Globalization has brought a set of new challenges for global cities and has seen the emergence of a new era of urban global leaders who actively seek international cooperation to improve the quality of life of their residents. Competition to attract resources for the global cities does not take place within national borders anymore and requires a quick and strategic reaction from its leaders. At the same time, the need for mayors to unite to advocate supranational organizations has seen the birth and rise of a new kind of city diplomacy that is gaining interest and attention across the globe.

At the same time, several interlinked crises, as well as a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape is profoundly impacting the way cities are run and how they cooperate with each other. In this scenario, the quick reaction of urban leaders to adapt to this changing environment has proven that cities are at the forefront of the battle against global crises, particularly climate change. The global cities that will emerge will rely on a renewed relationship with nature and its roots in the need to tackle the climate emergency at the same time.

This “City diplomacy and the climate crisis” seminar will include five sessions where the concept of the global city and the profile of its new global leaders will be analyzed and the tools that cities have at their disposal to attract investment and influence international bodies will be explained. The seminar will also discuss the climate crisis and the efforts done by global mayors globally to decarbonize their cities. The sixth and last session of the seminar will be used for students group presentations on real life case studies proposed by the professor.