Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change and Cities Symposium

Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change and Cities Symposium

Online Symposium

More Information

msd-events@unimelb.edu.au

  • Symposium

Across three days in September and October, we invite you to the inaugural virtual ABP Symposium, which in 2020 will focus on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

View the Symposium Program

Featuring interactive workshop sessions, breakout rooms, keynotes and opportunities for delegates to connect across time zones, the summit will showcase the role cities and their urban partners are playing in implementing the SDGs.

The virtual symposium format will provide a platform for delegates to listen and interact with some of the world’s leading voices in urban sustainability and action on climate change, including case studies of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One unique aspect of the symposium program will be the format of the breakout sessions. There will be one stream dedicated to climate change and urban planning, two key themes of the Sustainable Development Goals.

There will also be two streams dedicated to learning from and engaging with cities participating in the SDGs Cities Challenge.

Delegates will be invited to join the collaborative process of co-design between business, academic and government solution providers, offering each participating city the opportunity to produce an implementation plan aligned to the SDGs.

Recorded keynotes, sessions and panels will be immediately available to all delegates at the conclusion of the Symposium, allowing you to access parallel session content and develop your responses and outcomes while they are still top-of-mind.

Who should attend?

This symposium is relevant to all urban actors – in government, practice, academia, civil society and industry – engaged in urban sustainability.

We look forward to seeing you online in September.

Registration

Please register your attendance to the symposium below.
General admission: $30 AUD
Student admission: Free
ABP Staff: Please refer to the 'Dean's Weekly' newsletter or contact msd-events@unimelb.edu.au

COVID-19

The University of Melbourne continues to work closely with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Australian Government and health experts. Our number one priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our University community and we are doing everything we can to reduce the rates of infection in the community. The University has transitioned to a virtual campus model with most teaching, learning, research and support services being delivered remotely. All classes are being delivered remotely and we are asking students not to attend their physical campus. Staff are working from home wherever possible. Our virtual campus maximises the opportunities for students to study effectively and successfully, while maintaining the quality and standards of our degrees and sense of community.

Further information on the University’s response to COVID 19 can be found here.

About SDGs Cities Challenge

The Connected Cities Lab is working with the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia and Banksia Foundation to identify the best approach for cities to deliver on the SDGs through a new participatory action research project.

The participant cities in the SDGs Cities Challenge will be developing their own response to the SDGs, while developing solutions and implementation plans for a key urban SDGs targetSolutions are being developed via a collaborative processusing knowledge and practical expertise in local government, academia and business, offering each city the opportunity to produce an implementation plan, and ultimately a voluntary local review (VLR) aligned to the SDGs.

Their work will be presented at the SDGs Cities Challenge Symposium, and delegates will have the opportunity to participate in the discussions and deliberations as these cities prepare their responses to the SDGs.

The SDGs Cities Challenge is linking cities with urban experts in academia, business and community in a structured process of co-design. This will create innovative approaches for cities to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, using an initiative or project to which they are already committed.

Expressions of interest for cities are now closed, however if you would like to offer your expertise on the SDGs to the SDGs Cities Challenge Participants, please contact msd-events@unimelb.edu.au.