“Cities, Culture and Climate: A Get-Together for Green Culture, Heritage and Creative Cities” within the World Urban Forum 11th session

Culture and heritage can help us respond to climate change and transform our cities for a better urban future. Traditional knowledge on how we designed and built cities before the fossil fuel era points the way to post-carbon living. Artistic and imaginative tools challenge business-as-usual mindsets. Collectively, these culture-based approaches allow us to imagine and realise circular, regenerative, low carbon ways of living not dependent on the exploitation of people and nature.

Europa Nostra, on behalf of and in close collaboration with the global Climate Heritage Network, organises an event that will bring together diverse local, European, and international urban changemakers who are driving transformative change through art -, heritage- and culture-based climate solutions. The event is taking place on 27 June, from 13.30 to 15.00, in the frame of the World Urban Forum in Katowice, Poland.

The event will provide a convivial, informal and inspiring space for private and public actors active in the fields of culture, cultural heritage, and creative industries who are leading transformational climate action at city level to meet, exchange and network.

To facilitate meaningful dialogue and impactful networking, the event will put forward a series of engaging activities: from thought-provoking ice-breaker exercises to informal inter-generational and interdisciplinary dialogues. Ultimately, the goal would be to foster synergies, inspire collaborations and initiate partnerships for a greener, more inclusive and more sustainable urban future through arts, heritage and culture.

Register by 22 June here.

Programme

– Welcome by Lorena Aldana, European Policy Coordinator, Europa Nostra
– Setting the tone by Andrew Potts, Coordinator, Climate Heritage Network Secretariat

Inspirational speeches
The local perspective
– Patryk Bialas & Sebastian Pypłacz, Chairman and Vice-President of Biomasto Association (Katowice civil society)
– Ewelina Pekala, Project Coordinator, Sendzimir Foundation
The City perspective
– Robert Piaskowski, Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Krakow for Culture, City of Krakow
The Global perspective
– Dr Shipra Narang Suri, Chief, Urban Practices Branch, UN -Habitat
Update on the UCLG Town Hall Process
– Introduction by Andrew Potts, Coordinator, Climate Heritage Network Secretariat
– Pablo Fernandez, Chief of Staff, UCLG
– Sophia Torres, Policy Officer, Global Platform for the Right to the City

Networking dynamic & light lunch