Financing urban climate-resilient development

Early Career Researchers from the UK and Brazil.

This workshop took place on 9 to 12 September 2019, where a group of Early Career Researchers from both countries tested ideas, along with policy-makers, on the pressing issue of financing urban climate-resilient development.

Latin America is one of the most urbanised regions in the world today, and it is expected that growth in urban centres will continue to rise by 2050, when around 9 of every 10 people will live in cities in this region. Moreover, cities are increasingly being affected by extreme climate events, which are expected to become more frequent and intense. Cities thus require to build climate-resilient development. Small and medium cities, however, often are more vulnerable to climate impacts and lack human, material and financial resources. If they want to advance climate resilience, they require access to traditional and non-traditional financing mechanisms. In this workshop we explored with policy-makers financing options that cities can access to build climate-resilience capacities. These options include, for example, insurance, private finance, fiscal sources, green bonds, development finance, pension funds, micro-finance etc. We also explored which are the in-house resources that small and medium cities have to finance climate-resilient development.

This workshop is part of the Researcher Links initiative.

The workshop intends to advance research collaboration between UK and Brazil early career researchers in this area. It seeks to foster a network of researchers in order to produce novel and impact-oriented research that can benefit Brazilian cities and lead to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Particularly, it aims to create positive impact by making cities more climate resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, while improving the quality of life of the urban population, especially those who are most vulnerable to climate impacts.

This call is particularly targeted to early career researchers in the UK and Brazil from a wide range of scientific and academic fields in order to ensure interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative thinking. With the support of established academics from both countries, the workshop seeks to contribute to career development of the participants by expanding their international links, stimulating interdisciplinary and creative dialogues, and sharing knowledge, experiences, theories, methodologies and approaches.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The workshop is targeted to early-career researchers who have a PhD or equivalent research experience, and who have no more than 10 years of academic or professional experience since concluding their degree.
  • Applicants must also be based at a recognised institution in the UK or Brazil and currently hold a research or academic position (temporary or permanent).
  • Applicants should undertake interdisciplinary research involving (but not limited to) the following fields: economics, finance, business management, engineering, geography, sociology, urban planning, climatology, ecology, etc.
  • Applicants should commit to attend all the activities of the workshop.

Criteria for selection

  • Experience and relevance of the applicant’s research to the workshop
  • Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop
  • Experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders and transdisciplinary research
  • Ability to disseminate the workshop’s outcomes

Application

Applications are now closed

If you need further information, please send an email to the workshop organisers. For UK related applicants, please contact Marco Sakai (marco.sakai@york.ac.uk). In the case of Brazilian applicants, contact Irene Carniatto (irene.oliveira@unioeste.br).

Venue and travel details

The workshop will take place in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, where UNIOESTE has a campus. This city is part of the so-called Triple-Border region, as it shares borders with Argentina and Paraguay.

Please note that, if selected, you will need to arrange your own travel, which will be reimbursed up to a reasonable limit. Accommodation and subsistence costs will be covered by the organising institutions. Visa costs will not be covered, and participants are responsible for making all the necessary arrangements. Participants are encouraged to purchase adequate travel and medical insurance. The British Council accepts no responsibility for any problems which may occur when the participants are in-country.

Equal Opportunities

As the UK’s principal cultural relations organisation the British Council is strongly committed to Equal Opportunity & Diversity. The workshop organisers commit to ensure these policies are applied in the selection process and during the event. Extra support will be provided to enable participation of early career researchers with special needs.