CARE Urban Resilience Project Symposium 2025

Breakfast

Gabriel Eidelman, Urban Resilience Project Lead, Director, Urban Policy Lab & Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Peter Wallace, CARE Program Lead & Senior Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

9:40-9:50: Elyne Fabing & Mailie Besson on Paris, Sciences Po: This presentation showcases the use of green roofs to mitigate the urban heat island effect in Paris, increasing urban resilience while raising questions of social justice and cultural heritage. It explores policy combinations that can encourage the just implementation of green roof projects. Watch the video here >

9:50-10:00: Z. Nadifa Ramadhanty & Sheila Suredja, University of British Columbia: This presentation analyzes Vancouver’s urban forest canopy policy as a potential solution to the urban heat island effect, focusing on enabling factors, progress, and persistent challenges. It identifies key lessons for cities aiming to integrate urban forestry into climate resilience and urban planning efforts. Read the report here >

10:00-10:10: Shirley Yao on UBC Campus, University of British Columbia: This project addresses a critical planning gap at UBC in Vancouver, by modeling how future population growth, campus development, and climate change will affect the university’s ability to respond to extreme heat. By identifying vulnerable groups and testing infrastructure strategies, the research supports more equitable, long-term emergency planning and informs broader institutional resilience efforts. Read the report here >

10:10-10:20: Discussant Commentary, Kathleen Wynne

10:20-10:30: Q&A 

Networking Break

11:00-11:10: Hugo Kapteijn & Leila O'Rourke, Sciences Po: Using the case of Venice’s MOSE flood barrier project, this presentation explores the tension between policy and governance. While the technocratic policy vision succeeded in delivering a massive engineering solution, governance has struggled with corruption, ecological impacts, and addressing the needs of local communities. Watch the video here >

11:10-11:20 Linna Chang, University of Guelph: This research analyzes the main challenges and solutions for three sponge ecological parks in Sanya City, China, focusing on ecological restoration and flood management strategies. It culminates in a comprehensive set of design strategies that integrate natural processes with public accessibility to enhance urban resilience and biodiversity. Read the report here >

11:20-11:30 Medha Bhushan & Evelyn Mang, University of Toronto & Sciences Po: This podcast explores nature-based solutions that enhance climate resilience in Bangkok, Thailand, a city vulnerable to disasters like flooding. It also examines the policy landscape surrounding climate adaptation, particularly in the context of replacing natural green infrastructure with man-made grey infrastructure. Listen to the podcast here >

11:30-11:40: Jacqueline Lo & Thomas Yue, University of Toronto: This presentation focuses on Hong Kong’s Coastal Enhancement and Shoreline Management initiative. As a low-lying coastal city facing increasing risks from sea level rise and extreme weather, Hong Kong employs a Progressive Adaptive Approach that implements measures gradually as risks intensify. This strategy avoids unnecessary costs and minimizes environmental disruption, offering practical, scalable, and adaptable lessons for other low-lying cities. Read the report here >

11:40- 11:50: Discussant Commentary, Peter Wallace

11:50-12:00: Q&A

Lunch break.

1:15-1:25: Saba Khan & Jananey Rajagopalan, University of Guelph: This project investigates the impact of urban agroforestry initiatives in Kampala, Uganda, on reducing malnutrition and enhancing environmental vitality. It also explores the potential for scaling urban agroforestry to similar settings. Review the guide here >

1:25-1:35: Sydney Wisener & Sabreena Shukul, University of Toronto: This project examines Singapore’s Kampung Admiralty, an intergenerational vertical housing community designed with biophilic elements. It focuses on how biophilic design and collaborative governance support ageing in place while advancing climate adaptation and resilience. Read the policy brief here >

1:35-1:45: Michelle Khalid & Avery Chan on New Westminster, University of British Columbia: This project explores how built heritage preservation serves as a policy tool for climate action in the City of New Westminster, BC. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of these policies and how they were conceived and implemented. Check out the StoryMap here >

1:45-1:55: Charlotte Reed, University of Toronto : This presentation examines the case of +POOL, a floating pool filled with filtered water from New York’s East River. It develops a framework that highlights key factors in the pool’s development and the specific ways the project navigated or overcame challenges. The goal is to create a resource that can facilitate similar swimming facility projects in other contexts, contributing to social and environmental sustainability, particularly waterfront revitalization. Read the report here >

1:55-2:05: Discussant Commentary, Kofi Hope

2:05-2:15: Q&A

Networking Break

2:45-2:55: Jennifer Li, University of Toronto: This project investigates how electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Beijing has helped mitigate the urban heat island effect and how the city leverages vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology to enhance climate resilience during blackouts and peak demand. It explores the policies and infrastructure that have enabled widespread EV adoption and V2G deployment. Read the report here >

2:55-3:05: Discussant Commentary, George Vegh

3:05-3:15 Q&A

Closing Remarks 

Networking Break 

Students reflect on their recent site visits across Toronto and draw connections between those experiences and the day's presentations.