April 2009: The World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UN-HABITAT, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other donors are supporting the organization of the fifth Urban Research Symposium, which will be held from 28 June-1 July 2009, in Marseille, France, under the theme “Cities and Climate Change: Responding to the Urgent Agenda.”

The symposium will address: the impacts of city and urban growth on climate change; measuring and anticipating the consequences of climate change on urban quality of life, city assets, and local and national economies; and assessing alternatives to increase the resilience of cities and related costs and incentives required for successful implementation. The event will be structured around five broad research clusters that represent the most relevant issues faced by cities and peri-urban areas on climate change. [Symposium website]