ESG for cities webinar series

More than 75 per cent of world emissions originate from cities and more than 75 per cent of the world's natural resources are consumed by them.

Cities and municipalities play a crucial role to drive climate action and resilience measures, acting as stewards for the communities they serve – including their constituents, and public, private and non-profit organizations. With the physical impacts of climate change – including floods, wildfires, and droughts – accelerating in terms of both increased frequency and severity, city and municipal leaders are increasingly considering how they can tackle the multifaced challenge of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

KPMG in Canada’s Public Sector and ESG practices completed a three-part national webinar series focusing on the journey to net zero – from strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to the implementation at the asset and operational level, and subsequent reporting obligations. Listen to the webinar replays to hear from industry subject matter experts as they share practical insights to tackle climate adaptation and mitigation.

Setting the stage

• What is your vision for the future of the city in terms of sustainability and livability?
• How do you perceive the impact of climate change on your city and its residents, today? In 5 years? 10 years?
• What resources (financial, human, technological) do you believe are available to the city for initiating climate transition plans?
• Panel discussion featuring:
  • Juliana Fanous, Advisor, Sector Development, Green Municipal Fund, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
  • James Nowlan, Executive Director, Environment and Climate, City of Toronto
    

Moving from commitments to action

• What strategic plans have been put in place to transition from high-level commitments to tangible actions? How are you securing needed approvals and financing for key investments?
• Is your operating model ready for a low-carbon economy?
• Is there sufficient organizational knowledge to drive and implement change? How are you ensuring the allocation of adequate resources to meet these commitments?
• Panel discussion featuring:
  • Shari Lichterman, City Manager & Chief Administrative Officer, City of Mississauga
  • Sean Owen, Head of Low Carbon, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Measuring, communicating, and iterating

• What systems and metrics are in place to monitor and assess the progress towards your net zero targets?
• How are you communicating progress, challenges, and successes to your citizens and stakeholders? What platforms are you using for this communication?
• How are you planning to adapt and iterate your strategies over time in response to emerging data, new technologies, and evolving best practices?
• Panel discussion featuring:
  • Davinder Valeri, CFO and Commissioner of Corporate Services, Peel Region
  • Randy LeClair, Director, Capital Markets, City of Toronto