Cities, Global Climate Science and Action

As climate impacts accelerate, cities are on the frontline experiencing rising heat, flooding, and growing pressure on infrastructure, communities, and systems. Yet cities are also where some of the most immediate and effective climate solutions are developed and delivered.

Join us for a timely and engaging public event exploring how global climate science, city leadership, and local action are shaping the road to COP31 and what this means for Melbourne and cities worldwide.

Drawing on the latest insights from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including emerging “overshoot” findings, this event will unpack: 

• What the latest climate science tells us about cities, including risks, adaptation limits, and compounding impacts 

• Why cities are first responders to climate change—and critical solution hubs across transport, buildings, energy, and nature 

• How cities can influence ambition, finance, and delivery within the COP31 agenda 

• Who is most vulnerable—and how youth and community-led action is shaping climate responses 

This event brings together global, national, and local perspectives to explore how cities can lead in this decisive decade and help shape the COP31 agenda from the ground up.