Green is cool: Nature-Based Solutions for Managing Urban Heat

As cities scale up their efforts to protect residents and economies from intensifying heat stress, nature-based solutions (NBS) offer a cost-effective and sustainable response option; urban trees can reduce peak summer temperatures by 3°C or more. As such, the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) are increasingly engaging with governments to facilitate the integration of NBS to address urban heat risks. However, deploying nature to protect against extreme heat presents design, implementation, and evaluation challenges.

GFDRR invites you to the second Cool Cities Cafe event, in which Eugenia Kargbo (Chief Heat Officer of Freetown, Sierra Leone) will discuss the city’s Heat Action Plan and the role of NBS. The session will also include presentations on the NBS Opportunity Scan, which helps identify options to invest in urban greening solutions, and on the #FreetownTheTreetown initiative. Expert commentary will be delivered by TC Chakraborty (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory). A question-and-answer session will follow.

Agenda:

• Opening remarks by Chair
• Presentation from Eugenia Kargbo
• Presentation from Ian Smith
• Presentation from Larissa Duma
• Discussant: TC Chakraborty
• Q&A moderated by Chair
• Closing by chair

Opening Remarks:
Boris Van Zanten - Disaster Risk Management Specialist, World Bank

Speakers:
Eugenia Kargbo - Chief Heat Officer, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Ian Smith – Geospatial analysis specialist, World Bank
Larissa Duma - Urban Ecologist, World Bank

External Speakers Bio:

Eugenia Kargbo is Arsht-Rock’s Chief Heat Officer in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her professional career started in the banking industry in 2011 at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as a Customer Service Officer, where she accelerated to a senior management position within three years. Kargbo has also served as the Sanitation Lead at Freetown City Council, where she provided technical assistance to Freetown City Council’s sanitation department to ensure the attainment of strategic targets and milestones. She has also served as a Data Analyst for the Presidential Delivery Unit and a Human Resources Officer at the Mayor’s Delivery Unit.

Ms Kargbo’s also launched a youth employment networking platform called NetworkMe SL. The platform is focused on skills development and provides an opportunity for skilled youth to meet employers and access training opportunities. She also volunteers with Eagle’s Eye SL (EESL), an organization that seeks employment opportunities for unskilled residents within deprived communities. Kargbo holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Sierra Leone and a Master’s degree from Unimak, Milan.

Discussant:
TC Chakraborty -Staff Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Lab