UN Habitat is interested in including a handful of 'mini-case studies' or text boxes in the forthcoming publication on the Benchmark Guidelines for City Climate Action Planning, targeted for release at COP-21.

Below is the guidance on the process for providing such suggestions on mini-case studies for the forthcoming publication.   

What we expect to end up with 

Around 5-7 mini-case studies that can be presented as text boxes in the final Guidelines publication. Each text box would be between 1/4 to 1/3 page in size. Each would include typically 2-4 sentences (typically 80 - 150 words, or an absolute maximum of 200 words) of extended caption or explanatory text (see picture above). Each text box would also include one image.

Selection criteria 

Content criteria 

1. Mini-case studies demonstrates positive, preferably measurable, climate results (outcomes or impacts) at the city level. Mini-case studies should show a clear link to climate challenges, with resulting mitigation or adaptation actions leading to results. They should encourage and inspire climate action. 

2. Mini-case studies should show leadership at the city or community level in achieving those results. Preferably there will be some known, explicit tie to local planning processes - even if it is just to say, "Per its Climate Action Plan, the City did x, y and z, with the following results". Ever better would be if the mini-case study could be explicitly linked to particular sections/subsections of the Benchmark Guidelines for City Climate Action Planning - and suggestions in this regard from the partners submitting case studies would be most welcome. In this regard please recall the four Sections of the draft Guidelines: (1) Introduction, (2) Organization & Participation, (3) Climate Action Planning Process, and (4) Climate Strategies & Actions, and the various sub-sections. 

3. Final selection, a balance between examples from the Global North and South, geographic region, size of city, types of climate challenges, mitigation versus adaptation actions, any Guideline partners who supported the efforts, well known versus less familiar examples, and so on. 

Format criteria 

4. Strongly favor mini-case studies/text boxes that are provided in the format described above (see 'What we expect to end up with'). 

5. If not provided in exactly the format desired, we will next turn to mini case study suggestions provided in a format fairly close to what is eventually intended, that can be lightly modified as needed. That is, previously existing write-ups can be submitted, but the closer the format is to what is desired the higher likelihood of final selection. The existing write-up could be shared via attachment or link, with additional relevant information included in your cover email.  In addition to the textual elements mentioned above, preferably the examples submitted would include 1-2 high resolution digital images with explanatory captions and available copyright.  

In reviewing submittals against these criteria, we of course anticipate making no further investigations of the examples suggested. 

Submittal process 

1. If you wish to propose new candidate case studies, please submit them as attachments or links via return email to Faderr (faderr.johm@unhabitat.org), with copy to Cerin (Cerin.Kizhakkethottam@unhabitat.org). Please submit them no later than close of business on Tuesday 6 October. 

2. Please submit no more than four case studies. If you provide a link to a larger number of case studies, please indicate which you consider to be the strongest candidates.