In this final episode of Season 4 of Cities 1.5, David has conversations with two formidable and inspiring women who are fighting to protect the health of people and the planet from Lima, Peru and New Orleans, USA. As the impacts of the climate crisis hit harder and more frequently, the effects this has on human health also multiply. It is key that urban areas plan and adapt to meet the growing challenges of temperature rise, food insecurity, migration, and more. Of course, extreme weather events often have the most catastrophic consequences for humanity, leading to mass displacement, injury, disease and death. But if the worst happens, it is possible for cities and their residents to unite and rebuild to create a more resilient future…and other communities can learn lessons from their leadership.

Image Credit: Persnickety Prints @ Unsplash

Featured guests:
Professor Stella Hartinger Peña is the Regional Director of Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change for Latin America, and Associate Professor at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell is the Mayor of New Orleans, a position which she has held since 2018.

Links:
Solved: How the World’s Great Cities Are Fixing the Climate Crisis - David Miller
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Annual Report
The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans - Big Easy Magazine
Addressing the Health Care Impact of Hurricane Katrina - The Kaiser Commission
What happened at the U20 Summit in Rio? - C40
COP29: Is the Loss and Damage Fund Becoming an Empty Promise? - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Broadmoor Lives On: How a Community Saved Their New Orleans Neighborhood - The Clinton Foundation
New Orleans, Reinvented - The Atlantic
This is how New Orleans is rebuilding to be more resilient - Global Center on Adaptation
Solar and energy efficiency for all - NOLA

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In a very Canadian episode of Cities 1.5, David discusses the urgent need for both local and global climate action with a focus on biodiversity with Mayor Valérie Plante of Montréal and Elizabeth Hendricks from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Canada. They share insights on urban biodiversity initiatives, the impact and outcomes of COP15 and COP16, and the importance of integrating nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis. The episode also highlights the critical role cities play in preserving natural ecosystems, supporting public health, and ensuring a sustainable future where all can thrive.

Image Credit: Donovan Kelly @ Pexels

Featured guests:
Mayor Valérie Plante has served as the Mayor of Montréal since 2017.

Elizabeth Hendriks is a freshwater policy specialist and Vice President of Restoration and Regeneration at WWF Canada.

Links:

WWF Living Planet Report 2024: A Planet in Crisis
Degradation of nature could reduce UK GDP by 12 per cent - UN Environment Programme
Last-minute pledges and sobering science: Where is the World, Post-COP28? Cities 1.5 podcast, featuring Professor Xuemei Bai
Arctic impacts: The human cost of melting ice - Cities 1.5 podcast, featuring Sheila Watt-Cloutier
COP15 ends with landmark biodiversity agreement - UN Environment Programme
The Darlington ecological corridor: a green link in CDN-NDG - City of Montréal
Video featuring Sadiq Khan, “Doers not Delayers” - C40 Cities Instagram
Montréal Breaks Ground on City’s Largest-Ever ‘Sponge Park’ - Stormwater Report
Montréal biodome
WWF Canada re:grow program
COP16 ends in disarray and indecision despite biodiversity breakthroughs - The Guardian
Freshwater Challenge website
C40 Urban Nature Accelerator- C40

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode of Cities 1.5, David revisits and follows up on a very special collaboration between C40 and Museum for the United Nations - UN Live which he participated in during the Summit of the Future and Climate Week in New York in early autumn, 2024. David, along with Sasha Rodericks and Kayla Archer share their reflections on the power of cross-cultural and cross-sectoral communication in this increasingly polarized planet, with thoughts about creative solutions, spirituality, and the essential role of storytelling in fostering a collective sense of purpose and agency from other portal contributors.

Image Credit: Kyle Corea for UN Live/ Shared Studios

Featuring music by Mosoeu Ketlele

Panel participants in order of appearance: Nonhlanhla Moroenyane (Chef Noni): Healer and Ritualist; Alexandra Grubb: Sustainability Communications Director - Essity Group; Hector Mgiba (Xquizified): Co-CEO Makers Valley; Nicole Ng: Content Lead at TED Countdown; Angela Zhong: C40 Youth Hub member, activist and student; Thobile Chittenden: Community Builder and Network Co-Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance; Jodi Lewchuck: Acquisitions Editor at University Toronto Press and writer; Masai Sepuru: Storyteller, Poet and Visual Artist: and David Miller, Managing Director, C40 Centre for City Climate Policy & Economy and author of the book “Solved: How the World’s Great Cities Are Fixing the Climate Crisis”.

Featured guests
Sasha Rodricks is the Director of Global We, Museum for the United Nations - UN Live.

Kayla Archer is a Global We facilitator. She is also a writer, researcher and investigator with a strong focus on art pedagogy at the intersection of ecology.

Links
Fresh Milk Art Platform (Barbados)
Green Lab Art Alliance
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Cities are critical: C40 reacts to the UN Pact for the Future - C40 website
Barbados PM asks Donald Trump for face-to-face meeting on climate - The Guardian

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode of Cities 1.5, David Miller speaks with Pragyna Senapati of Ripple Research about the pervasive impact of climate-related dis- and misinformation. In the past few years, false narratives have been pushed around climate issues in an attempt to derail the policies the world needs to protect the health of people and planet. Ripple has carried out extensive research of these misleading narratives and tactics at the nexus of climate and health and their investigations show clear and actionable strategies and pathways for combating false information through proactive policymaking and climate literacy. The recommendations Ripple and Pragnya offer are key for mayors and city governments to strengthen community resilience and push back on the false claims wielded by climate misinfluencers.

Image Credit: Brian McGowan @ Unsplash

Featured guests:

Pragnya Senapati is the Policy and Research Lead at Ripple Research, and graduate of the C40 Women4Climate program.

LINKS:

Disinformation Thrives in Times of Crisis - Cities 1.5
World’s 1.5C climate target ‘deader than a doornail’, experts say - The Guardian
Spanish floods: before and after footage shows the scale of destruction in Valencia - The Guardian
How rioting farmers unraveled Europe’s ambitious climate plan - Vox
EU DisinfoLab
Europe was a leader on saving nature. Now, its backsliding could threaten global progress - The Guardian
Why Women are Saving the Planet - Cities 1.5
The Natura 2000 protected areas network - EEA
Dutch Farmers Protest Misinformation study - Ripple Research
Meat and Dairy misinformation study - Ripple Research
Investigation into Climate Misinformation on LinkedIn - Ripple Research

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode of Cities 1.5, David speaks with two urban climate leaders about the critical issue of energy access in Africa. Despite Africa's low contribution to global emissions, the continent faces a rising energy demand that necessitates a transition to renewable energy in order to ensure its accessibility for all. The fossil fuel industry has a devastating legacy across the African continent, leaving a trail of destruction in its polluting wake...and the oil lobby often presents pipelines to local communities as the only path forward - without disclosing the fact that they’re more unstable, dangerous and expensive than green alternatives. City leaders from diverse communities across this part of the world are fighting to facilitate energy access through innovative local policies to achieve a healthy, sustainable, equitable, future for all residents.

Image Credit: Photo by Aaron Jones @ Unsplash

Featured guests:
Hilda Flavia Nakabuye is a youth climate, gender and environmental rights activist and founder of the Uganda chapter of Fridays for Future, who is fighting to stop the development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.

Dorah Modise is the Regional Director for Africa at C40 and is a sustainability enthusiast and expert.

LINKS:
Access to electricity - International Energy Agency
Fridays for Future: Uganda
Stop the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline
Global Witness condemns escalating arrests of climate campaigners in Uganda - Global Witness
Decarbonising the city’s grid through solar farming and efficiency measures - South Africa, Cape Town, C40 Cities Finance Facility
A renewable energy roadmap for African cities - C40 Knowledge Hub
C40 Cities launches research on South Africa green jobs
Cities forge connections with private sector at Africa’s Green Economy Summit - C40
Empowering African youth for a sustainable future in African cities - C40

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Extreme heat has a profound impact on human health - and the health of the planet, and all who live on it. In this episode, we hear firsthand accounts of extreme heat impacts from Cities 1.5 listeners around the world in Calgary, Canada, Athens, Greece and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and delve into the terrifying effects of rising temperatures on daily life - such as disease outbreaks and threats to vulnerable residents - especially in cities in the Global South, which face disproportionate risks with only limited resources. We are joined by experts working on the frontlines of resilience and adaptation, from Buenos Aires and Toronto, who share critical insights on how cities are safeguarding vulnerable communities amidst record-breaking heat, and the deadly health consequences that flow from it.

Image Credit: Photo by T.H. Chia @ Unsplash

Featured guests:
Amy Buitenhuis is the C40 Head of Urban Heat Programmes and co-manages the C40 Cool Cities Network.

Patricia Himshoot is the Manager for Climate Change for the Buenos Aires city government in Argentina, and is a biologist by training.

Links
Summer 2024 was world's hottest on record - BBC
As heat wave scorches North India, scientists warn of risks from ‘wet bulb’ conditions - The Conversation
Heat crisis - AccuWeather
Heat and Health - WHO
The Future We Don’t Want - C40 report
Heat Action Platform - C40 Knowledge Hub
Impacts of climate change on Black populations in the United States - McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility
Urban Heat Island - National Geographic
Addressing Urban Heat in Buenos Aires: Community-Led Solutions in Barrio 20 - Global Center on Adaptation
Buenos Aires 'Citizens Ready Against Climatic Change’ Programme - C40
Argentina fights against vast swarms of mosquitoes blamed for dengue surge - Guardian

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode of Cities 1.5, David Miller and his expert guests explore the multifaceted global housing crisis, as well as its ties to the climate crisis and the health of people and planet. Featuring personal stories and case studies from diverse regions that range from Toronto, to Colombia, to Gaza, we hear how cities around the world are advocating for housing as a human right, and delve into innovative solutions like social housing conversions, resilient housing strategies, and the importance of equitable and community-informed decision-making. Emphasizing the need for comprehensive, mission-driven approaches, these conversations highlight the critical intersections of housing security, health, and climate resilience - and, the calls being made for systemic changes and proactive investments to protect vulnerable populations in municipalities worldwide.

Image Credit: Photo by T.H. Chia @ Unsplash

Featured guests:
Leilani Farha is the Global Director of The Shift, host of the podcast Pushtalks, and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing (2014-2020)

Dr Elizabeth Hausler is the Founder and CEO of Build Change, and a global leader in the sector of planning for and creating sustainable and resilient housing - particularly in the Global South

LINKS:
Equity Needs to be at the Heart of Climate Action - Cities 1.5 podcast
The Global Housing Crisis: A Crisis Unlike Any Other - Urbanet
Housing Rights - UN Habitat website
Grenfell Tower fire report: who was at fault and what was landlord’s role? - The Guardian
First images of Jasper after 100m high wildfire hit – BBC
Affordable housing: A route to climate mitigation and resilience - C40 Knowledge Hub
Resilient Housing Across the Americas - Build Change YouTube web series
Destruction in Asheville Highlights the Stunning Reach of the Climate Crisis - Mother Jones

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode of Cities 1.5, David and his guests from countries on opposite sides of the equator, South Africa and Scotland, explore how urban initiatives are transforming local communities through holistic climate action and wellbeing practices. Linear economic systems - previously the global status quo - have been proven time and again to be ineffective at prioritizing wellbeing for all…especially when we compare them with circular models that emphasize restoration. Grassroots projects like Scotland's Love Letham and Johannesburg's Makers Valley, which focus on sustainable development, community engagement, and empowerment naturally emphasize the importance of inclusivity, indigenous values, and collective action in addressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Our expert guests in this episode demonstrate how in both the Global South and North, participatory decision-making and community-driven projects can tackle poverty, improve health, and enhance urban resilience by integrating climate and anti-poverty policies.

Image Credit: Photo by Jeswin Thomas @Unsplash

Featured guests:
Thobile Chittenden is Network Co-Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and the CEO of the Makers Valley Partnership in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hollie Irvine is the Project Lead of Love Letham in Perth, Scotland - one of four Wellbeing Economy pilot city projects from the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll).

Links
Lessons in Wellbeing Economics: Engaging local communities to bring Academic Principles into Urban Practice - Episode 12, Season 3, Cities 1.5
Policy Design for a Wellbeing Economy - Lessons from Four City Pilots - The Journal of City Climate Policy & Economy, Volume 2 Issue 2, January 2024
Wellbeing Economy Alliance
Makers Valley
A New Story Unfolds - Poem by Thobile Chittenden
Love Letham Project - Perth, Scotland
Official child poverty statistics - Child Poverty Action Group (Scotland)
New report shows what Letham’s children need to thrive - Love Letham website

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/