The announcement took place during the Sweden Innovation Days event, a four-day digital conference to address the Sustainable Development Goals.
We introduced the finalists of the Climate Smart Cities Challenge for the first time, all of which are working towards helping the cities of the world achieve net zero. The finalists and their projects represent a diverse and inspiring range of innovative technology solutions to reduce the climate impact in Bogotá in Colombia, Bristol in the United Kingdom, Curitiba in Brazil, and Makindye Ssabagabo in Uganda.
This event marked the start of a journey towards some of the finalists becoming a winning team. Winners who will demonstrate new pathways and capabilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also contributing to other societal benefits. A diverse array of stakeholders from cities across the globe came together at the event, to learn from these demonstrators and mobilize the necessary investments for climate transition.
The live event was held on Thursday 20 January from 17.10 to 18.00 (CET). During a webinar session as part of the event, the finalists of the Climate Smart Cities Challenge were introduced to kick off their collaboration with the Climate Smart Cities partners. The partners include UN-Habitat, Viable Cities, Challenge Works, Ignite Sweden, the four cities, corporations, and other participants to test ideas, gain support with accessing data and be introduced to key stakeholders.
By moderator Per Grankvist, Olga Kordas (Viable Cities) Olle Armstrand Dierks(Viable Cities) Pontus Westerberg (UN-Habitat) and Karin Rydén (Vinnova)
Thomas Osdoba, Director of NetZeroCities EU and Senior Cities Advisor of Climate-KIC
Representatives from Scania and ABB, present how global companies can support the transition to climate-neutral and smart cities, followed by a dialogue on how to team up with small companies with new business models.
Joost Beunderman, Director, Dark Matter Labs gives an overview of the journey ahead and presents a real case for system demonstration.
Kathy Nothstine, Head of Future Cities at Nesta Challenges describes the challenge process and presents all finalists. Stina Lantz of Ignite Sweden presents how they will become teams.
