April Headlines - click to see the full story
30/4/2010 - Why Auto-Rickshaws Matter for India
30/4/2010 - Talent in Mobility awards: the final straight for the internet users' award!
29/4/2010 - Housing Policy Solutions Toolkit
29/4/2010 - Cohesion Policy creates jobs and stimulates regional development
29/4/2010 - Forbes Ranking Finds Cities in "Free Fall"
28/4/2010 - The Youth Fund is now closed for applications
27/4/2010 - Negotiations in Bonn on Climate Change
27/4/2010 - Congress news: Resilience Resource Point - More Partners - Additional Sponsors
26/4/2010 - Sustainable Transport Saves New Yorkers $19 Billion Per Year
26/4/2010 - UN Secretary General Receives update on Shanghai Pavilion
26/4/2010 - Registration open for Cities Against Poverty conference
25/4/2010 - Bristol launches online improvement forum
24/4/2010 - The Hidden Cities: Addressing Equity in Health and Inclusiveness in Cities
24/4/2010 - Small Towns Take On the Energy Giants
24/4/2010 - CEMR to hold a session on social inclusion at Dunkerque Conference
24/4/2010 - Register now for the Covenant of Mayors ceremony 2010!
24/4/2010 - European Conference “Urban development planned and realised”
23/4/2010 - Final URBACT Conference
23/4/2010 - Solution for Shrinking Cities: Art and Parks
22/4/2010 - Cities in the running for European Green Capital title
22/4/2010 - '49 Cities' That Made a Difference
21/4/2010 - Commission supports cities’ role in Europe’s creative industries
21/4/2010 - Measuring Up: PWC and Cities of Opportunity
20/4/2010 - ‘How can cities reconcile security and fundamental rights?’
20/4/2010 - Three years of Urban Energy Efficiency Programme (SEP) – a stock-taking
20/4/2010 - Urban Atlas: digital mapping for cities
19/4/2010 - Winners European Prize for Urban Public Space announced
19/4/2010 - ESPON Info Day and Partner Café on 18 May 2010
18/4/2010 - Future Cities of Australia
17/4/2010 - REAL CORP 2010 Programme
16/4/2010 - Comeback Cities
16/4/2010 - Planetizen's New Sister Website: HSR News
15/4/2010 - Register now for final URBACT Conference
15/4/2010 - ICLEI Europe becomes a Supporting Structure to the Covenant of Mayors Initiative
14/4/2010 - Renewable energy: CEMR calls for greater recognition of the role of local and regional authorities
14/4/2010 - Cities Look to Crack Down on Flash Mobs
13/4/2010 - EUSEW 2010 highlights a strong European movement
13/4/2010 - Nominees Globe Sustainable City Awards 2010
12/4/2010 - UCLG celebrates the work of the 5th World Urban Forum
12/4/2010 - IFHP Professional Visit in Lausanne, Switzerland (28-29 May 2010)
11/4/2010 - Norway and UN-HABITAT sign cooperation agreement
10/4/2010 - Conference on the Europeanisation of Local Government to take place in Ghent
9/4/2010 - Sustainable energy: Barcelona province to be the first to receive ELENA funding
9/4/2010 - World Urban Campaign logo unveiled
8/4/2010 - 2nd GOLD World Report : Regional workshops on local finance
7/4/2010 - Mayors debate urban transport at Cannes event
6/4/2010 - European citizen generates half a ton of waste per year
6/4/2010 - The Local Renewables Web Portal
5/4/2010 - Towards a European Heritage Label
4/4/2010 - ICLEI to hold 2010 World Congress in Incheon, Korea
3/4/2010 - Seeking a Green Legacy in South Korea
2/4/2010 - Cities of Migration webinar
1/4/2010 - Urban Women's Listserve
Why Auto-Rickshaws Matter for India
With rapid population growth in Indian cities and a rise in private car ownership, it is critical to reassess the role of auto-rickshaws in the urban transportation landscape, say Akshay Mani and Amit Bhatt.
Akshay Mani and Amit Bhatt are from the Centre for Sustainable Transport in India (CST-India). They say that promoting auto-rickshaws is a key part of developing an integrated public transport system and stalling the growth of private cars in India.
They write, "From a policy standpoint, there seems to be a lack of awareness about these issues in the eyes of public officials. Auto-rickshaws are seen as a mode of the past, with little or no role to play in the urban transportation landscape." http://mumbai.thecityfix.com/why-auto-rickshaws-matter-for-india/
Talent in Mobility awards: the final straight for the internet users' award!
The 'Talent in Mobility' awards are designed to honour women and men who are contributing to the development of public transport and sustainable mobility across Europe. A panel of judges will identify four outstanding "Talents": the best young 'Talent', best project manager, best manager and a special career service award.
You can help choose the winner of the 'Internet users' award'.
This 5th prize will be also presented during the awards ceremony at Transports Publics 2010, on June 10 at 3.00 pm.
>> Vote now: http://www.transportspublics-expo.com/en/2010/talents-mobilite/index.php
Housing Policy Solutions Toolkit
Older adults face an array of housing challenges. Many live in homes that lack accessibility features, are unaffordable or energy inefficient, or are located far from important destinations and amenities. Others need various kind of assistance to maintain their independence and autonomy but cannot afford the supportive services that would allow them to age successfully in a residential environment.
This toolkit provides a detailed exploration of these and other challenges facing older adults and describes a range of promising policies that some communities are adopting to address them. http://www.housingpolicy.org/toolbox/older_adults.html
Cohesion Policy creates jobs and stimulates regional development
The European Cohesion Policy greatly contributes to employment and to regional development, as found by the European Commission in its assessment of the Cohesion Policy from 2000 to 2006, presented on 19 April.
A total of €123 billion were invested in the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Approximately 1.4 million jobs were created, 2 000 km of motorways were built and 14 million people were provided with better drinking water, according to the Commission press release.
Areas such as enterprise and innovation support, transport, and environment benefitted from Cohesion Policy funds during the 2000-2006 budgetary period, proof of the policy's importance. http://www.ccre.org/news_detail_en.htm?ID=1834
Forbes Ranking Finds Cities in "Free Fall"
Forbes Magazine analyzed major economic indicators for the country's 40 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) and discovered that 10 cities are facing worsening economic conditions.
The Forbes ranking accounted for median home prices, building permits, net population change, GDP and percent change in unemployment between 2007 and 2010. It found that cities with the worst economic performance are concentrated in Florida, the Southwest and California.
"Cities in the 'Sand States' of Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada, where overbuilding was rampant, are...in trouble, claiming nine of the top 10 spots in our list of cities in free fall...The long-term consequences of the housing crash in these cities are still playing out, and new factors that complicate a recovery keep cropping up.
Florida cities dominate our list, with Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville joining Miami. Florida's real estate market keeps falling even as some herald the start of a rebound...Picturesque Providence, R.I., is the only New England metro on our list. Economically, it's struggling far more than other cities in the region. California cities are struggling too. Riverside, Los Angeles and Sacramento are suffering because of the knocks they took after their inflated housing markets began to plummet. Unemployment in the City of Angels has nearly tripled in three years, to 12%. Riverside's unemployment has also ballooned, to 15%. Meanwhile Sacramento saw a 75% drop in new building permits."
The Youth Fund is now closed for applications
The 2010 deadline for applications to the UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund has now passed. Several thousand youth-led organizations from across the developing world have submitted proposals for funding.
Applications are currently being assessed by the fund secretariat. Successful applicants will be announced on 12 August 2010, International Youth Day.
Negotiations in Bonn on Climate Change
The first round of negotiations since December’s Copenhagen Summit took place last weekend, between 9-11 April, in Bonn, Germany.
In addition to the negotiating sessions already scheduled for 2010, governments decided to hold two additional preparatory meetings of at least one week ...
The first round of negotiations since December’s Copenhagen Summit took place last weekend, between 9-11 April, in Bonn, Germany.
In addition to the negotiating sessions already scheduled for 2010, governments decided to hold two additional preparatory meetings of at least one week each - through the second semester, although as yet, no dates have been fixed.
The new LCA Chair, Ms. Margaret MUKAHANANA-SANGARWE, of Zimbabwe, has been invited to prepare a text to facilitate negotiations among Parties for distribution two weeks before the June session.
Disagreement however now looks to be emerging between the Parties regarding which texts should constitute the basis of the negotiations: with the USA moving to build on the Copenhagen Accord and China and the G77 recalling the necessity to follow the texts already under discussion in the UN framework (LCA and KP).
The feeling expressed by Yvo de Boer is that there is a strong will among the Parties to achieve, by COP 16 in Mexico (December), the definition of a functioning architecture for implementing global climate action.
UCLG will continue to watch the developments of the negotiations to ensure recognition of Local Governments in the texts of the Post-2012 agreement. The visibility of local and regional governments will be ensure through the mobilization of a UCLG delegation in the next negotiating session to be held on 31 May-11 June in Bonn.
Congress news: Resilience Resource Point - More Partners - Additional Sponsors
ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability is counting down to the launch of the first World Congress on Cities and Adaptation to climate change. The call for submissions has received an overwhelming response, generating a program packed with activities and presentations across a range of themes including the latest policies, tools and local government actions.
Resilient Cities 2010 will provide an opportunity for city planners and decision makers, urban and climate experts, international agencies, finance institutions and development organizations to share the latest findings and effective approaches to urban adaptation to climate change. To facilitate this knowledge-sharing, ICLEI has created the Resilience Resource Point, a collection of relevant publications and web resources focusing on the issue of adaptation. Please access the Resilience Resource Point by visiting our website. http://resilient-cities.iclei.org/bonn2010/resources/
Sustainable Transport Saves New Yorkers $19 Billion Per Year
A new report from CEOs for Cities shows that New Yorkers save a lot of moola on their transportation costs because of their city's walkability and transit options.
Noah Kazis writes, "The $19 billion number is a quick, conservative estimate that almost surely understates the savings New Yorkers reap by not driving. The study estimates that, per capita, New Yorkers drive nine miles per day. It then multiplies that figure by the national average cost of operating a vehicle, 40 cents per mile. Compare that total -- how much New Yorkers spend on driving, per capita -- to the national average, and you get $19 billion in savings."
http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/04/21/sustainable-transport-saves-new-yorkers-19-billion-per-year/
UN Secretary General Receives update on Shanghai Pavilion
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met last week with Awni Behnam, UN Commissioner General for the Shanghai World Expo UN Pavilion.
At the meeting, the Commissioner General made a comprehensive briefing to the Secretary General on the status of preparation of the UN pavilion at EXPO 2010, as well as on the innovative design of the pavilion and program over the six months of the EXPO.
The Secretary General requested the Commissioner General to convey his appreciation and encouragement to the Pavilion team and all those who had worked so hard to prepare it in time.
Registration open for Cities Against Poverty conference
Cities against poverty and exclusion: Unemployment | Katowice | 10-11 May 2010
Registration is open for the first of the “Cities against Poverty and Social Exclusion” seminars taking place this year, as part of the EUROCITIES activities during the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.
The seminar will look at how cities can tackle long-term unemployment and how they can work with clients facing multiple problems. In addition, the seminar will also focus on how cities can activate their local communities, especially those that suffer from multiple problems, such as long-term unemployment. Authorities will have the opportunity to compare practices and share best approaches to alleviating inequalities in urban areas.
Bristol launches online improvement forum
The Bristol Partnership has launched a website that allows residents to put forward ideas to improve the city. It includes an online voting system that allows participants to comment and vote for their favourite ideas.
The local strategic partnership, which includes various public sector bodies active in the city, has said it has £15,000 available to implement the best ideas put forward through Itsmybristol.org. Bristol Partnership manager Darren Hall told GC (Government Computing magazine) News -a magazine which focuses on the technology and policy issues around information management in the public sector, published by Kable- that the platform has the same technology used by President Obama's team during the election campaign, and is "the first of its kind in the UK". The software was developed and is hosted by online technology consultants Delib.
The Hidden Cities: Addressing Equity in Health and Inclusiveness in Cities
Sandnes, Norway, 17-19 June 2010
This is the Second Annual Business and Technical Conference of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and of the Network of European National Healthy Cities Networks in Phase V. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network will have about 100 cities that are either designated as members or are in the process of being designated as members by June 2010. In addition, 30 national healthy cities networks in Europe have more than 2000 cities and towns as members.
The conferences of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and the Network of European National Healthy Cities Networks have a strong political and strategic focus, and politicians should always be included in the delegations from the participating cities andnetworks. The programme of the Sandnes Conference has been developed around four thematic strands relating to the Phase V goals and the international context of this work. The various sessions of the programme will cross-link these thematic strands. http://www.sunnby.no/sandnes-healthy-city/home/
Small Towns Take On the Energy Giants
After selling off their electricity and gas networks to large energy corporations in the early 1990s, small towns in Germany are now banding together to buy back their energy infrastructure. Their bid to get into the energy market may provide opportunities to make money, but it also involves taking on the energy giants at their own game. The small German towns of Olfen, Ascheberg, Havixbeck, Billerbeck, Nordkirchen, Senden, Rosendahl and Lüdinghausen rarely make it into the headlines. That will soon change, however. The eight towns, located close to the city of Münster in western Germany, want to wrest away control of the electricity power supply in their region from German energy giant RWE. http://www.eukn.org/eukn/news/2010/04/Small-Towns-Take-On-the-Energy-Giants_1017.html
CEMR to hold a session on social inclusion at Dunkerque Conference
What is the role of social inclusion in sustainable development strategies and how can it be leveraged to counter the effects of the crisis?
These are among the key questions to be addressed during the session on socially inclusive societies .organised by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) on Wednesday 19 May in the framework of the Dunkerque Conference.
While solidarity is under pressure and people are increasingly depending on social services, the CEMR session will seek to identify ways to better integrate the social dimension into policies at the local, regional, national and European levels.
Participants will also look at how the crisis is experienced at the local level and exchange views and best practices on potential solutions and opportunities.
The session is to be moderated by CEMR Secretary General Frédéric Vallier. Speakers will include Jef Gabriels, President of the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities, Bashy Quraishy, Chair of the Advisory Council of the European Network Against Racism, and Dr. Haroon Saad, Director of Quartiers en Crise from the European Regeneration Network.
Register now for the Covenant of Mayors ceremony 2010!
There are still places remaining for the Covenant of Mayors ceremony taking place on 4 May at the European Parliament in Brussels
After a successful launch in February 2009, the Covenant of Mayors has grown beyond all expectations – today, the number of signatories stands at over 1,600.
To celebrate its newest signatories and welcome those who signed up at the first ceremony last year, a prestigious second event will be held on 4 May 2010 in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament, Brussels.
Among guest speakers are the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament; Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy; and Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions.
The Covenant of Mayors commits signatory cities to go beyond the objectives of the EU energy policy in terms of reducing CO2 emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and cleaner energy production. http://www.eumayors.eu/articles/show_en.htm?id=121
European Conference “Urban development planned and realised”
Before the background of the presentation of the evaluation of Vienna’s Urban Development Plan 2005 (STEP05), the conference, which was held on 24 March 2010 at Vienna’s University of Technology, reflected on the extent to which urban development planning matches urban development reality and on the reasons responsible for it. Opinions on this issue were formulated on the basis of different approaches, methods and experiences from different cities.
http://tinavienna.at/index.php?p_id=1267176557&last_id=1267176557&l_id=en&s_id=1d50e997008fcb25966c25eb3f22865c&e_id=1271057644
Final URBACT Conference
The final conference of the URBACT “EGTC”* project will be held in Hungary, on 6 and 7 May 2010. Hosted by the City of Esztergom, this event will be the chance for the partners to deliver the conclusions they have come to at the end of these two years of working together in order to improve governance of cross-border agglomerations. They will also discuss the needs and opportunities to pursue the European sharing of experiences, in presence of other cross-border territories. http://www.espaces-transfrontaliers.eu/en
Solution for Shrinking Cities: Art and Parks
After unification, many East German towns began losing jobs and population. In 2003, the government formed a group to study how these cities could best recover. The results are in.
The town of Dessau-Rosslau is one of the more extreme cases; it was formerly two separate towns, but population loss became so bad they were forced to merge to keep city services going.
One of the IBA [International Building Exhibition, the group studying the problem]'s more radical ideas is that of "city islands" in Dessau-Rosslau. The planners have "kind of disassembled the city into pixels and put it back together again using a cut-and-paste method," as Brückner explains. According to the concept, Dessau-Rosslau would abandon the model of a more compact central city, leaving only islands of houses. "Buildings will be cut out and in the empty spaces we will insert countryside," Brückner explains.
It's an idea that originates from a poll of the city's inhabitants."
Other cities are filling the gaps left by demolished buildings with giant art pieces. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,688152,00.html
Cities in the running for European Green Capital title
Barcelona, Malmo, Nantes, Nuremberg and Reykjavík - all EUROCITIES members, together with Vitoria-Gasteiz - have been shortlisted for the title of Green Capital of Europe for 2012 and 2013.
The competition for the 2012 and 2013 European Green Capital Awards has entered its final stages, with the 17 candidate cities now whittled down to a shortlist of six.
Cities have provided information on a variety of indicator areas which includes action taken to improve the quality of urban living, initiatives planned for the future and plans for disseminating action.
Following a second assessment of the six shortlisted cities, the Green Capitals of Europe for 2012 and 2013 will be announced at a ceremony in EUROCITIES member city, Stockholm, which currently holds the title and will continue to do so until the end of the year.
The environmental criteria against which the cities are evaluated are the local contribution to the fight against climate change, transport facilities, green urban areas, sustainable land use, nature and biodiversity, local air quality, noise pollution, waste production and management, water consumption, waste water treatment, and the municipality's environmental management.
'49 Cities' That Made a Difference
"49 Cities" is a touring exhibition that looks at the relationship between urban design and the success or failure of cities, from Levittown to ancient Rome to Le Corbusier's Radiant City.
On display at the SPUR Urban Center in San Francisco, "49 Cities" is a dramatic collection of model cities. From the Roman gridiron walls, to the mass produced Massachusetts 'burbs, to the UAE's new zero carbon space, this special exhibition breathes new life into urban history.
According to San Francisco Chronicle reviewer John King, the "intellectually immense and immersive exhibition" captures the dynamic and spontaneous nature of the city. The long term evolution of the city, he gathers from the very spatial exhibit, comes not from its pre-planned models but rather from what happens to it over time.
"Instead of photographs or illustrations, the exhibition tattoos the gallery walls with comparative data on each scheme and, more telling, same-scaled spatial maps of each city showing the relation of solid to void," he reports. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/12/DD7H1CR1KC.DTL
Commission supports cities’ role in Europe’s creative industries
Speaking at the informal ministerial meeting on culture on 30 March, European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou presented the main lines of action of the Commission's Green Paper on unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries.
Focusing on territorial development - one of the paper’s main lines of action - Mrs Vassiliou said that a main challenge will be to support regions and cities across Europe to make strategic investments in culture and creative industries as part of integrated local or regional development strategies. She also stated that the potential of culture must be integrated in all relevant policies. The green paper will launch a stakeholder consultation.
The paper, which is about to be published, will be discussed at the next meeting of the EUROCITIES Creative industries Working Group in Brussels on 1-2 June.
Measuring Up: PWC and Cities of Opportunity
How does your home city compare globally for diversity, easy of entry or purchasing power? PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has just released its third Cities of Opportunity report, and has given us a fresh lens for looking at the state of 21 global cities. http://www.pwc.com/us/en/cities-of-opportunity/index.jhtml
‘How can cities reconcile security and fundamental rights?’
Berlin, Germany, 10th and 11th May 2010.
This year, EFUS will be holding its General Assembly in Berlin, as part of the German Prevention Days. You are invited to sign up now and thus participate in the social life of the association. EFUS is happy to announce the creation, at the event, of a German Forum for Urban Security.
A conference is planned on the theme ‘How can cities reconcile security and fundamental rights?’ The programme will soon be available on our website.
You can now sign-up online to attend the European Forum for Urban Safety’s General Assembly and conference ‘How can cities reconcile security and fundamental rights?’, to be held in Berlin 10th and 11th May 2010. Http://www.fesu.org
Three years of Urban Energy Efficiency Programme (SEP) – a stock-taking
Location: Vienna
Date: 11 March 2010
On 11 March 2010, Fernwärme Wien, Vienna’s municipal district heating supplier, hosted the 4th SEP Energy Efficiency Forum. The Urban Energy Efficiency Programme (SEP) was established by the City of Vienna, in order to implement the EU directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services. The measures contained in the programme are intended to reduce energy consumption by at least 180 Gigawatt hours (GWh) between 2006 and 2015 and increase energy efficiency particularly on the consumer side. More than 100 measures, developed specifically for private households, private services, public services, industry and the manufacturing trade, will be implemented by 2015.
Urban Atlas: digital mapping for cities
Cities can now obtain data on land use and land cover using Urban Atlas, a digital mapping tool hosted by the European Environment Agency.
The initiative aims at monitoring and interpreting accurate information on the density of residential, commercial and industrial zones, the extent of green areas, the exposure to flood risks and any other urban transformations.
Thanks to an extensive database of high-resolution maps, urban planners are thus able to better understand climate change risks, determine new infrastructure and transport needs and thus contribute to the security of citizens.
Currently, the digital atlas includes urban areas from 185 cities, including the 27 EU member state capitals. All cities are expected to be covered by the Urban Atlas by 2011. http://ec.europa.eu/gmes/index_en.htm
Winners European Prize for Urban Public Space announced
For the sixth edition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space joint winners have been announced: The Open-Air-Library in Magdeburg, Germany and The Opera House ' Den Norske Opera & Ballett' in Oslo, Norway. The prize-winning ceremony will be held on the 11th of June at
Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB).
The European Prize for Urban Public Space is a biennial competition organized by six European institutions with the aim to recognize and encourage the recovery projects and defense of public space in European cities. The award, created in 2000, celebrates this year its sixth edition. Out of 303 participants two winners have been chosen:
- The Open-Air-Library in Magdeburg: the residents of a socially depressed neighbourhood have organised to collect and share books in an open-air library that they have constructed, after a participative process, with prefabricated pieces from a demolished building;
- The Opera House in Oslo: the Opera House roof gently emerges from the waters of the port of Bjørvika to offer people walking on it and a splendid view over the city and fjord.
ESPON Info Day and Partner Café on 18 May 2010
The ESPON (European Spatial Planning Observation Network) 2013 Programme is organising an Info Day and Partner Café on 18 May 2010 in Brussels to launch its latest calls for proposals. The aim of the event is two-fold: to provide information on the new funding opportunities and the eligibility criteria for the new calls opening on 3 May 2010; and to provide a networking opportunity for potential project partners.
The event is open to all those interested in learning more about opportunities for taking part in ESPON project activities, including policy makers, scientists, experts, and representatives of universities, research institutes and companies around Europe. The preliminary programme is available at the ESPON Website. http://www.espon.eu/main/Menu_Events/Menu_InfoDays/form_infoday100518.html
Future Cities of Australia
Australian architects imagine futuristic density, from jellyfish-shaped cities on the ocean to cactus-like desert structures.
These futuristic visions were made for the Australia pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Creative director Ivan Rijavec was inspired to show cities as places where people can thrive rather than as scary, urban environments.
From The Age: "Instead of looking at the city as a place you should fear, it's about recognising that cities are actually the place that offer possibilities - whether it's entertainment or intellectual, you name it," says Rijavec, a Melbourne-based architect. The problem is " the popular press keeps persuading you that it is a place of fear."
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/architects-plan-for-a-crowded-australia-20100408-ruzz.html
REAL CORP 2010 Programme
The detailed program for upcoming REAL CORP 2010 conference is available at http://www.corp.at/Download/CORP2010/realcorp2010programme.pdf
Comeback Cities
Paul Grogan headed LISC for 13 years in the 1980s and 1990s, and it's been 10 years since his influential book, "Comeback Cities", was published. How has Mr. Grogan's "blueprint for urban revival" held up, ten years on?
John Kromer first read Paul Grogan's book, "Comeback Cities: A Blueprint for Urban Revival", when he was finishing his tenure as Philadelphia's Director of Office of Housing and Community Development. Mr. Grogan had led LISC, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, for thirteen years in the 1980s and 1990s and his book probed both the opportunities and difficulties associated with trying to revive America's aging industrial cities. He found reason for hope, from the success of community development corporations to declining crime rates to the deregulation of public systems like housing, welfare and public education. His book was an influential blueprint for those practitioners, like John Kromer, tasked with continuing the work.
How has Paul Grogan's "blueprint for urban revival" held up, ten years on?
In this interview, John Kromer asks Mr. Grogan to discuss the changed role of CDCs in 2010, the consequences of welfare reform, the blend of public and private intevestment supporting America's cities today, and much more.
http://www.fels.upenn.edu/news/comback-cities-john-kromer-interviews-boston-foundation-president-paul-grogan
Planetizen's New Sister Website: HSR News
Planetizen is pleased to announce the launch of our new venture, HSR News. HSR News is dedicated to covering the expansion of high-speed rail in the United States and around the world. The site includes the sort of up-to-the-minute news coverage you expect from Planetizen. Sign up for our upcoming newsletter, and please visit us at http://www.hsrnews.com.
Register now for final URBACT Conference
The partners of the URBACT project “EGTC”, Expertising Governance for Transfrontier Conurbations,
and the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT), lead partner, are glad to invite you to the final conference of the project.
This conference will be hosted by the City of Esztergom, Hungary.
It will be the chance for the partners to deliver the conclusions they have come to at the end of these
two years of working together in order to improve governance of cross-border agglomerations.
http://urbact.eu/en/projects/metropolitan-governance/egtc/homepage/
ICLEI Europe becomes a Supporting Structure to the Covenant of Mayors Initiative
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, European Secretariat, has signed on the dotted line to join the growing group of Covenant of Mayors Supporting Structures.
As a result of the agreement between the European Commission and ICLEI Europe, ICLEI undertakes to support its European members as they join the Initiative. These members will implement local measures aimed at guaranteeing a reduction of more than 20 percent in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in their territory by 2020, in support of the European Union climate and energy targets.
The Supporting Structures are made up of regional and provincial public administrations, as well as local government networks, such as ICLEI. They play an important role in providing practical guidance and support to cities and towns implementing local climate and energy action. A third of ICLEI members in Europe have already signed up to the Covenant of Mayors and are working on their Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) and CO2 emissions reduction activities. Many others are in the process of joining the Covenant.
Renewable energy: CEMR calls for greater recognition of the role of local and regional authorities
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) reiterated that local and regional authorities have a crucial role to play in the preparation and implementation of national renewable energy action plans,. during its Network on Energy Issues held on 24 March.
In light of this, CEMR calls on national governments to actively work with local and regional governments when defining and implementing their energy strategies.
The EU directive on renewable energy, adopted in December 2008, sets mandatory targets for the overall share of energy in gross final consumption coming from renewable sources (20%) and for the share of energy coming from renewable sources in transport (10%). In order to comply with these requirements, member states have been asked to submit their national renewable energy strategy to the Commission by 30 June 2010.
http://www.ccre.org/news_detail_en.htm?ID=1820
Cities Look to Crack Down on Flash Mobs
After a series of recent "flash mobs" of hundreds of young people spontaneously gathering in downtown Philadelphia, city officials are looking at ways of reducing the incidents and the potentially dangerous conditions they create.
"On Wednesday, the police here said that they had had enough. They announced plans to step up enforcement of a curfew already on the books, and to tighten it if there is another incident.
They added that they planned to hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions. They are also considering making free transit passes for students invalid after 4 p.m., instead of 7 p.m., to limit teenagers’ ability to ride downtown.
'This is bad decision making by a small group of young people who are doing silly but dangerous stuff,' Mayor Michael A. Nutter said in an interview Wednesday."
A few fights broke out during the recent mobs, which officials view as an indication of the potential threat of such gatherings.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25mobs.html
EUSEW 2010 highlights a strong European movement
With its 5th edition, the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) held from 22 to 26 March 2010 encompassed 86 events in Brussels and across Europe - brining together energy experts in vibrant dialogue. The European energy community discussed important developments and trends, with financing, cities and the use of low-carbon technologies three key issues covered in a number of sessions.
During the opening the new Energy Commissioner, Günther H. Oettinger, focused on the vast potential for renewable energy and energy efficient technologies – an attractive investment, especially when considering that Europe needs to replace about half its power generation capacity by 2030. “We have the technology, we have the organisational capacity, we have the finance”, said Claude Turmes, Member of European Parliament, who stressed the political nature of existing barriers. Despite the clear 20-20-20 EU targets, is political will to act still lacking? How can more widespread motivation and active engagement be stimulated?
Many speakers and experts have stressed the role of cities in this context, viewing them as catalysts to bring about a quicker transition to RES and EE implementation across Europe. The vital role of the Covenant of Mayors (CoM), as a major city initiative, supports local climate and energy action. A number of organisations and local government networks, many of which are Supporting Structures to the CoM, shared their approaches in providing guidance and expertise to local governments.
The Sustainable NOW project workshop “Guiding cities towards an effective, integrated Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP)”, was one of a number of interesting sessions hosted by local government networks. In a room filled to capacity, eight communities shared their enthusiasm and developments in planning and implementing local sustainable energy solutions. ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability presented the integrated management approach as a basis for Local ENERGY Action Plan (LEAP) development, with Climate Alliance sharing highlights of the capacity development activities in the project such as study tours, staff exchanges and expert workshops on financing. More information under www.sustainable-now.org
Nominees Globe Sustainable City Awards 2010
The city of Malmö (Sweden), Murcia (Spain)and Stargard Szczecinski (Poland) have been nominated for the Sustainable City Award 2010. This is the fourth edition of the Globe Awards. The jury has evaluated the effectiveness of new technologies and policies on how to make a city sustainable. Malmö , Murcia and Stargard Szczecinski are the only nominated European cities competing against global cities such as Curitiba (Brazil), Songpa (South Korea) and Sydney ( Australia). "The selection process of most sustainable city has for the jury been a fantastic moment with unexpected good and professional applications from cities all around the globe. Sustainable development 2.0 with a fresh, innovative and holistic approach is definitely here to stay for the benefits of future citizens!” - says Jan Sturesson, Partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers and Global Leader of Government and Public Service in Sweden and Chairman of the Sustainable City Award. The winner will be announced the 7th of April and the Award Ceremony will take place the 29th of April in Stockholm.
UCLG celebrates the work of the 5th World Urban Forum
Barcelona, 29th March. United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), representing its local government members, praises the quality of the debates held throughout the 5th World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat, which drew to a close on 27th of March.
UCLG is pleased to observe that the point of view of international institutions and experts has undergone fundamental evolution: urban areas are no longer considered a problem which needs to be solved but as the source from which to draw solutions.
This change of perspective is clearly visible in the World Bank’s Urban Strategy, to whose definition UCLG has contributed. It is to some extent confirmed by initiatives launched in Rio, in particular the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign, in whose steering committee UCLG has participated, and in the agreement reached on the establishment of a common method for cities to assess their CO² emissions. UCLG and its members will contribute actively to achieving the aims set out, building on their existing local government networks.
The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders - III UCLG World Congress, in Mexico City, 17-20 November, will be the occasion on which local government leaders from across the world affirm the contribution of cities and urban areas to creating a better world.
Working together and in concertation, they will address the global political issues on which governance and local decisionmaking can have a positive influence. The Summit will also be the moment to take a critical look at the projects carried out at the global governance level and to contribute ideas on their implementation and interest.
IFHP Professional Visit in Lausanne, Switzerland (28-29 May 2010)
Together with the authorities of Lausanne, IFHP has organised a professional visit to this city. Participants will be able to visit and learn about five exemplary projects of broad interest to professionals in planning, sustainable urban development and housing. The visit will be accompanied by local experts from the city to ensure an optimal transfer of useful knowledge.
Lausanne is very active in sustainable urban development. It has won the European Energy Award (EEA) several times. In 2008 it received the Gold Award for attaining 84% of the 75% required objectives. The city principally scored in the field of energy, mobility and urban development thanks to several ambitious projects such as 3000 sustainable housing, the PALM agglomeration project, the Tridel plant, producing heating and electricity by waste incineration, and the automatic M2 metro. These are the award-winning projects that will be visited.
As professional visits should also be enjoyable, it will be concluded with the opportunity to enjoy the panorama of the Lavaux Terrace Vineyard, where Lausanne will invite us all to some wine-tasting. It is also deliberately planned for the Friday and Saturday (till the end of the lunch) to enable participants to stay for the weekend if they so wish.
NB: The numbers of participants is limited, so do not hesitate too long before registering. The IFHP secretariat is available for additional information and to answer any questions you may have. http://www.ifhp.org/
Norway and UN-HABITAT sign cooperation agreement
The government of Norway on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement giving UN-HABITAT USD 18 million for the period covering the biennium 2010/11.
UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka who was flanked by her deputy Ms. Inga Bjork-Klevby signed on behalf of the agency while Norwegian Junior Minister for Environment and International Development Mr. Arvinn gadgil signed for his government.
While thanking the Norwegians for their donation, Mrs. Tibaijuka said the Thursday function was a continuation of a positive trend by that country in lending support to UN-HABITAT.
“We really appreciate the support you have given us and to me it is a personal achievement because my successor will not find a broke organization the way I did when I first joined UN-HABITAT,” Mrs. Tibaijuka who retires from the agency later this year said.
Mr. Gadgil said UN-HABITAT had a formidable mandate and that the best donors culd do was to fund it and leave the experts in the agency run the show. “We have full confidence in the work of UN-HABITAT and the experts there,” he said.
Conference on the Europeanisation of Local Government to take place in Ghent
The influence of the European Union on sub-national governments and the reaction of local authorities to this ‘europeanisation' are among the main issues to be discussed at the International Conference on the Europeanisation of Local Government.
The conference, organised by the Ghent University Centre for Local Politics, will take place on 29 and 30 April. Subjects such as the European integration process at the local level, sustainable regional action, the role of the EU in city-to-city cooperation as well as the role of local governments in the EU decision-making process will also be debated at the event.
Guest speakers will notably include a number of specialists from universities all across Europe as well as Daniël Termont, Mayor of Ghent, and Antonios Karvounis, in charge of decentralisation and e-government at the Greek Ministry of Interior.
To register for the event, a registration card, which can be found at the end of the conference programme, must be filled out before 20 April.
http://admin5.geniebuilder.com/udata/ccre/docs/International_Conference_Program_and_registration_card.pdf
Sustainable energy: Barcelona province to be the first to receive ELENA funding
The province of Barcelona will be the first to receive funds from the European Local Energy Assistance facility (ELENA).
This first agreement, announced at the launch of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (22 to 26 March), will be signed in April. It will allow the Catalan province to implement a €500 million project, which aims at saving 280 gigawatts of hours in energy per year and to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 170 000 to 200 000 tons.
ELENA, which is managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on behalf of the European Commission, brings technical support to cities and regions wanting to implement sustainable energy projects, especially in the transport and buildings sectors. The programme is meant to push for the creation of new jobs and "help all of Europe reach its climate related objectives," explains Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy.
http://www.ccre.org/news_detail_en.htm?ID=1818
World Urban Campaign logo unveiled
The official logo for the World Urban Campaign was unveiled on Friday as UN-HABITAT launched a compact signing ceremony with people who committed themselves to drive the initiative.
The logo was the result of an intensive worldwide competition launched early this year.
People from all walks of life including business people, civic leaders, government officials and members of the public signed the compact undertaking to be partners of the campaign in their respective neighbourhoods. http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=8132&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0&AllContent=1
2nd GOLD World Report : Regional workshops on local finance
The 2nd Edition of UCLG’s Triennial Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD II) will be focus on exploring the situation of local government finance across the globe. The Report, set for publication in time to be presented this November at UCLG’s III Congress in Mexico ... + info
The 2nd Edition of UCLG’s Triennial Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD II) will be focus on exploring the situation of local government finance across the globe. The Report, set for publication in time to be presented this November at UCLG’s III Congress in Mexico City, will set out the advances and setbacks as well as the challenges and ways forward to strengthen the financial position of local governments in the view of improving service provision, within a regional framework.
To ensure that the final text reflects the views of local government in the regions, the draft chapters are currently being debated in a series of area-based workshops.
This process, launched during UCLG’s World Council last November in Guangzhou, China, has now brought experts and practitioners together in workshops held in San Salvador (El Salvador), Moscow (Russia) and Istanbul (Turkey).
Mayors debate urban transport at Cannes event
Over 60 politicians and experts participated this year in the Mayor’s Debate at MIPIM, the annual property development conference held in Cannes each March.
EUROCITIES Secretary General Paul Bevan was invited to moderate a round table on ‘Cities on the Move’, which attracted mayors and deputy mayors from Barcelona, Ghent, Ljubljana, Paris, Nottingham and Montreal, Canada, as well as European architects and planners.
The free-flowing debate concluded with a recognition that while many of the solutions to urban mobility are well charted, the overriding challenge remains implementation. In particular city leaders face political opposition and financing obstacles. Local firms for example often initially oppose excluding cars from city centres even though pedestrianisation schemes invariably result in more business by virtue of the improved environment. And many cities have found that significant investment in public transport is necessary before citizens are persuaded to change their travel behaviour.
European citizen generates half a ton of waste per year
Citizens of the EU-27 generated a total of half a ton (524kg) each of municipal waste in 2008, according to a study orchestrated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
The published statistic, virtually unchanged since 2007 (525kg per person),. includes 40% landfilled municipal waste (into or onto land), 20% incinerated, 23% recycled and 14% composted. It should however be noted that certain small countries, such as Luxemburg, have to export parts of their waste so that it may be recycled, a fact which was not included in Eurostat's study.
The amount of municipal waste greatly differs among the 27 member states. Indeed, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus and Luxemburg produced over 700kg of waste per person. Inversely, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia amassed less than 400kg.
These differences are largely due to divergent consumption behaviours, explains Eurostat. Certain countries also take into account waste produced by small businesses and public institutions, on top of those generated by households. However, agricultural and industrial waste was not included in the study.
Eastern European countries tend to deposit their waste in landfills, with Bulgaria in the lead (100% of waste treated), followed by Romania with 99%, Lithuania with 96% and Latvia with 93%. Malta is also a part of the club with 97% deposited in landfills, although the amount of waste produced per person is much higher (between 600 and 700kg).
The Local Renewables Web Portal
The gateway to information on generating and using renewable energy at the local level
The launch of the Local Renewables Web Portal marks the inauguration of a comprehensive collection of information and resources on renewable energy at the local level.
The Portal serves local officials and users from civil society and business by highlighting local action on renewable energy and providing helpful tools for incorporating renewable energy in city energy plans. “Anyone interested in renewable energy at the local level should find answers to just about any question she or he may have,” says Virginia Sonntag-O’Brien, Head of the REN21 Secretariat in Paris.
Local governments worldwide have responded to the multiple challenges of climate change, energy security, and local economic development and revitalization by creating renewable energy policies and programmes. “With this Web Portal we want to enable local officials to learn about successful actions and help them find ways to be able to replicate them,” says Monika Zimmermann, Director of ICLEI’s International Training Centre.
The Web Portal will also provide channels for people to add their own input and exchange ideas. Initiatives and organizations working on renewables at the local level will be invited to actively support the portal.
Visit the Local Renewables Web Portal at:
local-renewables.org or www.local.ren21.net
Towards a European Heritage Label
The European Commission has adopted on 9 March a proposal to establish a European Heritage Label for sites with a symbolic European value and that have played a key role in the history and the building of the European Union.
The main objective of the European Heritage Label will be to strengthen European citizens’ sense of belonging to the EU. It also aims to enhance the value and the profile of the awarded sites.
“Sites” encompass monuments, natural or urban sites, cultural landscapes, places of remembrance, cultural goods or objects, intangible heritage attached to a place, including contemporary heritage. Candidate sites shall justify: their cross-border or pan European nature, their place or role in the European history and integration, their links with key European events or personalities or with cultural, artistic, political, social, scientific technological or industrial movements.
Each year the 27 Member States will preselect up to two sites and a European panel of independent experts will select one site per Member State. A strong monitoring system will make sure that sites meet their obligation (i.e. raising awareness on the European significance of the site, organising educational, artistic and cultural activities).
The European Heritage Label wil complement other initiatives such as the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Council of Europe’s European Cultural Routes.
Following its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council, the European Heritage Label should come into effect in 2011 or 2012.
ICLEI to hold 2010 World Congress in Incheon, Korea
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability will hold a Special World Congress and celebrate its 20th anniversary in Incheon, Korea, on 5-7 October 2010. Mayor Ahn Sang-soo and ICLEI Secretary General Konrad Otto-Zimmermann signed a hosting agreement on 16 March 2010.
Hosted by the City of Incheon, Incheon 2010 - Future of Cities will focus on the sustainability of larger cities. The program will be centered around key aspects of urban sustainability: eco-efficiency; resilience; green urban economy; and happiness.
Incheon 2010 will also mark the 20th anniversary of ICLEI. All ICLEI members are cordially invited to join the celebration.
The congress website will soon be available at www.iclei.org/incheon2010.
Seeking a Green Legacy in South Korea
South Korean government officials are increasingly focusing on green projects to improve their cities' sustainability -- and create legacies for politicians.
This piece from The New York Times explores the green projects being pursued by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is running for his second four-year term this year.
"Mr. Oh is among a new breed of South Korean politicians who increasingly stake their political fortunes on so-called green growth. For Mr. Oh, that means creating jobs based on environmentally friendly technologies and figuring out how to make this city, home to one-fifth of the country’s 49 million people, a healthier, more pleasant place to live.
Since taking office in 2006, Mr. Oh has tried to make the city look nicer and greener. Under his Design City slogan, the municipal authorities carted away urban eyesores like leaky shacks for shoe shiners and replaced them with artfully designed, government-subsidized kiosks. They revamped the old city center, turning part of its Kwanghwamun Boulevard into a plaza where children can skate in winter." http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/business/energy-environment/27greencar.html
Cities of Migration webinar
Cities of Migration is hosting an upcoming webinar on April 13th: The Price of Admission: Financial Inclusion Strategies for Migrants.
Please let me know if you can help us promote the international webinar by posting it in your event listings and or by forwarding it your network and colleagues. I've included the webinar description is below. Thank you for supporting the Cities of Migration Learning Exchange series. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Webinar: The Price of Admission: Financial Inclusion Strategies for Migrants
Join Cities of Migration on April 13 for the next webinar in our Learning Exchange series: The Price of Admission: Financial Inclusion Strategies for Migrants.
In London, where the “door-step” lending market is worth £2billion, Fair Finance has stepped in to address unethical lending practices. Find out more about the financial products and services Fair Finance has developed to meet the needs of people who are financially excluded -whatever their gender, race or postcode.
At Barcelona Activa, the city’s dynamic business development hub, entrepreneurship is the recognized “engine of city activity and employment.” Learn about how Barcelona Activa is working with migrant communities in Spain to support ethnic entrepreneurship and a booming SME sector.
What’s a SME? Join the webinar on April 13 to learn more! (tip: Small-to-medium-sized enterprises)
Requirements: No cost to participate. You will need a computer with internet access and a landline telephone
Register Online: http://citiesofmigration.ca/integration-learning-exchange/calendar/lang/en/
Urban Women's Listserve
The urban women's listserve is an international forum with the objective of facilitating an exchange of information and sharing of experiences, resources, and strategies to advance women's rights and gender equality in local governance and local governments. The listserve is open to all womens's groups, activists, institutions, equality-seeking organizations, women in local government - elected officials, administrators, staff, partners, women urban professionals, etc. Men are also welcome. We encourage you to post listings pertinent to this subject and to engage with participating members. Please be respectful of the diversity of opinions and experiences of all participants. A short description of your interests and focus of work will help us to keep the list clean of SPAM. The listserve is moderated by Toronto Women's City Alliance (TWCA). www.twca.ca
To subscribe write to: urban_women-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/urban_women/
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