Building on its own Human Cities urban renewal campaign, AkzoNobel has now thrown its support behind 100 Resilient Cities, a new global project of The Rockefeller Foundation.

The Amsterdam-based paint, coatings and specialty chemical giant will compile an urban resilience guide for cities and undertake special projects in four cities named on the 100 Resilient Cities list, chairman and CEO Tön Buchner announced Sept. 22 at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.

AkzoNobel's commitment to 100 Resilient Cities includes special projects in four cities. The company says its geographical, technical and product reach can benefit the initiative in multiple ways.

In addition, the company will provide technical expertise in paints, coatings and chemicals to the program's advisory committees.

A Player in Urban Resilience

The 100 Resilient Cities campaign dovetails with AkzoNobel's own Human Cities initiative, which aims to regenerate and re-energize cities worldwide.

Human Cities, announced in June, is built on six pillars—color, heritage, transport, education, sport and leisure, sustainability—and is designed to "engage with the challenges and opportunities posed by 21st-century cities," according to AkzoNobel.

The mission statement is similar to that of the 100 Resilient Cities campaign, which recently selected its first 32 cities.

Medellin, "the most inequitable city in Colombia, one of the most inequitable countries in Latin America," is one of the first 32 cities selected for the 100 Resilient Cities initiative.

Thus, the new partnership "offers further proof of our serious commitment to tackling the many challenges being faced by some of the world’s biggest urban areas," Buchner said in a statement.

By making a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, "AkzoNobel is reinforcing its position as a key player in the whole area of urban resilience and regeneration," the company said.

Color and Transformation

The company followed the "100 Resilient Cities" announcement with the release of Colour Futures 2015, its 12th annual study of global color trends.

"Color has a universal impact on our cities, lifestyles and living environment," Ruud Joosten, Managing Director of AkzoNobel's Decorative Paints business, said in a statement.

The company says its geographical reach and product range—from protective and marine coatings for infrastructure and shipping to bright, high-performance architecturals—offer major strategic advantages for 00 Resilient Cities.

"As an industry leader with operations in 80 countries, we are uniquely positioned to play a key role in building resilient cities across the globe, both in terms of physically safeguarding infrastructure and creating a stronger sense of community, identity and belonging," said Buchner.

"We therefore believe we can make a vital contribution and take positive action to help make city life more enjoyable, inspiring and vibrant for people all over the world."