Urban Futures Hub Workshop: IIASA-Japan Cities project

The IIASA–Japan joint research project on “Climate Change and Cities” began in September 2023 with the aim of contributing to the development of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.

During Phase I (2023–2024), the project launched an international research initiative to compile a fast-track comprehensive report on Cities Transformation. An expert workshop and a public seminar were held in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2024, providing a platform to discuss the report’s findings and explore future research directions.

In Phase II (2024–2025), the project shifted its focus toward city governance as a key research theme. This work has been advanced by the IIASA team in close collaboration with Japanese research partners and practitioners. As part of this phase, a second stakeholder workshop and public seminar were held in Yokohama, Japan, in March 2025, further strengthening the dialogue between researchers and practitioners.

Now entering Phase III (2025–2026), the project will continue to build on two core thematic areas: city governance and city-scale modelling and scenarios. The upcoming workshop at IIASA will bring together international experts, including city practitioners and IPCC colleagues, to discuss the project’s outputs, exchange perspectives, and explore potential pathways forward.

This workshop is by invitation only.