Climate action at neighborhood scale: examples from the Resilient Cities Network

Neighborhood planning instruments and approaches that tailor and implement city-level strategies have become a key focus in cities around the world. While nations pledge and cities deliver action on climate, local implementation and impact are dependent on and most tangible at the neighborhood scale. Some cities have these approaches embedded in their planning and governance model, while others use themes like nature or livability as an entry point to build robust neighborhoods. This article aims to highlight the current trends in neighborhood planning and the diverse entry points and concludes with seven propositions based on analysis of seven examples predominantly from the UP2030 program and additional examples from city programs in the Resilient Cities Network. Propositions cover a wide range of approaches to mainstream neighborhood planning in cities, from frameworks to physical infrastructure for continuous stakeholder engagement and from tailored neighborhood plans that mirror city level policy to localizing globally adopted planning approaches. The aim is to provide guidance and inspiration to cities seeking to learn from the examples of their peers.