The Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) is a consortium of individuals and institutions dedicated to the analysis of climate change mitigation and adaptation and energy issues from an urban perspective. It is designed to enhance cutting-edge scientific, economic, and planning-related research and to promote knowledge sharing among researchers and urban decision-makers as well as stakeholders about all aspects of climate change and cities. The network is a valuable resource for researchers, individual cities, coalitions of Mayors, and organizations focused on providing technical assistance to cities.

The goals of UCCRN include:

• Develop a shared research agenda on urban climate change issues with stakeholders
• Facilitate research collaborations within and across cities/metropolitan areas
• Enhance cutting-edge scientific, economic and planning-related research
• Promote knowledge sharing among resarchers, urban decision-makers and stakeholders
• Exchange lessons learned across cities
• Assess and report on on-going mitigation and adaptation research and practice in major cities

UCCRN activities include:

• Knowledge-sharing and information exchange: The Network operates a user-friendly website that links to test-bed mitigation and adaptation programs, present research conducted by network members, and post reviews/commentary on key issues in urban climate change policy
• Increasing awareness of urban climate change issues: The Network will raise the level of attention on urban climate change issues by different tiers of government, trans-national organizations, the media, and advocacy communities.
• Hosting conferences/symposia: The May 2007 UCCRN symposium was the first of what will be a biennial event, rotating among different cities on different continents.
• Engaging students: To promote the development of the next generation of urban climate change researchers and planners, the UCCRN will hold a biennial research paper competition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
• Assessment Report on Climate Change in Cities (ARC3): The UCCRN will coordinate biennial assessment reports of mitigation and adaptation research and practice in cities around the globe.

UCCRN Secretariat

The UCCRN Secretariat is currently sponsored by and housed at Columbia University’s Center for Energy, Marine Transportation, and Public Policy (CEMTPP). The Center sponsors academic study and professional research on economic, political, environmental, and technological factors that affect the global production, transportation and consumption of energy. One of the key programs at CEMTPP is the Urban Energy Program, which conducts pathbreaking research examining energy policymaking, regulation, markets, and technologies in cities. For more information on the Urban Energy Program, click here.

UCCRN Secretariat

Somayya Ali