- What are the main findings and critical knowledge gaps in the context of city transformations?
- What are the subsequent steps to address and bridge these knowledge gaps?
These were the main issues I discussed with several climate, energy, and urban experts during a workshop as part of the IIASA-Japan Research Project on City Transformation.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is currently working on its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) for the 2023-2028 cycle. As part of this process, the IPCC has decided to create a special report focusing on Climate Change and Cities. This report aims to address the growing interest in understanding the impact of climate change on urban areas, as well as the challenges and opportunities for city-specific mitigation and adaptation strategies.
To enhance Japan's contribution to the IPCC AR7, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ) initiated a collaborative research project on urban transformation with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in September 2023. The project aims to provide essential findings for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.