The City Diplomacy Lab organizes a wide range of initiatives aimed at advancing the understanding and dissemination of city diplomacy as a tool for sustainable urban development.
The City Diplomacy Lab periodically organizes in-person, hybrid, and virtual initiatives to foster international reflection on the impact and potential of local governments’ regional and global action in addressing the major transnational challenges of the present.
The Lab’s approach enables dialogue and discussion among city diplomacy practitioners (cities, city networks, national governments, and international organizations) while involving civil society actors, the world of culture and education, and the private sector.
In-person, hybrid, and virtual events alike enjoy the valuable and unique support of the Columbia Global Centers, enabling the Lab to engage actors and audiences from every region of the world.
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Our Events
Overcoming barriers to affordable housing finance
In partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂĽr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, ICLEI, Slum Dwellers International, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance, and the African Union for Housing Finance.
đź—“ October 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m. Central European Time
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Recording coming soon
In partnership with the five United Nations Regional Commissions: UNECE, UNECLAC, UNECA, UNESCWA, and UNESCAP.
đź—“ November 30, 2024, 5:00 p.m. Egypt Standard Time
📍 World Urban Forum, Cairo, Egypt – Multipurpose room 03
đź“˝ Recording coming soon
UNECE Forum of Mayors | 3rd Urban Peace Dialogues
In partnership with the US Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
đź—“ September 30, 2024, 8:15 a.m. Central European Summer Time
📍 United Nations Office in Geneva – Room H200
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Designing Inclusive Cities: Gender and Sustainability in Urban Development
In partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂĽr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, ICLEI, Slum Dwellers International, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance, and the African Union for Housing Finance.
đź—“ September 24, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Recording coming soon
Olympic Cities: Sustainable Visions and Legacies
In partnership with Columbia Global Paris Center, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), and the US Embassy in Paris.
đź—“ September 6, 2024, 9:00 a.m. CEST
📍 Columbia Global Paris Center – 4, rue de Chevreuse, 75006 Paris, France (hybrid event)
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities for all: Bottom-up action for just urban development
In partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂĽr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, ICLEI, Slum Dwellers International, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance, and the African Union for Housing Finance.
đź—“ August 22, 2024, 1:00 p.m. CEST
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Recording coming soon
Fostering inclusive nature-based solutions for low-income urban communities
In partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂĽr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, ICLEI, Slum Dwellers International, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance, and the African Union for Housing Finance.
đź—“ June 27, 2024, 1:00 p.m. CEST
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Digital Creation at the Heart of Sustainable Urban Development
In partnership with the City of Enghien-les-Bains, the Centre des Arts d’Enghien-les-Bains (CDA95), and the UNESCO’s Creative Cities of Media Art.
🗓 June 12–14, 2024
đź“Ť Enghien-les-Bains, Auditorium des Thermes
đź“˝ Recording coming soon
Cities and Social Solutions | Age
In partnership with the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, and Columbia Global Centers | Paris.
đź—“ May 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Paris
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Social Solutions | Inclusion
In partnership with UNESCO’s International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR) and Columbia Global Centers | Paris.
đź—“ April 18, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. New York | 2:00 p.m. Paris
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Fostering sustainable construction in informal urban areas
In partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂĽr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, ICLEI, Slum Dwellers International, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance, and the African Union for Housing Finance.
đź—“ March 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. New York | 2 p.m. Paris
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Social Solutions | Gender
In partnership with the City Hub and Network for Gender Equity (CHANGE) and Columbia Global Centers | Paris.
đź—“ March 14, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. New York | 6 p.m. Paris
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Social Solutions | Social Justice
In partnership with the Leeds City Council and Columbia Global Centers | Paris.
đź—“ February 15, 2024
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Climate Solutions | Waste
In partnership with the Columbia Climate School, Columbia Global Centers | Paris and Columbia Global Centers | Santiago, and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
đź—“ November 22, 2023
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Climate Solutions | Energy
In partnership with the Columbia Climate School, Columbia Global Centers | Paris and Columbia Global Centers | Santiago, and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
đź—“ November 22, 2023
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Climate Solutions | Air
In partnership with the Columbia Climate School, Columbia Global Centers | Paris and Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai, and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
đź—“ November 22, 2023
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Reimagining African Cities: Design, Participation, Diplomacy
In partnership with Columbia University Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement and Columbia Global Centers | Nairobi.
đź—“ October 2, 2023
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Urban peace dialogues. When mayors become architects of peace
2023 UNECE Forum of Mayors’ official side event
In partnership with the US Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Mayors for Peace – European and French Chapters, and the European Committee of the Regions’ Nicosia Initiative.
đź—“ October 3, 2023
đź“Ť United Nations Office in Geneva
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Euro-Africa Montpellier Water Days
In partnership with Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole and the International Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Water Systems Dynamics.
đź—“ October 9-10, 2023
đź“Ť Corum, Montpellier
đź“˝ Watch the trailer
La diplomatie des territories et l’action internationale des collectivitĂ©s face aux crises
In partnership with Cités Unies France, UCLG, and PLATFORMA.
đź—“ July 3rd, 2023
đź“Ť French House of Representatives
Cities and Climate Solutions | Food
In partnership with Columbia Global Centers | Paris and Columbia Global Centers | Rio de Janeiro.
đź—“ April 19, 2023
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities and Climate Solutions | Water
In partnership with Columbia Global Centers | Paris and Columbia Global Centers | Amman.
đź—“ March 22, 2023
đź“Ť Webinar
Le rôle de la diaspora pour dynamiser les coopérations de ville à ville
In partnership with AIMF.
đź—“ November 17, 2022
đź“Ť Tunis City Hall
Driving Climate Empowerment Leveraging Proximities and City Diplomacy
In partnership with the ETI Chair at IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School and C40 Cities.
đź—“ November 15, 2022
đź“Ť Smart City Expo World Congress
Climate empowerment and city diplomacy. Exploring the potential of a thriving alliance
In partnership with AIMF and ICLEI.
đź—“ November 8, 2022
đź“Ť COP27 – Multilevel Action Pavilion
Cities and universities. An alliance for sustainable development
In partnership with AIMF and IFDD.
đź—“ November 8, 2022
đź“Ť COP27 – Francophonie Pavilion
Urban metabolism and gender equity
In partnership with UCLG and Cités Unies France.
đź—“ June 27, 2022
đź“Ť 11th World Urban Forum, Katowice
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Cities: from theaters of war to actors for peace
2022 UNECE Forum of Mayors’ official side event
In partnership with the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the International Organizations in Geneva, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the International Organizations in Geneva, the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), and the City of Bari.
đź—“ April 5, 2022
đź“Ť United Nations Office in Geneva
đź“˝ Watch the recording
Can local agriculture save the world?
In partnership with Alliance Program, Columbia Global Centers | Paris, and the European Institute. Co-sponsors include Columbia Maison Française and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination.
đź—“ December 14, 2021
đź“Ť Webinar
đź“˝ Watch the recording
The series is co-organized with Sciences Po – PSIA, Columbia Undergraduate Programs in Paris, and Columbia Global Centers | Paris. Co-sponsored by the Alliance Program and Urban Flag.
đź—“ March – July 2021
đź“Ť 5 webinars
đź“˝ Watch the recordings