Cities and regions are at the forefront of the current climate crisis. North Rhine-Westphalia is a key player in combating climate change and is strongly committed to sustainability and green initiatives. An active exchange between municipalities in Germany, but also with international partners, helps to define flexible, tailor-made and, above all, functional solutions that can be implemented in a practical and timely manner. The country’s partnership with the USA and many individual cities and municipalities in the United States, in particular, can help both sides to exchange experience and practical knowledge.

Against this backdrop, this high-profile panel discussion organized the Bertelsmann Stiftung included perspectives on the following topics: Pragmatic solutions for climate change mitigation, the importance of city and subnational governance in accelerating change and disseminating best practices, and the benefits of direct collaboration between cities and municipalities in the U.S. and Germany.

Welcoming Remarks from Consul General Pauline Kao, U.S. Consulate General Düsseldorf

Keynote Address from Ambassador Nina Hachigian, U.S. Special Envoy for Subnational Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State

Online discussion with:

Lina Furch, Head of Department, European and International Affairs, Association of German Cities
Mayor Katie Rosenberg, City of Wausau, Wisconsin
Mayor Errick D. Simmons, City of Greenville, Mississippi
Stefan Wagner, Head of Department, International Affairs and Global Sustainability, City of Bonn
Martin van der Pütten, Head of International Relations, City of Dortmund

Moderated by Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Senior Advisor, Bertelsmann Stiftung

Closing Comments, Peter Kurz, Former Mayor, City of Mannheim, Executive Board, Global Parliament of Mayors

The event was part of the NRW-USA Year introduced by the government of North Rhine-Westphalia. The USA and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia have a long history of friendship and cooperation in business, science, education, and culture. With the NRW-USA Year, the state government wishes to honor and strengthen these close ties.

For more information on the NRW-USA Year, please visit https://nrw-usa.nrw/

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