Lamis Elkhatieb

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LAMIS ELKHATIEB

Cities are increasingly at the centre of climate risk, yet the systems that shape them are often disconnected from the communities they affect. My work focuses on understanding how global climate governance translates into real impacts for cities and communities. I became an urban planner because it was the field that allowed my brain to use art, physics and mathematics in the same conversation and apparently I refused to pick just one. When I was younger, I tried many different things; tennis, swimming, music, but none of them really stuck. Drawing and design were different. Even during university, some of my professors used to tell me that the way I approached urban plans felt a bit different. My brain naturally tries to combine logic, functionality and aesthetics, rather than seeing them as separate things. But the more I studied planning, the more curious I became about something deeper. I realised that designing cities isn’t only about design; it’s about systems, institutions, policies and decisions that shape what becomes possible in the first place.And because I’m a curious person and honestly someone who struggles to apply things I don’t fully believe in, I decided to take the harder path and understand those systems before simply designing within them. I currently coordinate research within the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, working with researchers and practitioners from over 90 countries to analyse climate finance and governance within the framework. A key part of my role is translating complex climate negotiations into research and insights that planners, policymakers and communities can engage with.At the same time, I stay closely connected to the planning world through my work with the International Society of City and Regional Planners, where we explore how planning practice can better support resilient cities in a changing climate.I believe that as urban planners we carry a responsibility toward the communities we serve. For me, that means understanding the systems we work within, so that when we design, we do it intentionally and with purpose.I’m always happy to connect with people working on cities, climate governance, resilience, or systems change, especially those who believe that good planning should be thoughtful and rooted in the realities of the communities it serves.