Enhancing transboundary climate resilience: the role of city networks

Context

Complex climate risks are cascading and often transcend national borders. Building resilience to these risks require therefore a shared transnational responsibility. The emergence of transnational city networks such as C40 (C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group) and ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), aligns with this imperative for collaborative international efforts for building climate resilience.

This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of York and Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU). Professor Chen Zeng, will collaborate with YESI Resilient Socio-ecological Systems theme experts to examine the role of city networks as driving forces of global climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Prof Zeng is an expert on Climate Governance and Urbanization and Regional Development, and Director of the Director Interdisciplinary Research Center for Territorial Spatial Governance and Green Development at HZAU.

Aims and Objectives

This project aims to compare climate resilience initiatives and feedbacks in Transnational Municipal Climate Networks (TMCN) between UK and China through the review of pertinent literature and the interviews with diverse stakeholders, as well as field trips to understand the transboundary climate risk and governance in climate resilience efforts in UK.

This project will contribute to establish a long-lasting interdisciplinary collaboration between the UoY and Huazhong Agricultural University. Prof Chen Zeng will visit the University of York to allow structured engagements with relevant colleagues at York and establish the grounding for follow-up collaborations; and a joint paper writing focused on exploring the assessment on the status quo of global city network and the approaches to enhance its role in enhancing transboundary climate resilience.

Project Outputs

Professor Chen Zeng presented her research at the YESI International Fellows seminar: Enhancing transboundary climate governance via global city network and land-spatial optimization during her visit to the University of York in June 2025.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abeI8PfnIH4

The project has achieved significant progress in developing frameworks for transboundary climate resilience, moving from initial collaboration to high-impact publication.  A major output is the publication of a research paper in the journal Cities, which investigates how city-to-city co-operation can enhance climate adaptation across borders.  This work provides a vital map for local governments, acting like a shared compass to help them navigate complex environmental challenges that do not stop at national boundaries.  

Article: Enhancing transboundary climate governance via global city network and land-spatial optimization 

Authors: Chen Zeng, Tianyu Lv, Lindsay C. Stringer, Zhen Wang, Ming Luo, Julia Touza, and Xiangzheng Deng.

Source: Cities, Vol. 172, 106957 (2026).

The collaboration has also led to a successful reciprocal exchange, with a follow-up workshop held in China following the initial visit to the University of York.  Professor Zeng hosted Professor Lindsay Stringer and Professor Julia Touza for this event, which allowed the team to deepen their research ties and explore further possibilities for future work.  By strengthening institutional ties between the University of York and international partners, the project has built a robust foundation for long-term cooperation.  These activities ensure that urban climate strategies are better co-ordinated, reducing the risk of individual cities stalling in their efforts to build a sustainable future.

Workshop on Sustainable Development in the Context of Global Climate Change - Summer 2025