City-to-City Learning Within City Networks to Cater City Needs to Climate Adaptation—Results of a Preliminary Study

Abstract

Over the past years, a considerable number of cities joined together in networks that address climate more and more increasingly also adaptation. The presented research focuses on one key aspect of those networks: The sharing of knowledge and experience among the member cities, referred to as city-to-city learning. Due to climate change cities worldwide are facing enormous challenges that require an acceleration of the learning process of how to respond to them. Transnational city networks can help to provide a platform for learning from each other and connect cities to work together. However, the questions are how useful and effective these knowledge sharing processes are in practice, and how existing networks can facilitate and improve them. This was examined through interviews with key stakeholders representing cities that joined transnational networks. Main results were that cities are interested in learning from their peer cities that face similar challenges, and to follow the examples and adopt the strategies of pioneering cities. The contribution of networks were particularly seen in (i) facilitating knowledge sharing, (ii) promoting the adaptation and resilience work within the own city council, (iii) providing (easier) access to funding and, most importantly, (iv) enabling the establishment of informal city-to-city relationships based on mutual trust. Furthermore, some city representatives asked for a stronger involvement of the private sector in order to finance the municipalities’ climate change action, whereby the network could act as a facilitator.