November 21 st, 2025
Watch the insightful webinar video
The latest IURC North America webinar featured an in-depth presentation from Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Resilience at the City of Atlanta, showcasing how the city is leveraging urban forestry, carbon markets, and community-centered climate policy to drive long-term resilience and equity. Leslie Campbell, Policy Officer at the City of Toronto, joined as a discussant, contributing comparative perspectives and questions that enriched the exchange.
The session highlighted how Atlanta is shaping a new model for climate action, one that integrates nature-based solutions, innovative funding mechanisms, and community impact to support its ambitious sustainability goals.
At the center of the webinar was Atlanta’s pioneering Carbon Credit Program, which demonstrates how cities can transform forest conservation into measurable climate benefits and sustainable revenue. Building on the Lake Charlotte Nature Preserve project, Atlanta is now expanding the program to four additional nature preserves, protecting over 200 acres of mature forest citywide.
These efforts can deliver:
✔️️ Stronger climate resilience through improved stormwater management, cooling, and air quality
✔️️ More equitable access to nature, ensuring greenspace within walking distance for more residents
✔️️ Sustainable funding streams reinvested in forest stewardship and climate initiatives
✔️️ A replicable model for cities exploring the development, verification, and sale of environmental assets
This session underscored how peer learning and discussion across cities can accelerate the implementation of nature-based solutions for climate action in cities.