Latin America
Asia & Australasia
North America
EU Cities Gateway
China

Category: Thematic Cluster 2025-2027

Exploring How Digitalisation Can Support Sustainable Urban Development

Representatives from Melbourne, Australia, travelled to Tampere, Finland, for their first IURC study visit, exploring how digital tools can support sustainable urban development, strengthen citizen participation and contribute to major urban regeneration projects. Melbourne representatives visited Tampere this week to gain a deeper understanding of the Finnish city’s approach to sustainable urban development, with particular attention to its creative and...

Meet the IURC LAC regions working on green and just transition

Across Europe and Latin America, regions are working together to advance more inclusive, coordinated and innovation-driven green and just transitions. Through the IURC Latin America and the Caribbean programme, these territories collaborate within the Community of Practice on Green and Just Transitions to exchange knowledge, address shared challenges and develop a transferable, citizen-centred governance model for green industrial transition. Their...

IURC Study Visit to Melbourne and Gippsland Connects European and Australian Regions on the New Energy Transition

An IURC delegation from Europe and Australia has completed an intensive five-day study visit to Melbourne and Gippsland, Victoria, exploring how international regional cooperation can support the transition from traditional energy industries towards renewable energy, new economic opportunities and a socially inclusive net-zero future. Taking place from 17–21 August 2026, the visit was organised in the framework of the International...

India: Gangtok inaugurates dedicated E-Waste Collection Facility, building on IURC circular economy cooperation

Gangtok, India – 14 August 2026: Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) inaugurated a dedicated E-Waste Collection Facility at the Martam Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility, marking an important step towards advancing circular economy and responsible resource management in India. The facility was inaugurated by Mayor Tshering Palden Bhutia, in the presence of Deputy Mayor Sara Lama, municipal representatives and partners. It...

Regions and Industry Leaders Exchange Insights on the Future of Wind Energy

Representatives from Bremen (Germany), Gippsland (Australia), Łódzkie (Poland), and Jeollanam-do (Republic of Korea) gathered online on 5 August 2026 for the latest IURC Community of Practice 4 Business Mixer Session, bringing together 49 participants from regional governments, wind energy companies, research institutions, and international partners. The session brought together six wind energy companies — Ørsted, Star of the South, WindTAK,...

Meet the IURC LAC cities working on affordable housing

Across Europe and Latin America, cities are working together to advance more accessible, affordable and sustainable housing solutions. Through the IURC Latin America and the Caribbean programme, these cities collaborate within the Community of Practice on Affordable Housing to exchange knowledge, address shared challenges and explore solutions ranging from regulatory frameworks and land management to urban planning, housing renovation, neighbourhood...

From waste to resource: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in Porto 

Porto, Portugal | 21–23 July 2026  The IURC programme held a Green and Just Transition Advanced Cooperation Mission in Porto as part of the Community of Practice on urban regeneration and social cohesion (CoP 2), hosted by LIPOR — the intermunicipal waste management service of Greater Porto. Representatives from Hunedoara (Romania), Valle del Cauca (Colombia) and Chihuahua (Mexico) joined the host team for three...

Economies in Cities COP (Startups, Innovation & Branding) — 3-Subgroup First Plenary: Shared Direction, Fact Sheets & Study Visits

The meeting recapped strong feedback from the Singapore COP event, where the group was recognized as the most innovative among those present, and then reviewed a broad agenda covering fact-sheet drafts, subgroup progress, the Nagoya study visit, and a pilot startup mission proposal. Draft fact sheets summarized city strategies across three subgroups: attracting early-stage investors (e.g., Grenoble’s “pull” events vs....

Strengthening SME Digital Readiness Across Regions: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in Santiago 

Santiago, Chile | 21–25 July 2026  How can regions better understand the digital readiness of their SMEs—and turn that knowledge into targeted, measurable support?  That question guided the latest IURC Latin America and the Caribbean Advanced Cooperation Mission, hosted by the Santiago Metropolitan Region as part of the Digital Transformation Community of Practice (CoP 1). Representatives from Bucharest (Romania), Bacău...

Jeollanam-do Presents Community-Based Energy Transition Approaches and Next-Generation Power Grid Strategy with IURC Partners

Representatives from Jeollanam-do (Republic of Korea), Łódzkie (Poland), and Gippsland (Australia) gathered online on 30 July for the latest session of IURC Community of Practice 4, exchanging experiences on renewable energy transition, community engagement, and future energy systems. The session featured presentations by Ms. Suhee Kim and Dr. Minho Lee from the Green Energy Institute (GEI), Jeollanam-do, highlighting the province’s...