemala City, Guatemala + Dallas, Texas
Hermosillo, México + Dubuque, Iowa
Manaus, Brazil + Albany, New York
Mérida, México + Austin, Texas
Montego Bay, Jamaica + Hoboken, New Jersey
Renca, Chile + Evanston, Illinois
Rosario, Argentina + Chattanooga, Tennessee
This transformative program will help Latin America and the Caribbean cities create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient futures with knowledge sharing from U.S. cities.
Cities Forward Team
