Category: News from NA

Rehabilitating Urban Rivers with Nature-Based Solutions 

  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 explosion of last-mile food deliveries: A growing challenge for urban mobility

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...

IURC Referenced in European Commission’s “EU Agenda for Cities” Communication

The European Commission has released the Communication “An EU Agenda for Cities: Driving Growth and Prosperity”, presenting a comprehensive framework for sustainable and integrated urban development across Europe. The document outlines how the EU intends to support cities of all sizes in addressing shared challenges and preparing for long-term competitiveness, resilience and social well-being. In its section on international cooperation, the...

Advancing Urban Forest Management: A Transatlantic Exchange Between Sofia and Atlanta

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...

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.  ...