Low-Emission, Climate-Resilient and Competitive Cities & Capitalizing on the Potential of Culture Beyond 2015

1. Low-Emission, Climate-Resilient and Competitive Cities
&
Capitalizing on the Potential of Culture Beyond
2015
GREEN CITY SUMMIT
19 – 20 September 2013
Dr. Katalin Zaim
UNDP Program Manager
Empowered lives. Resilient nations.

2. Climate change and urban development
Cities occupy less than 3
percent of the Earth’s land
surface but now house just
over 50% of the world’s
population, a figure that is
estimated to increase to 60% by
2030.
There are currently:
19 mega-cities (with
populations greater
than 10 million
inhabitants)
22 cities with 5-
10million
inhabitants
800 cities containing
1-5 million
inhabitants
Sources: United Nations, 2004; Dawson et al, 2009

3. Low Emissions Climate Resilient Strategies
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4. 4
Source: S. Hallegatte ; J.-C. Hourcade ; P. Ambrosi, Using Climate Analogues for Assessing Climate
Change Economic Impacts in Urban Areas, in Climatic Change 82 (1-2), May, 2007, pp. 47-60.
Climate Analogues 2070

5. UNDP’s partnership with the Dubai Supreme Energy
Council
Working in partnership with the
Dubai Supreme Energy
Council, UNDP assisted the
Emirate of Dubai to reduce its
carbon footprint and to explore the
synergies between climate change
mitigation and adaptation actions:
• Over 1 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide reductions, with millions
of dollars in carbon revenues
• Structure Dubai’s solar power
expansion plans and streamline
access to carbon financing
• An Integrated Territorial Climate
Plan to identify, priorities and
mobilize financing for climate-
smart urban development
Energy-water
linkages
Sustainable transport
solutions
Grid-connected solar
power
Energy efficient, heat
resilient buildings

6. Capitalizing on the Potential of Culture Beyond
2015
“Culture and Development” UNGA
Resolutions in 2010 and 2011
called for the mainstreaming of culture into
development policies and strategies, and
underscored culture’s intrinsic contribution
to sustainable development.
May 2010 Green City Summit, 19 – 20 September 2013 6

7. Culture is: as a driver and as an enabler.
Cultural heritage, cultural and creative
industries, sustainable cultural tourism,
and cultural infrastructure can serve as
strategic tools for revenue generation,
particularly in developing countries given
their rich cultural heritage.
May 2010 Management Practice - BRC 7

8. Cultural and creative industries represent one of the most
rapidly expanding sectors in the global economy with a
growth rate of :
17.6 % in the Middle East,
13.9 % in Africa,
11.9 % in South America,
9.7 % in Asia, 6.9 % in Oceania, and
4.3 % in North and Central America.
Promoting this sector requires limited capital investment,
involves low entry barriers and can have a direct impact
on vulnerable populations, including women.
May 2010 Management Practice - BRC 8

9. Today, many cities use cultural heritage and
cultural events and institutions to improve:
– their image,
– stimulate urban development, and
– attract visitors as well as investments.
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10. Cultural Lead Urban Development
Culture-led development also includes a range of non-monetized benefits:
 social inclusiveness and rootedness,
 resilience,
 innovation,
 creativity and
 Entrepreneurship
for individuals and communities, and the use of local resources, skills, and knowledge.
Respecting and supporting cultural expressions contribute to strengthening the social capital of a
community and fosters trust in public institutions.
Cultural factors also influence lifestyles, individual behaviour, consumption patterns,
values related to environmental stewardship, and our interaction with the natural
environment.
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11. The way forward:
1. Integrating Culture into Governance.
2. Capitalizing on the Cultural Sector’s Contribution
to Economic Development and Poverty
Reduction.
3. Capitalizing on Traditional Knowledge to foster
Environmental sustainability.
4. Building on Culture to Promote Social cohesion
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12. Harness culture as a resource for achieving sustainable urban
development and management
5. A vibrant cultural life and the quality of urban historic
environments are key for achieving sustainable cities.
6. Culture-led redevelopment of urban areas, and public
spaces in particular, should be promoted to preserve the
social fabric, improve economic returns and increase
competitiveness, by giving impetus to a diversity of
intangible cultural heritage practices as well as
contemporary creative expressions.
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13. PROMOTE:
cultural and creative industries
heritage-based urban revitalization and
sustainable tourism
powerful economic sub-sectors that generate
green employment, stimulate local
development, and foster creativity.
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14. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
www.undp.org.tr
katalin.zaim@undp.org
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