Case Study Atlas: An Urban Climate Change Research Network Project in Parallel to the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities

Editor's note:

 

 

By
Susannah Kagan
October 07, 2024

The Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) is advancing a project to develop and disseminate a Case Study Atlas (CSA).The UCCRN Case Study Atlas will be a database of easily accessible case studies of actions taken to address climate change by cities and metropolitan areas around the world, which will support scientists and city practitioners and policy-makers.

The outline for the IPCC’s Special Report on Climate Change and Cities and the report’s chapter on “solutions by city types and regions” requires that new attention be given to case studies focused on the conditions that enable meaningful climate action. In response, the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) is advancing a project to develop and disseminate a Case Study Atlas (CSA).

The UCCRN Case Study Atlas will be a database of easily accessible case studies of actions taken to address climate change by cities and metropolitan areas around the world, which will support scientists and city practitioners and policy-makers:

  • To better understand the linkages between the urbanization and climate change; 
  • To learn from each other about climate solutions;
  • To acquire insights needed to develop solutions to climate change challenges.  

The Case Study Atlas builds upon UCCRN’s experience in creating a similar searchable digitized database of over 250 expert-reviewed case studies, of how cities have been working to mitigate and adapt to climate change, that support its ARC3 reports. By reflecting on diverse urban experiences and challenges, the new UCCRN Case Study Atlas (CSA) will provide a rigorous evidence base for researchers conducting assessment reports and for city policymakers, practitioners, civil society groups as they develop meaningful urban climate solutions based on the latest science. 

The Case Study Atlas also seeks to reduce the gap on information, data, and existing actions being implemented at the local level, particularly in the Global South. The Atlas plans to include case studies from various constituents including local governments, academics, NGOs, and city, regional, and global networks. Case studies submitted will contain specified components, undergo expert review, and be searchable by various key terms and geographies. 

For case studies to be accessible for the concurrent development of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, UCCRN proposes an aggressive work plan to develop the CSA. With intense activity for the initial 18-month period, beginning September 2024, UCCRN is actively seeking funders, many of whom may also be contributors of content for the Atlas.