cities – International Urban and Regional Cooperation

Coimbra demonstrates how AI-Powered Tourism Takes Centre Stage in Shaping the Future of Smart Destinations

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme convened its second Deep Dive Online Technical Session (DDOTS) under Community of Practice 3 (CoP 3) on Sustainable Smart Tourism on 30 April 2026, hosted by Coimbra. Bringing together cities from Europe and Asia, the session focused on smart destination intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI) as key drivers of sustainable tourism development....

Leh Hosts Trans-Himalayan Climate Conclave showcasing Global Collaboration through IURC

The Municipal Committee of Leh, in collaboration with key national and international partners, successfully hosted the Trans-Himalayan Urban Climate Conclave on 10–11 April 2026. The event brought together policymakers, experts, and institutions to advance climate-resilient and net-zero pathways for Himalayan cities. The conclave served as an important platform to address the unique challenges faced by high-altitude cities, including water scarcity,...

Reimagining Ecotourism: IURC Webinar Highlights Smart, Sustainable Innovations in Malaysia

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme convened a Deep Dive Online Thematic Webinar on March 31st, 2026 under Community of Practice (CoP) 3, focusing on the use of integrated smart technologies to promote sustainable ecotourism in Seberang Perai, Malaysia. The session showcased three innovative pilot actions led by the Seberang Perai City Council: the AutoCity SpiderWeb Ecosystem, an...

From Plans to Action: Indian Cities Drive EU–India Urban Cooperation Forward

EU–India city partnerships are moving from knowledge exchange to implementation—delivering scalable, climate-smart urban solutions across India Across India, cities are beginning to translate international cooperation into real, field-based change—from mountain towns shaping sustainable tourism to industrial cities rethinking waste and mobility systems. Under the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme, this shift from planning to implementation is gaining momentum,...

CoP 14 Consolidates Roadmap and Starts Implementation Activities

Following the progress made in its previous exchanges, the IURC Climate Adaptation Community of Practice 14 (CoP 14) has taken a decisive step forward in consolidating its Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP) and initiating implementation activities. The CoP involves Valencia Region (coordinator), Bologna, Sofia, Hamburg, Pimpri Chinchwad (PCMC), Kyoto, Kawasaki, and Christchurch. Tampere will soon be joining. During its third multilateral meeting,...

CoP 14 Reviews UCAP and Advances Floodable Parks, Climate Data Platforms, Heat Resilience and Citizen-Centred Adaptation

The second multilateral meeting of the IURC Climate Adaptation Community of Practice 14 (CoP 14), held at 8:00 CET, marked a key step towards finalising the Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP). The meeting brought together partner cities to review the draft UCAP prepared by Valencia Region (Spain), exchange feedback, and refine priority interventions guiding future cooperation. Participants confirmed strong alignment...

CoP 13 Advances Nature-Based River Adaptation and Metropolitan Green Belt Solutions

The IURC Climate Adaptation Community of Practice 13 (CoP 13) is progressing towards the finalisation of its Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP), following a series of coordination meetings and technical exchanges among partner cities. These discussions have enabled members to move beyond conceptual dialogue and focus on concrete nature-based adaptation interventions addressing river resilience, metropolitan ecosystems, and fragile environmental contexts....

IURC Sustainable Tourism CoP progresses Urban Cooperation Action Plan during third coordination meeting

The third meeting of the Sustainable Smart Tourism Community of Practice (CoP) under the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme was held on 12 February 2026, marking a key step in advancing the partnership’s Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP) and preparing cities for the next phase of technical exchange and pilot development. Convened by Paolo Guarnieri from the Municipality...

Launch of Second Phase in Australia with Six Australian Cities and Regions Joining the IURC Programme

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme officially launched its second phase at Melbourne Town Hall on August 27, 2025. The event brought together the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, EU Ambassador to Australia Gabriel Visentin, and the European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University, alongside leaders from six selected Australian cities and regions. The IURC...

IURC Asia & Australasia Announces Selection of 30 Cities and 16 Regions from the EU

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme has entered a new and ambitious phase of cooperation with the launch of its introductory thematic clustering sessions. The process brings together 30 EU cities, 16 EU regions, and a similar number of partners from Asia and Australasia (AA), creating a diverse and balanced platform for multilateral collaboration. The geographic spread among...

Tag: cities