Pitch Finale: Finding the best solutions to NYC’s Urban Heat Island and Air Quality challenges

The City of New York is presented with eight of the most innovative approaches to better air quality and urban heat island reduction in partnership with Access Cities. Two winners with the most impactful solutions will be announced.

Innovative solutions to major problems facing the world’s cities are in high demand. Among the most pressing challenges is the deteriorating air quality in world’s cities, while some megacities like New York City are facing rising numbers of emergencies and fatalities due to increasing Urban Heat Island Effect.

To address the urban areas which have the highest rates of heat-related illness and mortality and known air quality vulnerability issues, the City of New York and Access Cities have partnered for the Open Innovation Call on Air Quality and Urban Heat Island Effect. Among the many nominees for this open innovation call, eight finalists will present their solutions on September 24, 2019 in New York with the UN Climate Action Summit as the backdrop.

“Sustainable cities start with sustainable solutions, and many companies have cracked the code for how solutions can be adapted and replicated in new markets, with a focus on tailoring the solutions to the specific needs of a city. This is proven by the finalists, who all have some of the most innovative solutions to present to representatives from New York City Agencies and the public at the finale on September 24”.

Louis Funder, General Manager at the Confederation of Danish Industry’s branch in the USA.

The eight finalists will be delivering their pitches during the finale show, after which a judging panel consisting of six NYC Agencies will announce the two winners of the open innovation call with solutions to air quality and urban heat island effect respectively.

Exchange of learnings paving the way for sustainability

Other than presenting some of the most innovative and new solutions to urban climate-related problems, the event seeks to bring together leaders from both industry and governments from both Denmark and the US.

“Representing the City of Copenhagen at this event makes me very proud. It is a great example of how the Access Cities project successfully connects actors working with sustainable urban developmet in the pursuit of game-changing solutions to common issues confronting cities worldwide. This supports the long tradition we have in Copenhagen of working closely together with businesses to provide the best possible solutions to our urban challenges. I am happy to continue this tradition, when we host the C40 Summit in Copenhagen next month”.

Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen.

Attending the ceremony will be several Danish and American business leaders with the ambition to curb climate change related issues.

Background

Access Cities is a Global Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development. Currently running in New York City, Munich, Singapore, and the two Danish cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, the program aims to solve city problems through multi-stakeholder challenges and open innovation, as a way of accelerating technology and solution knowledge sharing between cities, and to offer better testing opportunities for vendors.