Welcome to UGEC

Today, more than half of the world's population lives in cities. It is clear that the development of urban areas holds the key to many of the challenges we face in our interactions with the environment. The International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) exhibiting its increased focus on urban areas initiated recently the Urbanization and Global Environmental Change core project.

This IHDP core project seeks to provide a better understanding of the interactions and feedbacks between global environmental change and urbanization at the local, regional, and global scales through an innovative conceptual and methodological framework. To capture the benefits of urbanization and mitigate as well as adapt to negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts, a stronger collaboration between academics, political decision-makers and practitioners is encouraged. As urbanization represents a critical topic of special policy relevance in today's world, the UGEC core project represents an unrivalled opportunity for addressing critical issues of worldwide importance that have not received adequate attention so far.

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UGEC News

International Conference on Challenges of Urbanization and Development in Africa in the Context of Climate Change - Call for Papers extended

Despite increased attention to and improved understanding of these issues in recent years, more knowledge is needed to prepare for and manage the multitude of risks associated with environmental and climate change in African cities. Rapid urbanization, increasing vulnerability and urgent need to enhance the capacity of African institutions to work together to manage risks and foster urban adaptation and resilience motivate the design and organization of this conference.

The University of Dar es Salaam Centre for Climate Change Studies, in collaboration with START and others, is hosting this conference on Urbanization and Development in Africa in the Context of Climate Change from the 24th-26th July 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania. The deadline for abstracts has been extended until 17th May 2013. Abstracts should be 300 words long and can be sent to the Conference Secretariat at cccs@udsm.ac.tz, with a copy to msaru5@yahoo.co.uk. Please see the [full pdf announcement] of the conference.

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Bearing the brunt of environmental change: understanding climate adaptation and transformation challenges in African cities - a short workshop report

"While rapid advances are now being made in understanding the current and likely future dynamics of urban environmental/climate change under different scenarios, the evidence base and policy responses through mitigation, adaptation and transformation remain highly uneven. Our knowledge and understanding of the processes of change as they are already affecting many African urban areas, and will do so increasingly through this century, remain seriously inadequate and patchy, being focused on a few large coastal cities.

Some 35 specialists in African urban climate change from across the African continent and beyond came together in the Geography Department at Royal Holloway on 16th and 17th April for a landmark workshop entitled Bearing the brunt of environmental change: understanding climate adaptation and transformation challenges in African cities. Organised by David Simon assisted by Hayley Leck, the workshop was funded by the Urban Studies journal as the winning bid in its international seminar series competition for 2012. Co-funding from UN-HABITAT, the Urban Climate Change Research Network, the Urbanization and Global Environmental Change project of IHDP, the ACC DAR project based at La Sapienza University of Rome, and the African Studies Association of the UK broadened the base and increased the scale of participation." Click here to read the full article.

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4th iLEAPS Science Conference: Terrestrial ecosystems, atmosphere, and people in the Earth system

This conference will take place 12-16 May 2014 in Nanjing, China. The Conference themes are:
•Dynamic processes in the land-atmosphere-society continuum
•Sustainable management of human-dominated environments
•Topical regions: high latitudes and developing countries
•Multidisciplinary observations and modelling of land-atmosphere-society interactions

The session proposal deadline is 30 April 2013. More information can be found at the conference website.

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IHDP Writing Contest - Extended Deadline

The deadline for the IHDP Secretariat's Writing Contest has been extended to May 15 to accommodate the coming spring semester. Young scholars are invited to take part and write an article for the third issue of the Dimensions magazine, to be published mid 2013.

The issue will focus on the human dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals that have been widely discussed in the context of the Rio+20 summit. The magazine is directed towards a wider audience, including non-scientists interested in the topic. Upon expiry of the submission deadline, the Secretariat will select up to three winners to be awarded cash prizes ($500, $200, and $100) - and will publish their work in the magazine (print and online). More information about the contest can be found on the IHDP website.

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UGEC at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting|April 9-13, Los Angeles, CA

Featured Session
Learning from cities: urban adaptation responses to climate change and ways forward | Friday, 4/12/2013, 4:40 PM - 6:20 PM in Los Cerritos, Westin, Lobby Level

Panelists: UGEC Scientific Steering Committee members David Simon, Bill Solecki, Shu-Li Huang and Darryn McEvoy

Abstract: Panelists will focus on the lessons learned so far from current urban responses to climate change while also addressing concerns of social and environmental equity associated with uneven patterns of resilience both within and across cities. Reflecting on how responses are shaped by the frames of adaptation, disaster risk reduction, resilience and development and the linkages which exist between them - all of which closely relate to urban governance (in particular, motivations behind the efforts to govern climate change, strategies, and differing institutional capacities amongst cities) will offer pathways for a forward-thinking discussion towards a better understanding of drivers of transformation in urban areas and successful response strategies.

Other Sessions

• Antecedent and Aftermath of Genocide: Tales of Human Calamity and Survival
• Assessing the Effects of Climate on Land Cover Change Using Remote Sensing
• Cities as First Responders: The Second Assessment Report on Climate Change and Cities (ARC3-2) and How to Become Part of Urban Climate Change Research Network and Its Ongoing Work
• Climate Change & Extreme Events: Vulnerability, Resilience, and Adaptation
• Community-University Partnerships for Sustainability
• Developing Fundamental Geospatial Datasets for Sustainable Development in Africa
• Development Geography: Can critical perspectives exist in policy and implementation? 1
• Development Geography: Can critical perspectives exist in policy and implementation? 2
• Enhancing Departments and Graduate Education in Geography (EDGE) Grants for Outreach and Professional Development
• Geographical perspectives on Super Storm Sandy
• The need for and proposed development of a database of global urban characteristics for use in climate modeling

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Postgraduate Scientist - NCAR Research Applications Laboratory (RAL)

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is hiring a Postgraduate Scientist who will assist with the development of an NSF international research, education and outreach program, developing tools, methods and templates to assist in the development of low-carbon, resource-efficient and healthy cities in the US, China and India. This is a new, full-time, two-year term position with possibility of extension.

Please find the following full job description and application details in the attached [PDF]. Initial consideration will be given to applications received prior to 5:00 p.m. (MDT) on Friday, April 12, 2013.

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow - University of Toronto

Applications are invited for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow to study the metabolism of megacities PDF. This position is part of a collaborative project with the Enel Foundation. The candidate will conduct research on the energy and material flows of cities and help produce a road map towards sustainable development of megacities. The research will entail review of literature, development of a survey, statistical analysis, and potentially use of an urban systems model. In addition to research responsibilities, the candidate will take a leadership role on the project as a coordinator of a megacities research network.

Candidates should hold a PhD in Civil Engineering, Geography, Regional Science, Environmental Science, Industrial Ecology (or related fields) and have demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas:

1. Material and Energy Flow Analysis
2. Statistical Analysis
3. Systems Modelling
4. Urban Planning
5. Greenhouse Gas Accounting

Candidates should have excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Applicants should send a cover letter, detailed CV, one page statement of research experience and interests, and names and contact information of three references to Professor Chris Kennedy (christopher.kennedy@utoronto.ca).

The review of applications will begin on May 1, 2013 and will continue until the position is filled.

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'Is It Time to Move Past Urban Studies and Toward Urbanization Science?'

UGEC SSC member William Solecki speaks about the need for an ‘urbanization science’ in this featured Atlantic Cities article. Here, he expresess the urgent need for a new science of urbanization, which was recently published in Environment magazine PDF, along with UGEC collegues Karen Seto and Peter Marcotullio. The current fragmentary nature of urban studies, has led to a disconnected "smorgasbord of information" about cities. In response, they suggest moving away from the study of cities as "places" and toward the study of urbanization as a "process." Click here to read the full article.

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2013 Africa Climate Conference 2013 - Call for abstracts

The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) collaborating with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s Africa Climate Policy Center (ACPC) will host the first ever Pan-Africa Climate Research Conference on 15-18 October, 2013 in Arusha (Tanzania), themed the “Africa Climate Conference 2013: Advancing African Climate Science Research & Knowledge”.

The Africa Climate Conference 2013 (ACC-2013) aims to address new frontiers of knowledge on the African Climate system, and narrow the communication gap currently existing between African decision-makers and climate scientists, in order to develop a coordinated collaborative research strategy to improve climate science outputs so that they may better inform climate early warning responses and adaptation in Africa. Concrete pan-African and multi-disciplinary climate research program proposals and a concerted climate research effort, hosted across African climate research hubs, are anticipated from this major climate Conference for Africa.

Bringing together scientists of African climate towards meeting African policy-makers’ needs, the ACC 2013 will offer a platform for decision-makers and climate researchers, scientists and practitioners from Africa and around the world, to jointly address a number of priority African climate research frontiers that have been identified through consultation with a broad spectrum of research, applications and user communities initiated at the second Climate Change for Development in Africa (CCDA-II) conference.

The Scientific and Technical Steering Committee of the ACC-2013 now invites abstracts for either oral or poster presentations for the conference sessions. The abstract submission form available online. The deadline for abstract submission to the Africa Climate Conference (ACC-2013) is May 31, 2013.

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Government and Expert Review of the Working Group III (WGIII) Contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change.

In accordance with the decision by the IPCC at its 35th Session in June 2012, IPCC observer organizations are now invited to encourage additional experts to participate as Expert Reviewers in the WGIII AR5 Government and Expert Review of the Second Order Draft (SOD). Please note that such experts provide reviews under their own name; they do not represent the observer organization. A secure online registration process has been developed and can be accessed directly by prospective experts via the WGIII website. The Review site closes for input on 22 April 2013. Please be advised that late comments cannot be accepted.

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Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research Visiting Fellowship Programme - Call for applicaitons

The Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCAR) invites applications for its 2014 Visiting Fellowship program.

'We aim to attract outstanding scholars and academics that can make a significant contribution to the Centre’s research agenda and actively promote international research initiatives with their home institution. For 2014, we are seeking a fellow who can work with the Director on a review and synthesis of the Centre’s research program.

Ideally, the fellow would be in place for 2-4 months between January and May 2014. There may be opportunities to further extend the fellowship in association with other organisations.

Applicants should provide a CV, contact details of two referees, an application letter addressing the Selection Criteria and indicating the time period they intend to spend in Victoria, a short description of their research interests and how they could potentially contribute to research activity in Victoria, and the level and type of financial support that is required. More information on application procedures can be found in the attachment.'

Applications must be received by 15 March 2013.

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UGEC Viewpoints No. 9 - Call for abstracts (EXTENDED)

We are specifically asking for contributions from PhD students and early-career researchers to publish their research in the 9th issue of UGEC Viewpoints. This is a great way to showcase your work to an international audience. Interested parties should send us a 300 word abstract of your envisioned contribution which should discuss your current research and should be forward looking – including a discussion of problems or knowledge gaps, potential solutions for moving forward, etc. In general, articles should be semiformal presentations of research findings in the context of urbanization and global environmental change with more emphasis on the policy implications of the research.

For examples of articles, you will find our most recent issues here on the left-hand side of our website under 'Products'. After we make the selections – we aim at a total of 10-12 contributions – we will then ask you to submit a full article of around 1500-1800 words. Potential contributors should begin by sending us your 300 word abstract by Friday, March 1st. After we notify you of acceptance, we will request your full article by the first part of April. We estimate the final product to become available in May. Abstract submissions should be emailed to: corrie.griffith@asu.edu

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Climate Adaptation Engineering for Cities and Coasts Symposium 2013 - Call for abstracts

This symposium, taking place in Melbourne, Australia 29-31 Oct. 2013, will showcase research in Climate Adaptation Engineering and highlight its significance for human settlement in urban and coastal areas. The deadline for abstracts has been extended until 31 May 2013. View pdf announcement here.

Climate Adaptation Engineering considers the risks of a changing climate to develop technological and engineering solutions to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in cities and coasts. CAE uses a range of decision pathways for planning, design, construction, maintenance and renewal of the built environment, and provides decision makers economic costs and benefits of taking adaptation steps. For more information visit the event website.

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Future Proofing Cities (FPC): Risks and Opportunities for Inclusive Urban Growth in Developing Countries

FPC is the outcome of a nine-month collaborative research project carried out between University College London (UCL) Development Planning Unit (DPU), Atkins and the Department for International Development (DFID). This landmark report forms a unique attempt to systematically assess key environmental risks - in the form of climate hazards, resources scarcities and ecosystem damage - facing cities in the global south. The report categorizes the future proofing risks of 129 cities in 20 countries and assesses over 100 practical policy options available for risk management. The FPC extends beyond recommendation of standard best practice approaches by emphasizing the need for cities to develop policy portfolios based on their individual risk profiles, as well as on the conditions that affect their vulnerability to risks and their capacity to act in response to these.

The DPU team involved in the Future Proofing Cities undertaking has included Dr. Vanesa Castan-Broto, Professor Caren Levy, Linda Westman and Dr. Adriana Allen, responsible for providing strategic guidance throughout the development of the project’s analytical framework and production of five in-depth case studies. The analytical framework forms the basis for distinguishing various combinations of environmental threats that require different forms of action. The case studies provide a nuanced exploration of these challenges in the cities of Bangkok, Maputo, Bangalore, Karachi and Nairobi, as well as examples of local future proofing solutions that illustrate existing opportunities for inclusive and sustainable urban development. Download the full pdf report here.

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Special issue of Journal of Industrial Ecology: Sustainable Urban Systems

Like organisms, cities need energy, water, and nutrients, and they need to dispose of wastes and byproducts in ways that are viable and sustainable over the long run. This notion of “urban metabolism” is a model for looking systematically at the resources that flow into cities and the wastes and emissions that flow out from them­ to understand the environmental impacts of cities and to highlight opportunities for efficiencies, improvements, and transformation.

Yale University’s Journal of Industrial Ecology is pleased to announce a special issue on Sustainable Urban Systems that focuses on the integration of engineered infrastructures, people, and natural systems in the pursuit of environmentally sustainable cities.

This special issue examines topics such as the contribution of cities to global warming, opportunities for better management of waste electronics and storm water, and the use and fate of phosphorus-­a resource that is both potentially scarce and polluting. The special issue presents research on 11 cities around the world including New York City, Delhi, Denver, Melbourne and London.

The Journal of Industrial Ecology is a bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal, owned by Yale University, published by Wiley-Blackwell and headquartered at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. It is the official journal of the International Society for Industrial Ecology.

Articles in the special issue are freely-downloadable for limited time at: http://jie.yale.edu/SUS

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It's Time for an Urbanization Science

Coauthors of 'It's Time for an Urbanization Science' in Environment Magazine - William Solecki, UGEC SSC member; Karen Seto, UGEC SSC co-chair; and UGEC project associate Peter Marcotullio, stress the need for a science of urbanization. 'This science would focus on the fundamental laws of the urbanization process: its origins, development, organization, emergent properties, and connections to other social and biophysical processes. What might urbanization science look like?' Download the full pdf article here:

Solecki, W., Seto, K. C., & Marcotullio, P. (2013). It’s Time for an Urbanization Science. Environment, 55(1), 12-16.

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Fostering Multiscalar Collaboration and Co-operation for Effective Governance of Climate Change Adaptation

'Fostering Multiscalar Collaboration and Co-operation for Effective Governance of Climate Change Adaptation', published in Urban Studies and co-authored by Hayley Leck and David Simon, UGEC SSC member explores the relations between two contiguous, yet contrasting local authorities in South Africa and between these local authorities and higher government levels and other networks. To date, most progressive local climate change initiatives have been undertaken autonomously and often there are mismatched priorities between different government spheres regarding climate change efforts. The likely implications for the execution of environmental change adaptation actions and the benefits of effective networking are considered in this light and through deploying conceptual insights from multilevel governance, systems approaches to urban governance and other literatures.

Leck, H., & Simon, D. (2012). Fostering Multiscalar Collaboration and Co-operation for Effective Governance of Climate Change Adaptation. Urban Studies, first published online October 26, 2012.

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ICSU Science Officer - Accepting applications

The International Council for Science (ICSU) is seeking a Science Officer for a fixed term contract (18 months) to assist with the planning and implementation of ICSU’s initiatives.

ICSU is a non-governmental scientific organization with a global membership. ICSU members include 121 national scientific bodies (mostly national academies of science), 30 International Scientific Unions, and 21 International Scientific Associates. Activities focus on three areas: International Research Collaboration; Science for Policy; and Universality of Science. This job offers a unique opportunity for the right candidate to help ICSU in its mission to strengthen international science for the benefit of society.

The Science Officer will assist with the planning and implementation of ICSU’s activities, with a particular focus on the major new interdisciplinary initiative, Future Earth: research for global sustainability. Examples of work tasks include support to scientific committees, networking with partners and members, and coordination of international meetings and actions. Close date is February 17, 2013. View the full pdf. announcement here.

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Reality, Meaning, and Legacy in New York City: Hurricane Sandy as an Extreme Event - Opinion Editorial by UGEC SSC member William Solecki

'Will Hurricane Sandy usher in a new era of disaster risk reduction in the United States in which climate change is an explicit component? If an opportunity exists for this shift, what next steps need to be taken to achieve it? What is known is that Hurricane Sandy was a brutal storm which caused vast and devastating impacts. It also generated a legacy which is complicated by the onset of climate change and society's understanding of how best to adapt to its increasing challenges.'

UGEC Scientific Steering Committee member Dr. William Solecki, based at Hunter College, City University of New York in NYC is an expert in urban systems research, particularly with respect to coastal areas and the impacts of climate change. Here, Dr. Solecki sheds light on how historical lessons might influence practical disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the New York Metropolitan Region following Hurricane Sandy and what this could offer for other cities also facing the prospect of climate change-related extreme events. Click here to read the full editorial on the IHDP website.

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Draft 3rd US National Climate Assessment Report now available for download

The National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee (NCADAC), the federal advisory committee for the National Climate Assessment, approved their draft of the Third National Climate Assessment Report for release for public comment. The draft report is available for download - both as a single document and by chapter - at http://ncadac.globalchange.gov. A number of UGEC researchers are contributing authors to various chapters of the report, particularly the section on Urban/Infrastructure/Vulnerability.

The public comment period for the report will run January 14 - April 12, 2013. All comments must be submitted via the online comment tool that will be available on January 14. The draft will be undergoing review by the National Research Council at the same time.

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IHDP Dimensions Magazine (Jan. 2013, Issue 2) – House of Cards: The Perilous State of Global Biodiversity

Congratulations to José (Jed) Edgardo Gomez, Jr., graduate student at the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration & Governance and Assistant Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning! Jed won second place in the IHDP writing contest with the piece ‘The City as Urban Reef: Reflections on the habitation of the Coral Triangle’ (pp. 60-65). Click here to download the full pdf.

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Researchers examine urban heat and human vulnerability

A transdisciplinary team of scientists is using the hot and populous Phoenix metropolitan area to explore how different segments of the region are being affected by increasingly oppressive heat.

Arizona State University sociologist Sharon Harlan is a lead investigator on the project Urban Vulnerability to Climate Change: A System Dynamics Analysis, which is designed to look at patterns in the past and present and apply them to potential climate scenarios of the future. The project is featured in the January issue of International Innovation.

“Our research in this desert metropolis examines how climate, plants and people create a dynamic and complex social-ecological system that requires careful stewardship in order to sustain vital natural resources and human health,” said Harlan.

An associate professor in ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Harlan emphasizes that outreach and education are built into the project in an effort to help policymakers, as well as residents, deal with the rising challenges of urban heat. Read the full article (pp. 22-23) in International Innovation.

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GLP 2014 Open Science Meeting: Extended deadline for session proposals

The Global Land Project 2nd Open Science Meeting, 'Land Transformations between Global Challenges and Local Realities', takes place March 19-21, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The call for session proposals has now been extended through January 31, 2013. View the full announcement here.

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The Global Urban Economic Dialogue Series: The Impact of Climate Change on Urban Settlements in Colombia

'The Global Urban Economic Dialogue series is a platform for all sectors of the society to address urban economic development and particularly its contribution to addressing housing issues. This work carries many new ideas, solutions and innovative best practices from some of the world’s leading urban thinkers and practitioners from international organisations, national governments, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society. This series also gives us an interesting insight and deeper understanding of the wide range of urban economic development and human settlements development issues. It will serve UN member States well in their quest for better policies and strategies to address increasing global challenges in these areas.' Andrea Lampis, UGEC project associate and Arabella Fraser are principal authors to the report. Download the full report here.

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Future Earth Interim Director - accepting applications

Future Earth is a 10-year international programme on Earth system research for global sustainability. The goal of Future Earth is to develop the knowledge required for societies worldwide: to face challenges posed by global environmental change and to identify and implement solutions and opportunities for a transition to global sustainability.

A Future Earth Interim Director is now needed to provide executive leadership for the Future Earth programme, as it transitions from initial design to full implementation. The Interim Director will work with the scientific community, stakeholders, and members of the Alliance. Download the full pdf announcement here. The advertisement can also be found on the ICSU website at: http://www.icsu.org/news-centre/jobs-at-icsu. Close date is February 15.

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Call for Nominations for Future Earth Science Committee

The Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability, which comprises ICSU, ISSC, the Belmont Forum, UNEP, UNESCO, UNU and WMO as an observer, is currently seeking nominations for experts to serve on the first Future Earth Science Committee. This committee will ensure that the science of Future Earth is of the highest quality, making recommendations on new and existing projects, and emerging priorities for research. It will oversee the transition of IGBP, IHDP and Diversitas activities into Future Earth and secure strong partnership with the WCRP community. It will comprise 16 members and 2 co-Chairs, representing the full spectrum of global environmental change science from natural science to social sciences, humanities and engineering, and may include scientists working in non-academic sectors. It will include representation from the existing GEC programmes.

For information on how to be considered for nomination, please contact the ICSU National Member of the country where you are based, or the Scientific Union or Interdisciplinary body for your field. The closing date for nominations is 22 February 2013. More information is available here.

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Senior Researcher, IIED Human Settlements

The Human Settlements Group works to reduce poverty and to improve the health and housing conditions in urban centres of Latin America, Asia and Africa. It aims to combine this with promoting good governance and more ecologically sustainable patterns of urban development and urban-rural linkages.

Summary of role:
This is a newly created role to strengthen the research and leadership capacity of the Group and to expand its current work. We are particularly interested in strengthening our research on urban poverty and how this intersects with the urban environment and urbanization, and are open to a range of interpretations or approaches to understanding this. The postholder will also be expected to actively contribute to developing the Group’s future orientations within the new IIED’s institutional strategy after 2014. He or she will be expected to play an active role in managing the Group’s overall work programme and in raising funds for it, and in contributing to IIED-wide strategic debates and the development of internal policies.

With a postgraduate degree in a relevant social sciences discipline, the successful candidate will have extensive research experience in urban issues demonstrated by a strong publications record. He or she will be able to demonstrate effective leadership in both designing and implementing research projects including the development of research methodologies, along with excellent project, people and budget management. Practical work experience in Asia, Latin America or Africa will be essential so as a track record of sustained successful fundraising. Further academic qualifications and working knowledge of another widely spoken international language would be desirable.

Please read the job description for the full list of responsibilities, essential requirements and desired experience.

Closing date: Extended to Sunday 6th January 2013 at 11pm (UK time). Late applications will not be accepted.

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Special Issue: A New Urbanization Land Change Continuum

Contemporary urbanization is a process that simultaneously involves changes in livelihoods, lifestyles, connectivity and land uses. The urban-rural dichotomy including a discrete place no longer holds. There is a need for a new conceptual framework of land change and urbanization that explicitly identifies how these two processes are connected and takes into consideration these changes looking for more or less blurring places – urban continuums – that are multiply coupled/connected (Boone et al., in press; Seto et al., 2012). The aim of this special issue is to explore cutting edge, state-of-the-art research that examines and visualizes how urbanization and land change are connected through space and across time. Prospective authors are invited to contribute to this Special Issue of Land by submitting an original manuscript of their latest research in this particular area. Contributions may include, but are not limited to:

• New methods and conceptualizations for characterizing urban continuums, couplings, and urban land teleconnections.
• Analytical methods for classifying and organizing land change related to urbanization, including multi-level modeling, spatially explicit life cycle analysis, multi-agent modeling, and spatializing commodity chains.
• Techniques for modeling and visualizing correlations across distant locations.
• Integration of land, economic, livelihood, and justice measurements to examine “urbanity”.
• Vivid empirical cases and examples from across the world populating the approaches and concepts of urbanization.

The deadline for submissions is February 28, 2013. Please click here for more details on this special issue.

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IIED Senior Researcher Vacancy

IIED is recruiting for an experienced senior researcher to join its Human Settlements Group. This is a new role to strengthen the Group’s research and leadership capacity, particularly on urban poverty and how this intersects with the urban environment and urbanization. We are open to different interpretations or approaches to understanding this. The postholder will contribute to developing the Group’s future orientations within the new IIED’s institutional strategy after 2014, and will also play an active role in managing the Group’s work programme and in raising funds for it.

With a postgraduate degree in social sciences, the successful candidate will have extensive research experience in urban issues demonstrated by a strong publications record. Ability to demonstrate effective leadership in designing and implementing research along with excellent project, people and budget management is essential. Professional experience in Asia, Latin America or Africa and a track record of sustained successful fundraising are critical.

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
Senior Researcher, Human Settlements Group
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Salary: £38,767 - £43,753 per annum, depending on experience, plus benefits (up to £48,207 for exceptional candidates)
Location: London, UK
Closing date: Friday 30th November at 12noon (UK time)

To apply please visit: http://www.iied.org/senior-researcher-human-settlements

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ISSC call for World Social Science Fellows applications

The International Social Science Council (ISSC) calls for applications from outstanding early career social scientists around the world to become World Social Science Fellows and participate in a World Social Science Seminar on Sustainable Urbanization: Innovative approaches to understanding urbanization in the 21st century to take place 25-30 March 2013 at the Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar, Quito, Ecuador

The ISSC is looking for 20 World Social Science Fellows - talented, early career social scientists to start developing these interdisciplinary perspectives at a seminar in Quito, Ecuador, and to take them forward in their research and teaching activities after the seminar.

Applications can be submitted electronically and in one file to: Fellows@worldsocialscience.org

Deadline for submission of applications: 16 December 2012, 00.00hrs GMT

View the full pdf. announcement here.

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Sustainable cities must look beyond city limits | Press Release

"City leaders aspiring to transform their cities into models of sustainability must look beyond city limits and include in their calculation the global flow of goods and materials into their realm," argue researchers in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences journal AMBIO.

The new research is the outcome of a three-day international workshop on planetary stewardship which brought together 30 leading experts, including UGEC researchers, on sustainable cities, sustainable resource chains and planetary sustainability to explore the links between global change, health, climate, food security and water security. The workshop was organised by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and took place 13-15 June 2011.

Click here to read the full press release.

Read the full paper which is open access:
Seitzinger, S.P., U. Svedin, C. Crumley, W. Steffen, S. A. Abdullah, C. Alfsen, W. J. Broadgate, F. H.B. Biermann, N. R. Bondre, J. A. Dearing, L. Deutsch, S. Dhakal, T. Elmqvist, N. Farahbakhshazad, O. Gaffney, H. Haberl, S. Lavorel, C. Mbow, A. J. McMichael, J. Morais, P. Olsson, P. Pinho, K. C. Seto, P. Sinclair, M. Stafford-Smith, L. Sugar. (2012). Planetary stewardship in an urbanising world: beyond city limits. AMBIO. doi: 10.1007/s13280-012-0353-7

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UGEC Postdoctoral Scholar - Now Accepting Applications

UGEC is seeking a postdoctoral scholar who will undertake research projects to advance UGEC science objectives.

The postdoctoral fellow will work directly under the supervision of ASU faculty member and UGEC Scientific Steering Committee Member (SSC) member, Professor Christopher Boone, and work closely with the UGEC Project SSC and the Executive Officer to fulfill the goals and objectives of the project. The postdoc’s primary responsibilities will be to undertake original and synthesis research on the topic of urbanization and global environmental change. Specific topics for research may include, but will not be limited to: urban land change; urban vulnerability and resilience; urban mitigation and adaptation to climate change; urban material and energy use; urban climate; urban ecosystem services; public health and environmental justice. Secondary responsibilities will include assistance to the Executive Officer in aspects of the International Project Office’s operation, thereby also obtaining broader training and administrative experience.

Initial close date is November 30, 2012. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed until position is filled.

Read the full job description to learn more about qualifications and how to apply.

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Global Land Project Open Science Meeting 2014: Call for Sessions

The Land Science Community is invited to contribute with sessions related to the conference themes:
1. Rethinking land change transitions
2. Local land users in a tele-connected world
3. Impact and responses
4. Land governance

Sessions cam be submitted under the following formats:
-Research Presentation Session: 5 oral presentations on related topics
-Round-table Discussion: 3-5 speed talks followed by discussion
-World Cafe Workshop: discussion format around 2-3 open statements or questions
-Open Format: new innovative session formats are welcome

Deadline for session proposals: January 5th, 2013.

The open call for abstracts will be advertised from April 30th, 2013.

More information:http://www.glp-osm2014.org

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Global Carbon Project Executive Officer position now open

The Global Carbon Project (GCP) is seeking to appoint a highly motivated and independent person as Executive Director of International Project Office (IPO) in Tsukuba, Japan, located at the Center for Global Environmental Research of the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). The successful candidate will work with the GCP Science Steering Committee (SSC), and other GCP offices to implement the science framework of the GCP, particularly in the area of urban carbon management.

Candidates should have excellent working knowledge of the policy-relevant scientific objectives of the GCP and a keen interest in devising methods to integrate social and policy sciences into the understanding of the carbon-climate system as a coupled human/natural system. The Tsukuba IPO is especially focused on fostering and coordinating research related integrating the human and natural dimensions of the global carbon cycle and global/regional/urban carbon management.

The full job description can be accessed here

Closing date for applications: 19th Nov. 2012, Japan time

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Cities and Biodiversity Outlook

The Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has just published the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook - Action and Policy and the scientific analysis and assessment, Global Urbanization, Biodiversity, and Ecosystems – Challenges and Opportunities. By 2050, the world will have undergone the largest and fastest period of urban expansion in human history, having significant implications for biodiversity and ecosystems if current trends continue.

Drawing on contributions from more than 120 scientists worldwide, the CBO states that over 60 percent of the land projected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be built. This presents a major opportunity to greatly improve global sustainability by promoting low-carbon, resource-efficient urban development that can reduce adverse effects on biodiversity and improve quality of life, it says. The CBO also demonstrates how sub-national and local authorities can play a central role in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

UGEC SSC co-chair, Karen Seto; UGEC SSC member, William Solecki; UGEC Project Associate, Peter Marcotullio; and former UGEC Executive Officer, Michail Fragkias along with many others closely related to the UGEC network are contributing authors to the report. The draft core chapters of this volume are now available online.

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IPCC AR5 Working Group I Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis Expert and Government Review of the Second Order Draft

Working Group I (WGI) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has announced that the Second Order Draft of the WGI contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis is now available for Expert and Government Review from 5 October - 30 November 2012. In order to review the Second Order Draft, you are invited to submit a completed registration form provided below. For additional information, please see the Introduction to the Expert Review of IPCC Working Group I AR5 Draft Reports.

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Inclusive Wealth: Transition towards Sustainability - A Lecture by Sir Partha Dasgupta

On Monday, 17 December 2012 at the UN Campus in Bonn, Sir Partha Dasgupta, Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Cambridge and Chair of IHDP’s Scientific Committee, will discuss sustainability and economic development in a lecture based on the Inclusive Wealth Report 2012 (IWR 2012).

The IWR 2012, produced by the UNU-IHDP, is the first true attempt to measure the total wealth of nations – including forms of wealth not generally accounted for, such as natural and human capital.

For more information about the event and to register, click here for the full announcment.

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CBD COP 11 Side-Event: 'Best practices for biodiversity conservation in European urban areas'

The Swiss Federal Office for Environment (FOEN) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will host this side-event during the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad, India on Friday 12 October from 13:15 – 14:45.

The previous Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Nagoya, Japan has resulted in a Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity. The Plan of Action calls for dissemination of best practices to better promote local efforts and to facilitate communications between all levels of government, and for those governments to work together in developing their respective biodiversity strategies and action plans. (See pdf of invitation)

This side-event will promote the exchange of knowledge, lessons-learnt and best practices that can contribute to conserve and manage biodiversity and ecosystems and increase the resilience of cities. In addition, the event will raise awareness and demonstrate the economic and social value of ecosystems services for the well-being of urban populations.

If you would like to participate, please send a message to: christos.tympanaris@iucn.org

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Call for Papers: AAG Annual Meeting, 9-13 April 2013

Session Title: Trees in the city: the extent, drivers, and benefits of urban forests

Organizers: Tenley M. Conway, University of Toronto, Mississauga, tenley.conway@utoronto.ca; Shawn Landry, University of South Florida, landry@usf.edu

Description: Canopy extent and conventional definitions of forest suggest that many cities in the world can be characterized as forests. Urban forests contribute important ecological services, as well as provide social and economic benefits to the local community. The presence and condition of urban trees is determined by a complex set of factors, many of which result from socio-ecological conditions and policy driven decisions at multiple spatial scales. This session will focus on patterns and drivers of urban forest health, extent and change, and planning initiatives at multiple scales. We invite presentations addressing geographical issues in urban forestry.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:
1. Methods for mapping extent and change in urban forest cover.
2. Analysis of ecological, social, or economic services provided by urban forests
3. The impacts of urban forest policies or management strategies
4. Drivers of change such as invasive species or community-based action.

If you are interested in participating in this session, please notify (tenley.conway@utoronto.ca or landry@usf.edu ) of your interest and tentative title as soon as possible, and send an abstract by October 1st. Participants will then be expected to register and submit their abstracts online at the AAG website by to October 19th 2012 so there is sufficient time to register the session.

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IAI and NCAR's Climate Science and Applications Program “Colloquia on Knowledge Integration at the Science-Policy Interface” / “Coloquios sobre la integración del conocimiento en la interfaz ciencia-política" de El Instituto Interamericano para la Investigación del Cambio Global (IAI) y NCAR Climate Science and Applications Program

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and NCAR´s Climate Science and Applications Program are pleased to announce the “Colloquia on Knowledge Integration at the Science-Policy Interface”

11-17 November, 2012, Dominican Republic (C2012) | 8-12 April, 2013, Ecuador (C2013)

For further information, please see the announcement.

Applications are due September 17th, 2012 at 11:00AM São Paulo time, Brazil.

Applications must be submitted on line at http://iaibr1.iai.int/TrainingOpportunities/Colloquia2012_2013/

Incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not be considered. Only online applications will be accepted.

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El Instituto Interamericano para la Investigación del Cambio Global
(IAI) y NCAR Climate Science and Applications Program tienen el gusto de anunciar los “Coloquios sobre la integración del conocimiento en la interfaz ciencia-política"

11 al 17 de Noviembre 2012, República Dominicana (C2012) | 8 al 12 de Abril 2013, Ecuador (C2013)

Para más información, por favor vea el anuncio.

El plazo de postulación vence 17 de Septiembre, 2012 a las 11:00AM hora de São Paulo, Brasil.

Las postulaciones deben enviarse a través de Internet:
http://iaibr1.iai.int/TrainingOpportunities/Colloquia2012_2013/

Aplicaciones incompletas o recibidas después de esta fecha no serán consideradas. Sólo las solicitudes online serán aceptadas.

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Call for Applications: Advanced Institute on Data for Coastal Cities at Risk

The IRDR International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) in Taipei, together with START, IRDR, the International Council for Science (ICSU) and with the participation of the Coastal Cities at Risk project, is pleased to announce a Call for Applications for the 2012 Advanced Institute on Data for Coastal Cities at Risk. The Institute, to be held 22-27 October 2012 at the IRDR ICoE in Taipei, will provide approximately 15-20 young to middle-career researchers and practitioners from Asia with the enhanced understanding, skills and resources to use and collect data for coastal cities related studies in their own countries. Institute sessions will include educational modules, interactive exercises and field visits. The deadline for applications for the Advanced Institute is September 17, 2012. For more information about the Institute, please see the Call for Applications

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Modeling reveals significant climatic impacts of megapolitan expansion

According to the United Nations’ 2011 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects, global urban population is expected to gain more than 2.5 billion new inhabitants through 2050. Such sharp increases in the number of urban dwellers will require considerable conversion of natural to urban landscapes, resulting in newly developing and expanding megapolitan areas.

Could climate impacts arising from built environment growth pose additional concerns for urban residents also expected to deal with impacts resulting from global climate change?

In the first study of its kind, attempting to quantify the impact of rapidly expanding megapolitan areas on regional climate, a team of researchers from Arizona State University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research has showed that local maximum summertime warming resulting from projected expansion of the urban Sun Corridor could approach 4 degrees Celsius.

This finding, reported in the journal Nature Climate Change, establishes that this factor can be as important as warming that results from increased levels of greenhouse gases.

Read more...

Journal Reference
Georgescu, M., Moustaoui, M., Mahalov, A., Dudhia, J. (2012). Summer-time climate impacts of projected megapolitan expansion in Arizona. Nature Climate Change doi: 10.1038/nclimate1656

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AAG Annual Meeting | Registration and Call for Papers Open Now

Registration for the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, which will take place in Los Angeles, California from April 9-13, 2013, is now open and abstracts and sessions can be submitted online. October 24, 2012 is the deadline to submit an abstract and organized sessions. Early submission is encouraged for best placement in sessions and in the program. Themes central to the event include:

• Emerging Asias
• Beyond the Los Angeles School: Global Urbanization
• Climate Change, Variability, Adaptation and Justice
• Geography, GIScience, and Health: Spatial Frontiers of Health Research and Practice
• Activist Geographies: Struggles for Social and Environmental Justice
• Borders

Visit this link to learn more about the Annual Meeting.

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Can There Be a Science of Cities?

This workshop, hosted by the Santa Fe Institute in mid-July sought to cover, and thereby integrate, the main disciplinary issues and advances relating to cities and urbanization generated by sociology, urban economics, complex systems, statistical physics and urban planning, combined with empirical knowledge of large urban systems worldwide from Europe, the USA and Brazil to China, Japan and Africa. Societal issues closely related to this are questions of the dynamics of innovation, cycles of boom and bust, the seemingly inevitable increase in the pace of life, and the specter of a “planet of slums”—pollution, disease and conflict.

Given the magnitude of the many problems we are currently facing world-wide under the umbrella of global sustainability, such as the environment, climate change, health, quality of life, poverty, energy and resources, financial markets, risk and crime, and the central role played by cities and urbanization, it is becoming clear that there is an urgent need for developing a broad, more integrated scientific framework that is quantitative and predictive. Is this, in fact, possible and, if so, how could it provide a credible paradigm for helping practitioners and politicians solve the enormous challenges created by urbanization?

Dr. Karen Seto, UGEC Co-Chair and Michail Fragkias, UGEC EO were among the invited participants representing diverse expertise in understanding and dealing with the structure, organization and growth dynamics of cities and urbanization in its many manifestations. Participants included mathematical, physical and social scientists, economists and practitioners such as urban architects and planners.

More information about the workshop and the workshop Wiki website can be accessed here.

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The Urban Studies 2012 Seminar Series Competition awards “Bearing the brunt of environmental change: understanding climate adaptation and transformation challenges in African cities”

The UGEC project will be one of several partners involved in this collaborative workshop to take place in Februrary 2013 which will examine the current state of knowledge, understanding and responsiveness to climate change/environmental change within African urban and peri-urban areas. It will identify priorities for further research and policy innovation, and thereby provide the basis for both a special issue of Urban Studies and greatly enhanced coverage of Africa within the 2nd Climate Change in Cities report and future UN-HABITAT State of African Cities reports.

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'Urban Spatial Planning in Response to Climate Change in Asia' - Call for Applications

Given the rapid population and urban growth in Asian cities, there is an urgent need to understand how climate change is likely to affect these regions, and what viable mitigation and adaptation strategies may be taken to reduce their vulnerability and increase their resilience to climate change. This training workshop is funded by the National Science Council of Taiwan, and is designed as a follow-up workshop to the one which took place in November 2011 at the National Taipei University, Taipei, Taiwan. The event is collaboratively organized by the National Taipei University, UGEC, and SARCS (Southeast Asia Regional Committee for START). The workshop will focus on urban spatial planning in response to climate change, including mitigation and adaptation strategies in Asian cities. The goal for this second workshop is to help develop climate change curriculums for urban planning institutions.

This training workshop is designed for young scholars (young faculty members at universities or research institutions who have acquired a PhD preferably within 4 years, post-doc fellows, or nearly completed PhD students with completed research works) from SARCS member or other Asian countries in all relevant disciplines, particularly in urban studies and climate change. The travel and local expense of participants will be covered by the local organizer. All applicants must provide a proposal stating their research interest and preliminary case study results when submitting their application. The applications will be reviewed by the instructors and a maximum number of 25-30 applicants will be selected to participate in the workshop.

Applications are now being accepted until July 31, 2012. Please visit the Workshop Website for more information about the workshop and how to apply.

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International Social Science Council World Social Science Report 2013 - Call for contributions

The ISSC is now committed to preparing the next World Social Science Report, which will also be published by UNESCO and is due to be launched in October 2013. It will focus on: Changing Global Environments: Transformative Impact of Social Sciences

The 2013 WSSR Director and Editorial Team will benefit from the advice and recommendations of a Scientific Advisory Committee comprising well known scholars from different disciplines and different parts of the world (see http://www.worldsocialscience.org/?page_id=2881).

Potential contributors should send an expression of interest to the WSSR Director by 20 July 2012 at the latest, explaining in no more than a page:
• Which cornerstone the contribution would address (see framework below);
• The concrete issue or problem area it would address (e.g. water, food, energy, land use etc.), including examples;
• The main arguments to be developed;
• The countries or regions to be covered;
• The methodological approach to be used; and
• The main material/data that the contribution would draw upon.

All proposals will be reviewed by the WSSR Editorial Team assisted by a resource group comprising specialists of different disciplines and regions. Preference will be given to proposed contributions that focus on the transformative role of social sciences, address concrete priority problems, and pay attention to such cross cutting issues as gender, contextual diversity, historical drivers, vulnerabilities, risks and opportunities, barriers to change and solutions. The report will cover all types of work in the social sciences – quantitative, qualitative, theoretical, and applied. Contributions from a wide range of social scientists from different regions and disciplines are encouraged. Once selected, contributors will be expected to submit their papers by the end of November 2012. On average papers should be 1500 words long. All papers will be submitted to peer review. Download the full announcement here.

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2nd IHDP Writing Contest

The IHDP Secretariat is announcing its second writing contest for the next issue of the DIMENSIONS magazine! The topic: The human dimension of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The contest is open to young scholars from all over the world (graduate students, PhD students or postdocs). Scholars from developing countries are particularly encouraged to take part. The Secretariat will select up to five winners to be awarded a cash prize - and will publish their work as part of the upcoming fall issue.

Visit the IHDP website for