Category: News from NA

Montreal’s “Grow Home” A Pioneering Model for Affordable, Flexible, and Sustainable Housing

In the late 1980s, Montreal faced a familiar challenge: rising land prices, urban sprawl, and a lack of affordable housing for young families. The response? The Grow Home, an innovative model developed by McGill University’s School of Architecture that redefined what affordable urban living could look like. 💡 What made the Grow Home revolutionary? Compact + cost-effective design: Narrow-fronted row houses (just 14 ft wide) reduced construction...

Financing Urban Forests: How Cities are Leveraging Carbon Credits for Greener Futures 

https://youtu.be/T9M7TvIN1UE Download the Presentation The latest IURC North America webinar featured an in-depth presentation from Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Mayor's Office of Sustainability & Resilience at the City of Atlanta, showcasing how the city is leveraging urban forestry, carbon markets, and community-centered climate policy to drive long-term resilience and equity. Leslie Campbell, Policy Officer at the City of Toronto, joined as a discussant, contributing...

IURC-NA  Hosts Thematic Networking Event in Rome on Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems

The City of Rome welcomed representatives from 18 cities across the European Union, Canada, and the United States for the IURC North America Thematic Networking Event. “Rome’s Food Policy: Striving for a Sustainable, Holistic, and Inclusive Regional Food System” explored how cities can design and implement comprehensive food policies that promote sustainability, social inclusion, and regional collaboration. https://youtu.be/ogkmeJA5yrk 🎥 Watch the event recap...

Transatlantic Cooperation for a Circular Future: Albuquerque and Murcia’s Partnership on Waste and Education 

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,...

Two Highlight Videos Showcase IURC Cities and Regions Advancing Global Cooperation in Barcelona

IURC pilot cities and regions from Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, Asia & Australasia, and North America gathered in Barcelona from 4–6 November 2025. They met during the Smart Cities Expo World Congress to advance the EU-funded International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme.More than 240 IURC delegates met to discuss potential pilot projects, deepen thematic collaboration, and prepare...

IURC brings 240+ global city leaders to Barcelona for its Global Thematic Networking Event

Barcelona, 4–6 November 2025 The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme will gather over 240 delegates from 132 cities and regions across Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Americas for its Global Thematic Networking Event alongside Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) 2025. The three-day workshop is the largest IURC convening since the programme’s launch and focuses on accelerating climate action, innovation and international partnerships.  ...

Connecting Bikes and Buses: Stuttgart – Massachusetts Mobility Exchange

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,...

Data for Cities: Hamburg – Toronto Urban Data Exchange

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...

Reimagining Urban Parks: Nanaimo – Pavlos Melas Exchange

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....

Making Circular Economy Real: Dublin – San Francisco Exchange

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...