practice examples summarised on a one or a few
pages long document on the one, and the close
interaction with the best practice peer-city, on the
other hand. The simple studying of a best practice document was described as being only of
limited use for their own city (if at all). On the
contrary, deep diving into a best practice, for
instance through a discussion or question and
answer interaction, or even through a peer visit
on-site was described as much more useful. In
this context, a city representative of Vancouver
explained that the city sent personnel to
Philadelphia in order to build on Philadelphia’s
expertise in engineering approaches to greening
infrastructure, which was described as very useful for the development of Vancouver’s climate
adaptation program. One interviewee also stated
that the sharing of best practices gave credibility
about innovative approaches, especially when
they were implemented in a city with a ‘big’
name,’ which could be very helpful to convince
decision makers of their own city. As mentioned
above, many frontrunner cities joined transnational networks also in order to have a platform
to present their cities. In return, many members
saw one asset of a transnational network in the
opportunity to get in touch with and learn from
such a frontrunner city.
Which tools do networks offer to its members in
order to facilitate city-to-city learning?
All regarded networks emphasise the importance of knowledge sharing among cities and
provide them with different tools to trigger
knowledge exchanges. Most networks encourage
their members to share best practices, be it
through a formal best-practice sharing platform
or through connecting cities to each other.
Additionally, most networks regularly organise
webinars and update and inform their members
through a network newsletter. Apart from that
most networks also offer formal programs or
projects that aim to facilitate C2CL (see Table 4).
The City Sharing Initiative of UNISDR or the
Mayors Adapt Twinning Programme are examples for a network connecting cities working on
similar issues and facing similar challenges (see
Mayors Adapt 2015; UNISDR 2016). During a
multi-day study tour organised by the mentor
city, Copenhagen in the framework of the Mayors Adapt City Twinning Programme the representatives of the learning city Antwerp had the
opportunity to better understand Copenhagen’s
strategy to deal with cloudbursts. The Program
Leader Sustainable City of Antwerp described
that this in-depth exchange provided very valuable input for the upcoming development of the
city’s water plan.
Webinars were described as a valuable tool,
provided that there is a clear learning objective
and enough time for follow up questions. It was
mentioned that conferences could be an effective
instrument to meet many peers at once. In that
respect, it was emphasised, that C2CL could be
achieved most easily through a mix of tools,
meaning that stakeholders could meet first in big
conferences to get updated on the global reflection on a topic. Then in the next step, municipalities that face similar problems and share the
same background could collaborate more indepth.
What role does the private sector play in climate
adaptation and how are networks facilitating its
integration?
The lack of financial resources to do networking and to implement climate policies was
reported as a problem in many cases. This is one
reason why a number of interviewees stressed the
need to stronger involve the private sector, which
could also be facilitated by the networks. Indeed,
some networks also try to involve the private
sector.
In order ‘to facilitate long-term commitments
from the private sector in support of ICLEI’s
Mission and Strategic Plan’, the network promotes the establishment of corporate partnerships
open to commercial, for-profit organizations,
businesses, and corporations (ICLEI and
UN HABITAT nd). Current corporate partners of
ICLEI are Mckinsey and Siemens (ibd.). Lately,
C40’s aim has become ‘supporting early
City-to-City Learning Within City Networks …
233
pages long document on the one, and the close
interaction with the best practice peer-city, on the
other hand. The simple studying of a best practice document was described as being only of
limited use for their own city (if at all). On the
contrary, deep diving into a best practice, for
instance through a discussion or question and
answer interaction, or even through a peer visit
on-site was described as much more useful. In
this context, a city representative of Vancouver
explained that the city sent personnel to
Philadelphia in order to build on Philadelphia’s
expertise in engineering approaches to greening
infrastructure, which was described as very useful for the development of Vancouver’s climate
adaptation program. One interviewee also stated
that the sharing of best practices gave credibility
about innovative approaches, especially when
they were implemented in a city with a ‘big’
name,’ which could be very helpful to convince
decision makers of their own city. As mentioned
above, many frontrunner cities joined transnational networks also in order to have a platform
to present their cities. In return, many members
saw one asset of a transnational network in the
opportunity to get in touch with and learn from
such a frontrunner city.
Which tools do networks offer to its members in
order to facilitate city-to-city learning?
All regarded networks emphasise the importance of knowledge sharing among cities and
provide them with different tools to trigger
knowledge exchanges. Most networks encourage
their members to share best practices, be it
through a formal best-practice sharing platform
or through connecting cities to each other.
Additionally, most networks regularly organise
webinars and update and inform their members
through a network newsletter. Apart from that
most networks also offer formal programs or
projects that aim to facilitate C2CL (see Table 4).
The City Sharing Initiative of UNISDR or the
Mayors Adapt Twinning Programme are examples for a network connecting cities working on
similar issues and facing similar challenges (see
Mayors Adapt 2015; UNISDR 2016). During a
multi-day study tour organised by the mentor
city, Copenhagen in the framework of the Mayors Adapt City Twinning Programme the representatives of the learning city Antwerp had the
opportunity to better understand Copenhagen’s
strategy to deal with cloudbursts. The Program
Leader Sustainable City of Antwerp described
that this in-depth exchange provided very valuable input for the upcoming development of the
city’s water plan.
Webinars were described as a valuable tool,
provided that there is a clear learning objective
and enough time for follow up questions. It was
mentioned that conferences could be an effective
instrument to meet many peers at once. In that
respect, it was emphasised, that C2CL could be
achieved most easily through a mix of tools,
meaning that stakeholders could meet first in big
conferences to get updated on the global reflection on a topic. Then in the next step, municipalities that face similar problems and share the
same background could collaborate more indepth.
What role does the private sector play in climate
adaptation and how are networks facilitating its
integration?
The lack of financial resources to do networking and to implement climate policies was
reported as a problem in many cases. This is one
reason why a number of interviewees stressed the
need to stronger involve the private sector, which
could also be facilitated by the networks. Indeed,
some networks also try to involve the private
sector.
In order ‘to facilitate long-term commitments
from the private sector in support of ICLEI’s
Mission and Strategic Plan’, the network promotes the establishment of corporate partnerships
open to commercial, for-profit organizations,
businesses, and corporations (ICLEI and
UN HABITAT nd). Current corporate partners of
ICLEI are Mckinsey and Siemens (ibd.). Lately,
C40’s aim has become ‘supporting early
City-to-City Learning Within City Networks …
233