Events at COP30 – 11/10-21/2025

This November, Brazil is hosting the COP30. The City CDR Initiative is on the ground. We are organizing three events focusing on the urban CDR opportunity and how to unlock it at scale. We zoom in on multi-stakeholder governance, the urban carbon removal methods and deployment pathways, and the tools that local governments have to advance carbon sinks in the urban environment.

1. Carbon Dioxide Removal at Scale: What Role for Multi-Level Governance? November 10th at 5:00 – 5:45 (Finnish Pavilion). This event will focus on CDR governance and the role of cities. Co-organizers are the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) and Bellona Europa. Speakers include: Hanna Wesslin, Climate Director, City of Helsinki; Hugh Lim, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore; Maurice Akech, Executive Director, National Construction Authority, Ministry of Lands, Public Works Housing and Urban Development, Kenya;Jonas Helseth, Executive Director, Bellona; Christiaan Gevers Deynoot, Executive Director, City CDR Initiative.
2. Negative Emissions: How to Remove Carbon Dioxide in Urban areas? November 11th at 11:00 – 12:00 (Finnish Pavilion). This event will focus on CDR methods, urban deployment pathways and the stakeholder ecosystem needed. The event is organized together with the City of Helsinki. Speakers include: Hanna Wesslin, Climate Director, City of Helsinki; Leena Järvi, Professor, Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science; Matti Kuittinen, Professor of resource-efficient construction, Aalto University; Mina Hasman, Sustainability Director, SOM / Co-Chair of Climate Action Expert Advisory Group, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA); ; Christiaan Gevers Deynoot, Executive Director, City CDR Initiative.
3. Municipal Power: How to Realize Carbon Sink Cities? November 14th at 1:30 – 3:00 (CDR Pavilion). This event will focus on municipal powers in the pursuit of carbon sink cities. The City CDR Initiative will launch two reports on Carbon Sink Cities: Opportunity Analysis and an Implementation Guide. The event is organized together with the High-Level Climate Champions. Speakers include: Lea Ranalder, Associate Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements, UN-Habitat; Iina Oilinki, Project Director, Climate Unit, City of Helsinki; Mina Hasman, Sustainability Director, SOM / Co-Chair of Climate Action Expert Advisory Group, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA); Joan Ko, Global Climate and Sustainability Leader, Arup; Chris Neidl, Carbon Removal Lead, High-Level Climate Champions; Christiaan Gevers Deynoot, Executive Director, City CDR Initiative.