2026 Kaohsiung CityCOP Forum
Flourishing Cities for All:
Science-based and People-Centered Climate Transitions
As global climate governance enters the emerging post-SDGs era, cities are becoming key drivers of transformative change.
Now in its third edition, CityCOP Kaohsiung brings together international leaders and experts to help shape the direction of urban climate action for the coming decade.
Co-hosted by the Kaohsiung City Government and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the forum focuses on two interconnected themes: “Cities for Flourishing Lives” and “From Commitments to Actions.”
Bringing together representatives from the United Nations system, international experts, and city leaders, the forum will explore insights related to the forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SR-Cities) while showcasing practical experiences from cities around the world.
knowledge exchange and dialogue, the summit aims to translate climate commitments into practical, replicable, and scalable solutions, advancing a new model of sustainable urban governance in the post-SDGs era.

講者陣容
Tze-Luen Lin
Deputy Executive Director of the Energy and Carbon Reduction Office, Executive Yuan.
Dr. Tze-Luen Lin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and the International College of Social Sciences at National Taiwan University. He also serves as Deputy Executive Director of the Energy and Carbon Reduction Office under the Executive Yuan. Since 2005, Dr. Lin has actively participated in the UNFCCC COPs (COP11–COP30) and other UN sustainable development processes. His work focuses on advancing Taiwan’s engagement in international climate governance, promoting city-level climate diplomacy, and supporting youth participation in global climate action and environmental affairs. He currently serves as a member of the Presidential Office National Climate Change Committee and the Taiwan Committee of Future Ea
Debra Roberts
IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair (AR6)
Prof. Debra Roberts holds a PhD in urban biogeography and currently serves as Head of the Sustainable and Resilient City Initiatives Unit at eThekwini Municipality (Durban, South Africa). She has long been dedicated to advancing city-level climate adaptation and sustainable development, and was named one of the world’s 100 most influential climate policy leaders in 2019 for her advocacy of the critical role of cities in global climate governance. She also served as a Lead Author of the Urban Areas chapter (Chapter 8) in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), contributing to global understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in urban contexts.
Massamba Thioye
Principal Advisor, UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, UNFCCC
Dr. Massamba Thioye is leading at the UNFCCC secretariat, the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub. He is also Advisory Committee member of the European Green Digital Coalition and member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the “Net-Zero” initiative under ISO. Massamba Thioye has published several breakthrough technical papers in technical peer-reviewed journals. The most recent include (i) an article on a reformed integrated green bond and carbon market as well as a New advanced consumption-based GHG accounting system for cities enabled by Distributed Ledger Technologies.
Dennis Pamlin
Executive Director. Flourishing Lives 4 All (FL4ALL)
Dennis Pamlin is the founder of 21st Century Frontiers and currently serves as Senior Advisor at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and Executive Director of the Flourishing Lives for All (FL4ALL) initiative. He has long been engaged in climate policy and innovation-driven transformation. He previously worked as Global Policy Advisor at WWF and Director of the Low Carbon Leaders Project under the UN Global Compact. Within Mission Innovation, he advanced the Net-Zero Compatible Innovations Initiative, emphasizing avoided emissions assessment, 1.5°C compatibility, and Low Energy Demand, while promoting a sustainability framework centered on human well-being and systemic transformation.
Jui-Hun Chang
Director-General, Environmental Protection Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government
Jui-Hun Chang has served as Director-General of the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government since 2020, after joining the bureau in 1997. She has played a key role in advancing Kaohsiung’s environmental governance and promoting international city cooperation through platforms such as ICLEI. Her work focuses on regional pollution control, soil and groundwater remediation, circular economy and integrated waste management, as well as climate action and the city’s 2050 net-zero transition. She also leads initiatives to strengthen climate governance and talent development through Kaohsiung’s Net-Zero Institute.
Pourya Salehi
Head, Urban Research, Innovation, and Development., ICLEI
Pourya manages and coordinates ICLEI's Global Research Strategy across ICLEI offices. He oversees Research and Innovation related projects and represents ICLEI in research-related spaces including the Global Covenant of Mayors' (GCoM) Research & Innovation Technical Working Group. In addition to a BSc in Urban Planning, and a MSc in Land Management, he has gained professional and academic experience through working for urban and environmental consultancies as well as research institutes. Before joining ICLEI, he was working as a researcher for the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation (IGG) at the University of Bonn. Currently, Pourya is also a member of the UNCCD's Steering Committee for Global Land Outlook 2.0.
Simone Sandholz
Lead, Urban Futures & Sustainability Transformation Programme, United Nations University - Institu
Dr. Simone Sandholz leads the Urban Futures & Sustainability Transformation Programme at UNU-EHS. She holds a PhD in Geography and specializes in urban sustainability transitions, climate risk reduction, and resilience governance. Her work focuses on the role of green and grey infrastructure in strengthening urban resilience and advancing sustainable urban and regional development. She also examines adaptive social protection and loss and damage in the context of climate change, with particular attention to vulnerable and marginalized communities. Dr. Sandholz contributes to interdisciplinary research projects that support the integration of climate action into policy frameworks from local to global levels.
Jeong, Jae Seon
Executive director of Climate & Environment Bureau, Goyang Special City
Mr. Jae-Seon Jeong has served in public administration since 1992 and was appointed Director General of the Climate & Environment Bureau in January 2025. He has held senior leadership roles in strategic planning and infrastructure management within Goyang Special City. He was specially promoted to Senior Director in recognition of outstanding performance. His work focuses on advancing climate policy and sustainable urban development. He received the Presidential Citation (2021) for distinguished public service.
Cheah Chin Kooi
Engineering Director, Engineering Department, City Council Of Penang Island`
Ir. Cheah Chin Kooi joined City Council Of Penang Island in the year of 1998 and held various important engineer positions in Engineering Department from 1998 until today. Currently he is the Director of Engineering Department, MBPP. Ir. Cheah has more than 28 years of experience in the field of Civil Engineering. During his tenure as engineer in Engineering Department, he had supervised and managed various Infrastructure and flood mitigation projects. He also given the task to comment and process the development plans and engineering plans submitted by practicing consulting firms.
Heather Stevens
Climate Change & Sustainability Manager, City of Newcastle
Dr. Heather Stevens is the Climate Change and Sustainability Manager at the City of Newcastle. She has worked across all three tiers of government in climate action, mitigation and sustainability and now leads City of Newcastle's efforts towards their goal of net-zero emissions by 2030 and a net zero Newcastle by 2040. Dr. Stevens holds a PhD examining the impact of extreme heat and also lectures at the University of Newcastle.
Mioko Yabuki
Director, Global Environment Policy Office, Kyoto City
Ms. Mioko Yabuki moved to Kyoto for her university studies and later joined the Kyoto City Government after participating in a legislative internship that sparked her interest in municipal governance. Throughout her career, she has been involved in a range of initiatives focused on shaping Kyoto’s future through collaboration with citizens and stakeholders. Since April 2025, she has served as Director for the “DO YOU KYOTO?” Project Promotion, a flagship initiative of Kyoto City that promotes climate action and sustainable lifestyles.
Ilia Houridis
Director of City Shaping, City of Adelaide
Ilia Houridis has built an executive career that has influenced and contributed to the development of cities through policy, programs, and infrastructure. Strategy and delivery have been a key focus of a 20+ year career which spans family business, government and community leadership across multiple sectors and agencies. In his current role as the Director City Shaping at the City of Adelaide, his key responsibilities include delivery and implementation of Adelaide’s City Plan, a spatial plan for the city, and delivery of numerous focussed strategies including Council’s Integrated Climate Strategy, its Housing and Homelessness Policies, the Adaptive Reuse City Housing Initiative, to contribute to sustainable population and economic growth in the CBD.
論壇議程
| 時段 | 主題 | 講者 |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00-13:40 | REGISTRATION | |
| 13:40-14:00 | OPENING/ SPECIAL ADDRESSES | ‧Chen Chi-Mai, Mayor of Kaohsiung & Chair of the COMP Programme ‧Dr. Tze-Luen Lin, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction, Executive Yuan ‧ComP video |
| 14:00-14:30 | KEYNOTE SPEECH | ‧Dr. Debra Roberts IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair (AR6), and Coordinating Lead Author of Chapter 5 of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities Executive Director of Flourishing Lives 4 All |
| 14:30-14:45 | Networking Break | |
| 14:45-15:50 | SESSION I Cities for Flourishing Lives: Advancing a Post-SDG Agenda through Cities
| Moderator: Pourya Salehi, Head Urban Research, Innovation, and Development, ICLEI
|
| 15:50-17:20 | SESSION II
From Commitments to Actions: Accelerating Urban Climate Action in Cities | Moderator: ‧Dr. Tze-Luen Lin, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction, Executive Yuan
|
| 17:20-17:20 | Closing Remarks |
活動須知
注意事項
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The organizer reserves the right to modify the agenda and speakers in the event of unforeseen circumstances or force majeure.
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Participation is subject to review by the organizer, with priority given to those whose professional background aligns with the forum’s theme. A
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For any questions, please contact the event coordinator: Ms. Chang at alice910311@cwgv.com.tw or call 02-2517-3688 ext. 861.