CitiesIPCC: an urban conference whose climate impact continues over time
May 21, 2025
The Edmonton case study shows how a scientific meeting can influence research, municipal policy and international climate action.
A case study published by The Iceberg revisits the CitiesIPCC conference held in Edmonton in 2018. It brought together approximately 750 scientists, mayors, local-government representatives and decision-makers to connect climate research more closely with the realities cities face.
The meeting helped define a global research agenda on cities and climate change. It also supported the Edmonton Declaration, a call for municipalities to accelerate climate action, as well as initiatives designed to advance knowledge and local practice.
Edmonton extended this momentum through legacy research grants and community projects, including work related to reducing energy use and encouraging reuse. The outcomes also contributed to the international dialogue that informed further work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The CitiesIPCC case shows that the value of a scientific conference lies as much in the collaborations and decisions it triggers as in its official programme. By aligning the gathering with city priorities and funding follow-through, a destination can turn a one-time event into infrastructure for change.
This case study is part the Business Events Legacy & Impact Study by Destination Canada, conducted with MEET4IMPACT and GainingEdge. The research follows multiple events to understand how social, intellectual, policy, human and economic outcomes develop over time.
Don Iveson (right) participating in a panel discussion at the CitiesIPCC Cities and Climate Change Science Conference. Photo Credit: Ryan Jackson