(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that Washington, DC has joined 17 cities to launch Students Reinventing Cities, a pioneering competition that will enable students and universities from across the globe to share their vision for green and thriving neighborhoods. The competition is being led by C40 Cities, the global network of cities committed to bold climate action.
“Washington, DC is proud to be a leader in sustainable green solutions that prioritize issues of equity and equality,” said Mayor Bowser. “It’s particularly important for our youngest residents – those who will be most impacted by the climate crisis – to be engaged and help us rethink the future of cities and neighborhoods. It’s going to take all of us working together at the local, national, and global level to keep building a greener and more sustainable world.”
The C40 Students Reinventing Cities Competition is dedicated to transforming cities in the face of the climate crisis by driving an active collaboration between cities and academia on climate action. The competition will inspire creative, innovative, and tangible ways to reduce carbon emissions, as well as to support a thriving and resilient life for local communities.
The District is inviting academics and students to share their creative vision and fresh ideas in line with the city’s climate and housing priorities. Mayor Bowser’s Comprehensive Plan proposal has identified the area of New York Avenue, NE as a key location for future planning and analysis. This competition will help the District identify opportunities to realize several priorities for the New York Avenue, NE corridor, which include to: reduce emissions; promote climate resilience; strengthen connectivity and walkability; establish urban design transitions to adjacent communities; expand civic facilities, public amenities, and open space networks; and foster racial and social equity.
Other cities participating in the competition include; Athens, Auckland, Barcelona, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Dakar, Delhi, Dubai, Madrid, Melbourne, Montréal, Paris, Quezon City, Quito, Reykjavík, and Seattle.
Students interested in entering the competition can find out more at www.c40reinventingcities.org. The deadline for entries is March 2021. Finalists will be selected and invited to submit their final proposals by May 2021. A panel of judges from the District and C40 Cities will select a winner for each city site, which will be announced at a ceremony in July 2021.