Healthy, Biodiverse, Equitable Cities

About

We face a biodiversity and climate emergency that threatens all futures, with the poorest and most marginalised worst affected. This student-led webinar, introduced by UCL Provost Michael Spence, explores how a better relationship with nature can help us adapt to climate change and create fairer, more sustainable futures for all.

Curated by Environmental Design Lecturer, Blanche Cameron, as part of the Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies BSc programme, this event is an alternative field trip for our students, engaging with UK and global action on climate change and biodiversity loss. It builds on UCL strategies and programmes,  including UCL Green Infrastructure Strategy and Network, Wild Bloomsbury, Grand Challenges, Sustainability, Environment and Zero Carbon Strategies.

Organisers:

• Blanche Cameron, Environmental Design Lecturer, The Bartlett School of Architecture 
• Artemis Papachristou, Situated Practice MA student, The Bartlett School of Architecture 

Schedule

09:30: Welcome by Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost

09:35: Temperature check-in
Chairs: Siobhan Obi, Co-founder and Treasurer, Bartlett School of Architecture Society and Architecture & Interdisciplinary Studies BSc student & Barney Iley-Williamson, Co-founder Architecture Education Declares and Architecture BSc student

• Student led introduction by chairs sharing thoughts on issues of health, equity and the biodiversity and climate crisis and their impacts on people and nature. 

09:45: Event provocation – How can nature-based solutions help us adapt cities to climate change for fairer, more sustainable futures for all? 

• Dusty Gedge, Livingroofs.org, President of the European Federation of Green Roof Associations (EFB), UCL Green Infrastructure Industry Expert-in-Residence. 

10:00: Discussion 1 - How can we change our culture for more biodiverse, fairer, healthier, more loving communities and cities?
Chair: Siobhan Obi

• Jojo Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Stop Ecocide International 
• John Little, Award-winning greenspace manager of Clapton Park Estate Hackney for 20 years, Grass Roof Company
• Negar Taatizadeh, Architecture MArch, Co-organiser Architecture Education Declares Architecture and Climate Crisis Summit 

11:00: Refreshment Break

11.30: Discussion 2 - How can nature-based solutions help us adapt cities - and the UCL estate - to climate change for people and nature?
Chair: Barney Iley-Williamson

• Prof Kate Jones, Ecologist and UCL NatureSmart Centre and Living Lab Director 
• Gary Grant FIEEM, Ecologist, green infrastructure expert, author and visiting tutor at The Bartlett
• Richard Jackson, UCL Sustainability, Environment Strategy & Zero Carbon 2030 

12:50: Chairs' closing remarks

13:00: End

More information

• Read more about UCL’s Green Infrastructure Industry Expert-in-Residence programme
• Visit Architecture Education Declares' website

Image: Extensive green roof at 1 More London Riverside by Dusty Gedge