Category: Case Studies

  Cities across North America and Europe are increasingly using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to rehabilitate urban rivers, reduce flood risk, and restore degraded waterway ecosystems. As climate change and urbanisation intensify pressures on waterways, river restoration is becoming a key component of integrated flood risk management and urban resilience strategies. Strong policy frameworks support this shift. In Europe, river restoration...

The rise of last-mile food delivery is transforming city streets around the world. In the world’s top 100 cities, the World Economic Forum projects a 36% increase in delivery vehicles by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. While e-bikes, scooters, and cargo bikes often reduce emissions compared to traditional logistics, the safety, well-being, and working conditions of delivery riders have emerged as urgent...

The newest International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) North America Case Study highlights how the City of Sofia (Bulgaria) and the City of Atlanta (USA) are collaborating to strengthen urban forest management, advance nature-based solutions, and explore innovative climate financing mechanisms. Cities worldwide face growing pressures from increasing populations, unequal distribution of green space, aging urban canopies, and limited resources...

This IURC North America Case Study highlights how the cities of Murcia (Spain) and Albuquerque (USA) are working together to advance circular economy (CE) practices, improve organic waste management, and implement innovative community, school, and municipal initiatives. Both cities, despite their different contexts, face shared challenges in waste diversion, citizen engagement, and sustainable resource management. The city of Murcia benefits from large-scale EU-backed infrastructure, including initiatives like the VALUEWASTE pilot plant,...

See how two regions are making bicycles an integral part of public transit. Since 2022, the region of Stuttgart (VRS) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have collaborated under the IURC North America Programme to improve multimodal travel, leisure access, and transport equity. The region of Stuttgart shared its Fahrrad2Go programme, which equips buses with bike racks and trailers,...

Discover how two cities are transforming urban data into smart, open solutions. The city of Hamburg (Germany) and the city of Toronto (Canada) joined forces under the IURC North America Programme to share strategies for automating and standardizing urban data. The city of Hamburg introduced its Urban Data Platform (UDP_HH), integrating datasets across agencies while transitioning to open-source solutions. Toronto...

Discover how two cities are turning green spaces into engines for community wellbeing. The city of Nanaimo (Canada) and the municipality of Pavlos Melas (Greece) joined forces under the IURC North America Programme to explore innovative park management. Over months of study visits and exchanges, the cities examined how parks can support healthier, more connected communities and foster shared responsibility....

Learn how two water cities are turning circular economy strategies into action. The city of Dublin (Ireland) and the city of San Francisco (USA) collaborated under the IURC North America Programme to integrate circular economy into climate action over 18 months. The city of Dublin focused on linking circular economy to culture and local business opportunities, launching Connected Circular Economy...