Digital Citymakers’ Summit:
Urban Collaborations: Local Actions, Global Impact
Thursday, April 10, 2025, 2-4 pm (CET), ONLINE
PROGRAMM
Download the full programm here.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Urban Collaborations: Local Actions, Global Impact
What are the success factors of international urban exchange? What are the main challenges? What are successful examples and formats for urban collaborations aimed at global solutions? How can local urban policy making benefit the most of international knowledge exchange?
Three international experts who each represent a different format and level of urban cooperation and therefore bring different perspectives to the table discuss these questions with moderator Rainer Seider, Head of the „International Affairs“ Department of the Berlin Senate Chancellery, who himself has around 30 years of professional experience in various areas of international cooperation between cities, especially Berlin.
Moderator
Rainer Seider, Head of the „International Affairs“ Division, Berlin Senate Chancellery
Panelists
Jordi Vaquer, Secretary General of Metropolis, Barcelona
Julia Lopez Ventura, European Regional Director, C40 Cities
Santiago García Vence, Head of Cabinet and responsible for bilateral relations, City of Buenos Aires
NETWORK SESSIONS
The following 5 network sessions further explore innovative urban solutions to gobal challenges. Hosted by partners of the use platform – Metropolis, C40, World Habitat, UCLG Committee on Culture and Eurocities – the network sessions present practical examples and successful programmes. The sessions also offer opportunities for exchange with international experts in the field of sustainable development.
SESSION A - HOSTED BY METROPOLIS
Sustainable Mobility for Inclusive Cities: Integrating Gender Perspectives in Sustainable Transport Policies
As cities transition toward sustainable urban mobility, ensuring inclusivity remains a key challenge. This session presents a real case study from an EU-funded international city-to-city cooperation project implemented in Bogotá, aimed at advancing sustainable transport with a threefold objective: improving air quality, promoting gender inclusivity, and fostering economic opportunities. With women as the primary beneficiaries, the project addresses mobility challenges through targeted policies and specific strategies that enhance safety, accessibility, and citizenship participation. The session will highlight main challenges, key achievements, lessons learned, and replicable strategies that other cities can adopt to foster equitable and sustainable mobility solutions.
with
Daniel Pelufo, Programs Officer, Metropolis
SESSION B - HOSTED BY C40
From Planning to Action: Implementing Climat Budgeting for Effective City Governance
For the past decade, cities have developing climate action plans (CAPs) aligned with the collective goal of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving equitable, net-zero and climate-resilient cities by 2050. With 2030 approaching, the challenge is shifting from planning to implementation. This session, hosted by C40, explores how and why cities should adopt climate budgeting as a governance system to deliver the ambitious climate action goals set out in their CAPs, with top tips to get started.
with
Catrin Robertsen, Head of Climate Budgeting, C40
Astrid Johanne Svensson, Senior Manager of Climate Budgeting, C40
SESSION C - HOSTED BY WORLD HABITAT
Mainstreaming and Institutionalising Community-Led Housing: A Pathway to Inclusive Cities
As housing financialization drives unaffordability, community-led housing (CLH) models are proving to be a powerful solution for securing long-term affordability and inclusion. However, mainstreaming and institutionalizing these models remains a challenge due to policy gaps and limited access to finance, land, and resources. This session explores how existing policy levers can be harnessed to mainstream community-led housing and how CLH movements have successfully institutionalised their operations to embed lasting power and resilience.
with
Abigail Stoltzfus, Programme Manager, World Habitat
Laura Parker-Tong, Head of Strategy and Development, European Community Land Trust Network
SESSION D - HOSTED BY EUROCITIES
Cities in Transition: Local Strategies for Demographic Change
Demographic shifts are reshaping European cities, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Ensuring accessible housing, intergenerational fairness, and inclusive public services is key to fostering social cohesion, yet cities often face limited resources and fragmented governance. This session explores how local governments can respond proactively to demographic change. Through case studies from Porto and Vantaa, participants will learn about innovative approaches to supporting aging populations and empowering youth. Porto’s Age-Friendly City Action Plan focuses on active and healthy aging through collaboration and research-driven strategies, while Vantaa’s Liito House and Ohjaamo One-Stop Guidance Centre provide integrated services to support young people in education, employment, and daily life. The discussion will highlight key challenges, successful strategies, and scalable solutions that cities can adopt to build inclusive, resilient communities.
with
Niels Tubbing, Senior Advisor on Social Affairs, International Office Amsterdam
Hannu Rusama, Programm Director, City of Vantaa
Hugo Tavares, Head of the Division for Social Development and Innovation, Municipality of Porto
SESSION E - HOSTED BY UCLG COMMITTEE ON CULTURE
Heritage, Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Cultural policies and programmes recognise the importance of cultural heritage as a key element of climate change and sustainable development strategies, alongside diversity and creativity. There is also a growing awareness of the impact of climate change from a local perspective. What are the current approaches to heritage and climate resilient development from a local perspective? Are there innovative case studies at city level?
with
Marta Llobet Franquesa, Program Manager, Focal Point for Culture UCLG World Secretariat Barcelona
Andrew Potts (tbc.), Adviser to Europa Nostra and the European Heritage Hub
Shanon Shea Miller (tbc.), Director of the San Antonio’s Office of Historic Preservation