By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. So, what happens when these cities are affected by extreme weather events? Who’s responsible for ensuring we can adapt to changing conditions and  become resilient in the midst of climate change?

This week,  Kiarne sits down with Co-Chief Heat Officers, and Co-Directors of the City of Melbourne’s (COM) Climate Change and City Resilience Branch; Tiffany Crawford and Krista Milne to ask the big questions.

The pair share some surprising statistics around just how much of the city’s emissions stem from the buildings themselves and why we can’t develop our way out of this, we need to adapt. Krista and Tiffany share the innovative nature-based solutions that are already available,  the challenges of having the right infrastructure in place to support them and the necessity of retrofitting the city with more nature - it’s a big job!

This episode is NOT to be missed. If you think you know what Governments are tackling, maybe think again. The City of Melbourne is recognised globally as an innovator and they’re work is paving the way for other communities to benefit from and replicate their work.

This conversation is a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration as well as having a dual lens on mitigating negative impacts while simultaneously adapting in the face of change.

We need to reconstruct our cities and rethink the way we view them, as Krista says we should think of them as a city within a forest, rather than a city with trees.

Key Discussion Points:

• Chief Heat Officer (CHO): What is the role and why is it necessary? How variability in Melbourne is a cause for innovative change and the ways in which COM is combating climate change through implemented policies and decision-making.
• Transitioning to Resilience: Reframing the terminology and applying real-world practices across our urban-forests.
• Nature-based Solutions: Exploring the financial benefits of nature and its close relationship with infrastructure and public health.
• Transport and Who Pays for It: How do we balance the needs of everybody to deliver a city that responds to those needs? Seeking the data to bring climate to the centre of decision making and having full transparency.
• Inspiration and Advice: Who are the leaders in infrastructure sustainability and how can we learn from them? Finding your network and changing the DNA on decision-making.

MENTIONS:

Learn more about The City of Melbourne

Learn more about Melbourne Renewable Energy Project

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Tiffany Crawford and Krista Milne

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

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