All events 11 Nov 202614:30–15:30 Türkiye Time (TRT)

Accelerating Urban Transformation through System Demonstrators

Name: Accelerating Urban Transformation through System Demonstrators
Start: 2026-11-11T12:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-11T12:00:00+00:00

Location: Climate Funds Pavilion
Format: In person
Type: Conference

This 60-minute event in the Climate Funds Pavilion will serve as the public announcement of the joint initiative. Senior representatives from the World Bank, GEF, Viable Cities and the Swedish Government will set out the commitment, with city voices from Bogotá and Lund joining a moderated conversation on how city leadership, enabling national conditions, investment and market demand can be brought together to transform the construction and building-materials system in practice.

The event will announce the partners’ intention to co-develop the initiative and its first city applications during 2027. The detailed city offer, partner roles, selection process and delivery arrangements will be developed through the subsequent co-design process.

Hosts: Viable Cities, Viability Fund, Global Platform for Sustainable Cities, The World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Speakers

Olle Dierks Head of Large-Scale Investments and Chairman of Team Sweden Smart Cities, Sweden (Moderator)

Tobias Axerup Deputy Director General, Head of Department for Multilateral Development Banks, Sustainability and Climate

Ming Zhang Global Director for Urban, Subnational Finance, Tourism, and Disaster Management, World Bank Group

Jonathan Caldicott Manager of the Operations and Policy Division at the Global Environment Facility Secretariat

Olga Kordas Director at Viable Cities

Jon Andersson Head of Environmental Strategy, City of Lund

Asif Nawaz Shah Deputy Director, Strategy and Implementation, Multilevel Partnerships at Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)