Partnership aims to accelerate the transition towards resilient, sustainable cities

16 June 2020 (Bonn, Germany/ New York, USA) - The Global Resilient Cities Network, a city-led organization driving urban resilience action to protect vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure, and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development, are joining forces under a new partnership to strengthen cities’ capacity to integrate sustainable, resilient strategies into urban development.

Both ICLEI and GRCN’s missions are to support cities around the world in becoming more resilient, sustainable and equitable. The partnership will bring together the strength of both organizations provide aligned initiatives, additional funding and technical support to an even wider global audience of local governments.

“In stressful times like these, it is our Networks that sustain us,” said Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of the Global Resilient Cities Network. “Now more than ever, we must leverage our collective knowledge and resources to respond to the compounding crises cities are facing. In partnership, ICLEI and GRCN aim to accelerate action towards our common goals of making cities more resilient to future challenges and investing in projects and capacities that drive systemic change for a sustainable urban future,”  she concluded.

The cooperation between the two organizations is intended to create valuable programming and knowledge on resilient development and its role in creating sustainable cities in a low carbon future.

“In 2019, ICLEI celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the Resilient Cities Congress, which provided a global platform for urban resilience experts to advance this important area of sustainability work. Under the 100 Resilient Cities Network, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the experts of the newly established Global Resilient Cities Network have been building the technical capacity, credibility and global significance of resilience across their network. ICLEI and GRCN joining forces to advance this work creates a deep well of international resilience experience and expertise that cities can draw from and be strengthened by,” said Gino Van Begin, ICLEI’s Secretary General.

ICLEI and GRCN plan to work together to identify, develop, and propose projects in cities to support the introduction and implementation of tools and processes, including capacity building and co-creation techniques contributing to the resilient development, in order to enable scaling up and mainstreaming.

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Note to Editors

About the Global Resilient Cities Network: The Global Resilient Cities Network (GRCN) is the city-led organization that is driving urban resilience action to protect vulnerable communities from climate change and other physical, social and economic urban adversities and challenges. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation and other funding strategic partners, the Network aims to continue supporting cities and their Chief Resilience Officers in future-proofing their communities and critical infrastructure with a unique reach, strength and legacy to understand and support the challenges of the ever-growing urban society.

About ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability: ICLEI is a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 100+ countries, ICLEI influences sustainability policy and drives local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI's Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.

Media inquiries:

Ariel Dekovic
Head of Global Communications
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Bonn, Germany
Tel. +49-(0)228 / 976 299-16
Email: ariel.dekovic@iclei.org
Skype: ariel.dekovic.iclei

Fabiola Guillen
Global Communications Consultant
GRCN - Global Resilient Cities Network
Email: fguillen@resilientcitiesnetwork.org