Supercool, Penn IUR Launch Feature Spotlighting Mayors Driving Global Urban Climate Finance

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), Secretariat of the SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance, is partnering with Supercool, a leading climate solutions podcast, on a new series highlighting mayors who are innovating how cities finance sustainable development in the face of climate change. 

The collaboration’s first episode features Marvin Rees, former Mayor of Bristol and a member of the Commission, in a candid conversation about his leadership journey. Lord Rees notably created Bristol City Leap—a landmark £1 billion public-private partnership to decarbonize the city, reduce energy bills, and create green jobs. 

The episode, titled “The Mayor Who Cut Carbon, Cut Bills, and Cut a Billion-Pound Deal,” is available now on all major podcast platforms. 

Through in-depth interviews with city leaders, the Supercool x SDSN Global Commission feature will explore how local governments are securing the capital and building the coalitions needed to meet global climate and development goals, despite institutional and financial barriers. 

“Cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and must be central to the solution,” said Eugenie L. Birch, Co-Director of Penn IUR. “This collaboration allows us to spotlight the urgent work being done by urban leaders and the systemic barriers they face in accessing the finance needed to deliver climate and development goals.” 

Birch, along with William Burke-White, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania, and Mauricio Rodas, Former Mayor, Quito, Ecuador, and Visiting Fellow, Penn Institute for Urban Research, leads the Secretariat’s activities for the Commission hosted at the University of Pennsylvania. 

The Commission is a high-level initiative convened by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to bridge the gap between global capital and local climate action. Josh Dorfman, founder and host of Supercool, brings two decades of experience as a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality to the show. He is the former CEO of carbon-negative building materials company Plantd and a recognized voice in the climate solutions space. 

“At Supercool, our mission is to tell the real stories of the low-carbon future taking shape now—and few stories are more compelling than what’s happening in cities,” said Dorfman. “This partnership with Penn IUR and the Commission lets us bring listeners inside the rooms where climate ambition meets financial innovation, often against great odds. These mayors are redefining what’s possible.” 

The Supercool podcast profiles proven technologies, business models, and leadership strategies accelerating the low-carbon economy—not in theory, but in practice, while building more equitable, resilient communities. Listen to the Marvin Rees episode: http://getsuper.cool/podcast/
 

About the SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance 

Convened by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Global Commission brings together mayors, ministers, development banks, investors, and urban finance experts to unlock new pathways for financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in cities. 

About Penn IUR 

The Penn Institute for Urban Research is a global leader in urban-focused research, policy, and practice. Based at the University of Pennsylvania, Penn IUR advances cross-disciplinary knowledge and strategies that support sustainable and inclusive urban development. 

About Supercool 

Supercool is a podcast and storytelling platform spotlighting leaders and innovations shaping the low-carbon economy. Host Josh Dorfman interviews mayors, CEOs, founders, and policymakers to uncover real-world solutions that cut carbon, improve lives, and accelerate climate action at scale. 

MEDIA CONTACT 

Megan Schmidgal 
Penn Institute for Urban Research 
215-573-8386