Ecological Transition & Green Deal

 Circular innovations in the built environment 

The future of urban transportation is evolving rapidly, and shared mobility is at the forefront of this transformation. Experts from the Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transport (SUMT) IURC-NA network gathered for an insightful webinar to explore the latest strategies for integrating shared mobility into urban policies.

Applications are now open for European cities and regions to join the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme. Take this opportunity to become a global partner in shaping sustainable and innovative urban futures.

🔗 Apply Now

Exploring circular solutions for modernizing the building stock and creating affordable housing There are some exciting advancements in circularity in the built environment but a long-way to go for the widespread adoption of construction and renovation practices that conserve resources, minimize waste, achieve carbon-emissions reduction and, increase durability and longevity of buildings while being cost effective. Cities have a critical role to play in this transformation as they try to address affordable housing challenges, an aging building stock and pursue...

• Circular Flanders: Aims to reduce its material footprint by 30% by 2030. This strategy emphasizes cross-organizational integration, effective policy research, and building partnerships with local governments, businesses, and research sectors. The result? Enhanced guidance tools, monitored contracts, and a marketplace engaged for continuous improvement.
• Richmond, Canada: Leverages strategic data analysis to uncover opportunities, close value loops, and drive circular solutions across city projects, from infrastructure to office assets. Community engagement is critical to co-owning the process and fostering innovation.

The latest IURC NA Best Practice on Public Procurement for Circular Cities lets cities and regions discover actionable strategies, so their spending power can drive sustainable change! By embracing circular procurement, cities can create new local jobs, reduce waste, and boost social integration. Some key features include:

• Start simple and scale up
• Engage suppliers early to foster innovation
• Use life-cycle costs to guide decisions
• Join buyers’ networks and share best practices

The circular economy has gained in popularity because its basic principles, such as designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, can be applied at various scales, and the potential benefits are broad. Considering the core competencies of municipal governments, cities can play a well-rounded role in the circular economy by promoting the circular economy and acting as a role model, facilitating connections and establishing multi-level governance to align priorities and policy coherence, enabling appropriate governance conditions by mobilizing resources, adapting regulatory frameworks,...

Cities increasingly adopt systemic and integrated planning approaches to enhance their resilience and address challenges like climate change, population growth, and food security. The circular economy has gained traction because its principles can be applied at various scales and offer broad benefits. Effective planning is crucial to harnessing the circular economy’s potential for environmental benefits, job creation, support for local businesses, and social cohesion. Leading examples of municipal innovation demonstrate that cities are key to driving this transformation.

The IURC-China initiative achieved success in enhancing partnerships and facilitating the exchange of knowledge among European and Chinese cities and regions. It developed 9 city and regional cooperation partners in 3 thematic networks, bridging over 40 cities and regions across China and Europe. During 2021-2023, participants engaged in 78 thematic events, resulting in the creation and dissemination of more than 50 knowledge products.

In the past three years, collaborations, investments, and knowledge sharing has multiplied on themes related to the circular economy (CE). Networks, knowledge-sharing hubs, and training tools are bringing to light the CE innovations and best practices in fields such as waste and water management, land-use planning, transportation, infrastructure and buildings, agriculture, and food systems. The cities and regions that are part of the IURC NA network are well-placed to contribute to this global transformation to improve circularity by promoting and...

You are invited to the first IURC-NA webinar session of 2024, focusing on international cooperation and how it can relate to the sustainable and resilient cities of the future! Climate change and environmental deterioration have become central to cities’ urban development plans. As a result, the European Union’s IURC program facilitates the exchange of challenges and solutions internationally to accelerate the reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of life in urban areas. This first online session of 2024 will be an opportunity...

Urbanisation and industrial transformation are common challenges faced by the industrial cities of Zagreb and Rijeka in Croatia, and Kawasaki, Japan. By making use of their respective unique characteristics and local resources, the three cities are promoting sustainable urban development. Zagreb and Rijeka gained knowledge into Kawasaki’s efficient “waste management” and “business incubation”, while lessons learned by Kawasaki included how nature-based solutions (NbS) are being implemented by Zagreb and Rijeka, and the co-benefits approach on climate change action.

The Alentejo Region integrates natural resources with strategic logistics and transport infrastructures, supported by strong educational and research institutions. This strategic approach is reflected  through Alentejo Region’s cooperationwith Dalian on Green Port development and cultural tourism, further enriching its economic and cultural diversification.

Region Lazio integrates sustainable agriculture and agri-food supply, focusing on safety, sustainability, and enhancing tourist attractions. It promotes local produce through various gastronomic experiences, establishing a distinct local identity for international markets. Lazio’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) targets development, employment, and regional competitiveness, supported by innovation in diverse sectors like agri-food, circular economy, life sciences, and more. Its cooperation with Zhengzhou focuses on sustainable agriculture, focusing on sustainable urban agriculture, agri-food systems, and climate change.

The Western Greece Region, with its dynamic innovation ecosystem and diverse cultural & economic fabric, is committed to cooperative development in key sectors like agro-food,  digital sciences, renewable energy, and cultural tourism, especially in Ancient Olympia. Western Greece collaborates with Hangzhou (China), focusing on internationalization and digitalization of local products and services, particularly in e-commerce education and vocational training.

Bari, a key economic and educational center in Southern Italy, owns wide array of academic and research institutions and a dynamic tertiary sector. The city’s urban development strategy focues on revitalizing its waterfront, transforming brownfields, and enhancing cultural landmarks, with a strong focus on community-led governance and active citizen participation. The city´s expertise in urban regeneration, with initiatives that prioritize neighborhood development, public space revitalisation, and community engagement, has many synergies with developmental strategies in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.

Both Lazio Region and Zhengzhou prioritize sustainable agri-food supply, integrating urban-rural development and encouraging innovation in agriculture. Lazio region’s agri-food production, intertwined with its natural and cultural heritage, promotes local food networks. Zhengzhou, confronting challenges in peri-urban agriculture like economic viability and biodiversity conservation, can learn from Lazio’s experience in sustainable farming and the Slow Food movement. The cooperation between Lazio and Zhengzhou fosters regional dialogue, knowledge sharing, and innovative practices in sustainable agri-food supply.

Taicang (Suzhou) and the Stuttgart Urban Region are collaborating to address their urban development challenges balancing economic growth with ecological transition. Their joint efforts on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and low-carbon urban districts involve government dialogues, knowledge exchange, joint projects, and technical support, aiming to establish green, productive, and eco-friendly urban areas. They are implementing the TOD model and Low Carbon City principles, with three pilot projects in Taicang.

NCI Bologna and Yangzhou jointly endeavour on green and resilient urban development, focusing on nature-based solutions, ecological transition, cultural heritage, and smart cities. A MOU has been signed to establish a joint research centre on green design.  Stakeholders from universities, governments, social organizations, and businesses are involved. The goal is to develop a long-term partnership, fostering joint activities in urban design, music, art, and education, with plans to set up a Green Design Centre and facilitate ongoing dialogue and cooperation.

Over three years, European cities and regions have had the opportunity to cooperate with colleagues across the world in order to develop their capacity in ecological transition and the Green Deal; urban & regional renewal and social cohesion; and innovative sustainable & carbon neutral ecosystems and strategic sectors. These are the takeaways of the programme’s final event 2023.

IURC Annual Event 2021 visual takeaways

A selection of thematic posters from the IURC 2022 annual event.

Essen, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, Koriyama, and Toyota City are creating a physical and virtual place that helps their private contractors meet innovators, start-ups, and SMEs of the partner cities. The topic they chose to work on is “new energy technologies and hydrogen”.

Bratislava and Tokorozawa aim to be green and energy-efficient. Bratislava has learnt from Tokorozawa’s greenery expansion measures and active use of renewable energy, especially solar power. In return, Tokorozawa has gained insights from Bratislava’s longstanding approach to city greening and adaptation, and their efforts to initiate actions for energy efficiency and renewables.

The webinar "Cultivating Urban Resilience through Co-creation and Storytelling: Case Studies from Medellín, Colombia – Lecco, Italy" organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to provide practitioners and policy-makers with concrete examples from relevant case studies on Cultivating Urban Resilience through Co-creation and Storytelling: Case Studies from Medellín, Colombia – Lecco, Italy. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event...

Piraeus and Puerto Montt consolidated the Blue Economy Cluster (BEC), to promote and diversify local development strategies.

The main objective is to generate a platform for interaction between stakeholders involved in the local development of both cities, focusing on sharing technical knowledge on fields:

1. Innovation and Research
2. Tourism sector and local culture
3. Local governance on Blue Economy
4. Port and logistic activities

Read the takeaways.

Cities face significant challenges in decarbonizing and improving the resilience of their aging housing stock. Panelization promises to reduce the labour involved with deep retrofits. This presentation covers Canada's first panelized retrofit to achieve net-zero energy performance, the Presland Net-Zero PEER Pilot.   Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will share the results of this ambitious project, which represents a replicable, scalable model for retrofits nationwide. OCH will explain its role as a general contractor and panel...

Among the more problematic effects climate change imposes on urban planners are the challenges of creating and re-purposing public spaces that mitigate urban heat islands and alleviate threats from intense rain events and flooding while positively impacting communities.   In this session, we will learn from three different projects.   - The Moakley Park Vision Plan, presented by the City of Boston, transforms one of its largest waterfront open spaces from a largely single-use recreational facility into a resilient and...

On the 18th-20th of September, a cohort of 14 IURC cities gathered in Mannheim, Germany, to create professional connections and networks while facilitating knowledge for a green, sustainable urban transformation on topics such as:

• Challenges and Opportunities of the Green Deal
• Integrated Sustainable Urban Redevelopment
• Nature-based solutions
• Brownfield remediation
• Energy efficient communities

The event was co-hosted with Mannheim and included presentations and site visits to learn and experience how urban planning can be done with a climate lens.

Within the IURC Asia & Australasia framework, Rotterdam is working with Surat to construct and efficiently operate a water plaza in a dense city neighborhood, in order to manage water resources, reduce the climate change impacts, facilitate social interactions and encourage athletic activities.

Seberang Perai have successfully replicated two circular economy waste management models post-study visits to Vila Nova de Famalicão & Maia: (1) Bagan Ajam Market and (2) eco-school vocational training (citizen centric community programmes)

Sofia Municipality is working with Sejong City from the Republic of Korea to conduct a joint business venture on solar panels. This pilot project is expected to develop a partnership between Bulgarian and Korean companies on renewable energy.

Bangkok’s District Food Management Sandbox: Applying the MUFPP to the Thai context

In the framework of IURC Latin America, Essen and Fortaleza are exchanging knowledge and best practices on circular economy and waste management, linked to the recycling and collection of special waste, legal frameworks, and waste fee structures, that promote zero-waste policies. They coined the name “Fortalessen” for their collaboration, as a symbol of how working together made them stronger.

The webinar "Smart Specialization Strategies and Sustainability" organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to show reflections related to the sustainability dimension of smart specialisation strategies and their deployment in the industrial (industrial policies and sustainability) and local (entrepreneurship and innovation Hubs) dimensions. The presentations aimed to generate inspiration on how to mobilise research and innovation to address the SDGs in various territorial contexts, including places facing institutional and structural challenges. The framework is...

Final Report of the Asia Pacific Food Policy Training implemented by Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Secretariat and the IURC Asia and Australasia project team in 2022.

A Canadian model of urban farming sparks a strategy for the prevention of fires and the generation of incentives for repopulation in Galicia and the Northern region of Portugal.

Because of climate change, intense heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. They are exacerbated by urban heat islands – a phenomenon that occurs when an urban area is much hotter than the surrounding undeveloped areas (i.e. too much concrete, too few trees!). This webinar will feature presentations from experts with the City of Boston and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area sharing specific solutions that they are undertaking, such as networks of cooling spaces, increasing vegetation, and urban parks, and how these interventions have been identified and are...

The online Capacity Building on Regenerative Design by ACCIONA, organised by the IURC Central Coordination Services in coordination with the Geographical Areas in two sessions (morning for Asia & Australasia and China; afternoon for Latin America and North America) aimed to support worldwide pairings and clusters to path the way of their ongoing projects during the last year of the programme. The training was conducted on March 7th 2023 and welcomed more than 75 participants from all around the globe.

5 case studies:

Case study 1 – Climate & Food (Umeå) 

Case study 2 – Over-tourism and sustainable promotion of territories (Metropolitan City of Venice) 

Case study 3 – Citizen-led sustainable urban development (Kamakura) 

Case study 4 – Station of Being (Umeå) 

Case study 5 – Over-tourism (Kamakura) 

For each of the case studies, there is an executive summary, special features, results and impact, key figures and lessons learned.

 

Essen and Fortaleza (“Fortalessen”) are exchanging knowledge and best practices on circular economy and waste management in the framework of the International, Urban and Regional Cooperation programme (IURC Latin America), linked to the recycling and collection of special waste, legal frameworks, and waste fee structures, that promote zero-waste policies.
These guidelines share the main learnings from this exchange and provide a roadmap for other cities that wish to implement a solid waste recollection fee while integrating
complementary interventions.

The Jarillón Plan in Cali is a city megaproject and is classified as the largest resettlement project in Latin America. This project was born due to the winter wave of 2010-2011 when many families where affected by heavy floods throughout Colombia and the Jarrillón area.  The Jarillón Plan aims for resettlement with a full guarantee of rights, improving their quality of life, and living in areas of non-mitigable risk.

Read the takeaways.

One of the most interesting environmental and social challenges in Rome is the emergence of urban gardens. Currently there are more than 150 municipal urban gardens, providing citizens with the opportunity to grow their own food and create green spaces in the city. Despite their benefits, urban gardens face challenges such as limited space, lack of resources and funding, and difficulty in coordinating multiple stakeholders.

Read the takeaways.

The webinar "Repair, Recycle, Re-use: International experiences on the upcycling of electronic waste” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to share inspiration about circular economy best practices, focused on the re-use, recycling, and repair of electronic waste and other materials. Three international experiences on the creation of recycling centres and related repairing initiatives were discussed to highlight opportunities and challenges linked to upcycling experiences in cities. Space The full agenda of the event...

In recent years, the City of Puerto Montt (Chile) has been facing several challenges arising from unplanned urban sprawl, which has put cultural and environmental heritage under pressure. In this context, Puerto Montt’s team integrated the preservation of wetlands into its planning strategies and is working on the systemic integration of indigenous communities and their traditional knowledge into green infrastructure projects.

We invite you to read some lessons learned and recommendations from Puerto Montt.

The City of Piraeus (Greece) has been implementing Nature Based Solutions (NBS) projects with participatory planning processes to strengthen Public Health (PH) and Wellbeing (WB). The EuPOLIS project participated to open up spaces for social interaction to empower citizens in decision-making processes. They integrate different voices, point of views, and current needs of the local community, and especially of vulnerable groups tending to be traditionally excluded from co-creation processes.

 

Different perspectives on the Blue Economy concept and reflections on the importance of the sea and coastal borders as a platform to generate social benefits, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Nature-Based solutions have become an essential part of climate action plans. Beyond their environmental impact, these projects and programs are an opportunity to foster social cohesion and promote community engagement. In this session, the O’Brien Farm in St John’s, Canada, will explain their program, School to Farm, and present their Farm Incubation program, which supports new farming businesses. The Farm Borg project in Rimini, Italy, will present how they create gardens to promote socialization and participation in joint initiatives, develop...

The Vénkert community garden in Debrecen is an example of greening and recovery of unused gray areas, by transforming them into gardens that produce healthy organic food while strengthening the sense of community. The city of Debrecen help gardeners with raised beds, irrigation infrastructure and seeds. 

IURC NA, in partnership with the City of Ottawa and the EU-funded project Reducing Plastic Waste in Canada, held on June 2nd and 3rd, 2022, the Waste Management & Circular Economy Networking Event in Ottawa, Canada. Approximately 50 representatives from Spain, Poland, Italy, the USA, and Canada gathered to work on managing plastic at various levels of government level, developing strategies to enhance recycling, and generating energy from multiple sources of waste. These are the takeaways.

IURC NA, in partnership with Climate Action KC and GCoM USA, held on April 7th and 8th, 2022, the Renovation Wave Networking Event in Kansas City, USA. Approximately 40 representatives from Portugal, Dortmund, Poland, Belgium, the US, and Canada gathered to work on making buildings more energy-efficient, tackling energy poverty, and creating green jobs. These are the takeaways.

Lessons Learned from Sao Paulo

This first online session of our Renovation Wave series will feature Dan Dicaire, Manager of Energy and Sustainability, and Melissa Jort-Conway, Planner II in Climate Change and Resiliency, both from the City of Ottawa. They will share their role in the Race to Zero to eliminate Ottawa’s GHG emissions by 2040, including the retrofit strategy for OCH’s 15,000 units and several projects which hold the blueprints to eliminating GHG emissions from their entire portfolio. We will talk about financing, long-term...

With support from the European Union, the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Secretariat, the City of Bandung, and the University of Parahyangan co-organised the 1^st MUFPP Asia Pacific Regional Forum on 3-4 August 2022 in support of Indonesia’s U20 Mayors Summit and G20 Summit, held at the end of August and in mid-November this year respectively.

 

This report provides an overview of the Pact and summarises key points from the event.

The online Capacity Building on Regenerative Design by ACCIONA, organised by the IURC Central Coordination Services in coordination with the Geographical Areas in two sessions (morning for Asia & Australasia and China; afternoon for Latin America and North America) aimed to support our worldwide pairings and clusters to path the way of their ongoing projects during the last year of the programme. The training was conducted on March 7th 2023 and welcomed more than 75 participants from all around the...

The webinar "Costal Cities & Blue Economy: Local experiences from Piraeus, Barranquilla and Genoa” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to explore different perspectives on the Blue Economy concept and reflect on the importance of the sea and coastal borders as a platform to generate social benefits, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the takeaways here Space Download the presentations here Space Read...

Organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme, the event discussed the transformative potential of urban agriculture, as a catalyst of environmental transition and social inclusion. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here 

The webinar "Inclusive recycling " organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme introduced inclusive recycling and the potential of integrating the empowerment of vulnerable women with sustainable practices that incorporate technology and both financial and mobility solutions. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here

This webinar was the second part of the “Financing Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities” webinar series, on the role of development banks and private financing. The event discussed the role of development banks and private financing in reducing the infrastructure gap in cities while promoting low-carbon investments. space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Download the takeaways here Space Read the highlights from the event here

Takeaways of IURC China Urban Renewal Webinar

In this interactive workshop, Circular Economy Expert Erin Kennedy from Metabolic – a Netherlands-based organization who has over a decade of experience advising businesses, governments, and nonprofits around the world on how to thrive in a circular economy – will offer practical advice and strategies to help cities develop and implement their circular economy plans. Download: Miro Board

With the amount of food imports from outside the city being as high as 96%, Bandung City established in 2020 the Buruan SAE programme to improve urban food security.

You are invited to the second session of the Cities Supporting Cities Towards Circular Economy Concepts, Frameworks, and Actions series of masterclasses. In this second session of the IURC-NA Cities Supporting Cities Towards a Circular Economy series: participants will learn how policies, interventions, and strategies from the city government can support industrial manufacturing operations to implement circular business practices. During this interactive session, participants will get the opportunity to ask questions to representatives from several leading companies and better understand...

Thursday, 15 December 2022, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Bangkok | 1:00-2:30 p.m. Singapore Check your local time here.   The MUFPP & IURC Asia Pacific Food Policy Training is a series of 6 webinars developed by the MUFPP Secretariat and the IURC programme to enrich the knowledge of Asia Pacific cities on food policy development.   Following the MUFPP recommended actions, there are many options at disposal for cities: raising awareness on food loss and waste, recovering and redistributing food still fit for consumption, assessing...

Download: Presentation

Friday, 18 November 2022 8:00-09:00 a.m. CET | 2.00-3:00 p.m. Bangkok   Check your local time here.   The MUFPP & IURC Asia Pacific Food Policy Training is a series of 6 webinars developed by the MUFPP Secretariat and the IURC programme to enrich the knowledge of Asia Pacific cities on food policy development.   Following the fifth category of the Milan Pact, Food Supply & Distribution, the webinar will present a variety of actions and measures cities are taking to ensure...

Takeaways of IURC China Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-food System Webinar

BACKGROUND   In the EU and China, urban renewal has become the major way to meet the increasing demand of residents for urban space and facilities without the expenses of large-scale demolition of existing buildings and urban fabric. Many neighbourhoods and buildings are in critical demand of renovation aiming for healthy environmental quality, energy & resource efficiency, and aesthetics of the built environment.   The EU initiated the Green City under the framework of the New Leipzig Charter, which calls for nature-based...

The webinar sought to inform/discuss/share best practices on nature-based solutions for flood management. Cities of Rotterdam, Messina, Surat, Kochi, Panaji and Semarang shared their efforts/initiatives apart from two flood management experts.

Ban Nam Kieng Din is a trailblazer in food waste management in Bangkok. Since its establishment in 2000, the restaurant has been making continued efforts to better manage its waste and energy and has received countless visits from government officials, researchers and other restaurants and businesses interested in circular food waste management from all over the world.

This flow chart is a result from Milan’s study visit to Thailand from 8 to 11 August 2022.

European Commission webinar on ‘Regions, Cities and Level(s): Powering the green transition in Europe’s buildings’, 12 October from 16:00 to 17:00 (CEST). In October 2020 the European Commission launched Level(s), the new EU common language for assessing the sustainability performance of buildings. The Commission will be running a special webinar at the European Week of Regions and Cities to show how Level(s) can help the buildings sector contribute to EU climate and circularity objectives within cities and regions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Why attend? -...

Takeaways of the IURC China Technologies 4.0, Industry 5.0 & Innovation Webinar

Takeaways of the IURC China Circular Economy Webinar

Takeaways of the IURC China Nature-based Solutions Webinar

Thursday, 21 July 2022 9:00-10:00 a.m. CEST | 2.00-3:00 p.m. Bangkok   Check your local time here.   The MUFPP & IURC Asia Pacific Food Policy Training is a series of 6 webinars developed by the MUFPP Secretariat and the IURC programme to enrich the knowledge of Asia Pacific cities on food policy development.   Following the third category of the Milan Pact, Social & Economic Equity, the webinar will present how cities address inequality and poverty related to the food system....

Discover the takeaways of the IURC Side Event at the Eurocities Annual Conference 2022.

BACKGROUND   Both the EU and China are facing three major challenges in the agricultural sector. First, food security challenge: the EU is part of the global food system, whereas China has a daunting task to feed 22% of the world's population with 9% of the world's arable land. Second, environmental challenges such as soil degradation, water shortages, biodiversity loss and climate change. And third, high degree of urbanization: 75% of the Europe population lives in cities in and 64% in...

Tuesday, 21 June 2022 09:00 – 11:00 CEST | 15:00 – 17:00 MYT | 16:00 – 18:00 JST   Check your local time here.   In our first thematic webinar Circular City Hubs: Improving Thriving, Liveable, Resilient Urban Centres on 14 December 2021,  participating IURC cities identified cities as centres for innovation hubs. The outcome of the webinar resulted in 13 IURC cities from 9 countries (Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Finland, New Zealand, Portugal) completing a circular economy cluster spreadsheet for an inclusive stock take....

Vila Nova de Famalicão and Seberang Perai
Advancing Policies for Circular Neighbourhoods

24th May 2022 9:00-10:00 a.m. CEST | 2.00-3:00 p.m. Bangkok Check your local time here.   The MUFPP & IURC Asia Pacific Food Policy Training is a series of 6 webinars developed by the MUFPP Secretariat and the IURC programme to enrich the knowledge of Asia Pacific cities on food policy development.   Following the second category of the Milan Pact, Sustainable Diets & Nutrition, the webinar will present how cities can promote sustainable diets, better consumptions and nutrition patterns in...

IURC-China Programme promotes the inter-city and regional cooperation, learning and innovation between the EU and China, as well as supports cities and regions in implementing the United Nations´ Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the local development agenda, bringing together 44 cities and regions to collaborate in an inclusive and win-win approach towards sustainable urban development and regional innovation.

This booklet provides information of their general socio-economic profiles, good practices and preferred areas of cooperation.

Background Europe has experienced four industrial revolutions, each of which involved technology and innovation. The undergoing industry 4.0 (initiated in Germany in 2011) associated with key technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting a wide range of sectors. In 2021, the European Commission called for the Fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0), which aims beyond efficiency and productivity for research and innovation-driven transition to a sustainable, human-centric and resilient...

After the success of the introductory webinar of the Asia Pacific Food Policy Training, we’re happy to invite you to the first webinar dedicated to the governance of the food system. It will take place on Tuesday, 5th April 2022, 9:00-10:00 a.m. CEST / 4:00-5:00 p.m. Seoul / 8:00-9:00 p.m. Wellington.   The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Secretariat in partnership with the IURC programme of the European Union is organising an online training on urban food policy through a series of webinars for...

Review and Prospect of Smart Cities in China (2021-11)

Sustainable Urban Renewal in China (2021-11)

BACKGROUND   Strategies and actions are needed worldwide to optimize the infrastructure and resource management to confront the challenges of resource depletion, climate change and degradation of ecosystems.  Nature-based solutions (NBS) and circular economy (CE) can provide tools for this transition. Implementation of NBS, combined with the concept of the circular economy benefits the ecosystem services and returns resources to the territory.  Blue-green infrastructure in smart cities, integrated water management, ICT etc. are considered as enabling tools for NBS in...

Thursday, 17 March 2022, 08:00AM – 09:30AM (CET) / 18:00 – 19:30 (AEDT) Moderation: Professor Bruce Wilson at RMIT & Country Coordinator IURC Australia   This thematic cluster webinar is a part of International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia, which aims to further urban and regional cooperation in the fields of sustainable urban development and innovation between EU and non-EU cities. The activity is in addition to the ongoing bilateral discussions amongst cities. Within the IURC thematic network n°2...

Green Infrastructure Manual – Hermosillo, Mexico (2022)

Wednesday, 2nd March 2022, 8:30-9:30 am CET   The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Secretariat in partnership with the IURC programme of the European Union is organising an online training on urban food policy through a series of webinars for MUFPP and IURC cities in Asia Pacific. Participating cities will have the opportunity to showcase their best practices and learn from their peers in the region in the way they use food as an entry point for sustainable urban development....

Visual Takeaways of the Ecological Transition and Green Deal parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (24 November).

Tuesday, 14 December 2021 9:00 – 10:30 CET | 16:00 – 17:30 MYT | 19:00 – 20:30 Melbourne   Why cities are crucial to a circular economy? Cities have a high concentration of resources, capital, data, and talent spread over a relatively small geographic area and are centres for innovation hubs. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by 2050 two thirds of us will live in cities, consuming 75% of the world’s natural resources, producing 50% of global waste and...

Visual Takeaways of the Ecological Transition and Green Deal parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (23 November).

Date & Time: 29th November (Mon), 10:00 – 11:00 am (CET) / 18:00-19:00 (JST) This webinar will be held as a “Thematic Track 5 (TT5) “ of ISAP2021 which is organised by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). Website of ISAP2021：https://isap.iges.or.jp/2021/jp/index.html Registration：https://form.iges.or.jp/webapp/form/11205_zoq_402/index.do?_ga=2.97500191.1236293257.1635726388-1052567314.1597197804 English-Japanese interpretation will be available via Zoom.   For cities to meet the challenge of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, one policy pillar is to promote a renovation wave in buildings, which the EU sees as a...

The event, about “Financing green infrastructure for sustainable cities and regions”, was the first of a series of 20 and brought together international experts from WRI, AECID, and GIZ, that introduced green finance instruments to cities and regions interested in sustainable development, while highlighting the need to shift towards better investment strategies in green infrastructure. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here

This inaugural webinar organised by LIFE Initiative For Environment (LIFE) will introduce the audiences to the principles of circular economy from a global perspective, the circular economy journey in Malaysia and its potential and impact beyond waste management. The webinar is open to the public and NGOs intended to serve communities by developing long-term environmental and sustainable development projects in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030. When: Nov 27, 2021 (Sat) 10:00 AM Kuala Lumpur (04:00 AM CET)...

Food markets have been among the most affected vendors during the Covid-19 pandemic. These markets have social and cultural importance, as well as holding a lot of potential for sustainability and local economy and innovation. Together with the Inter-American Development Bank, our International Urban and Regional Development Programme will host a webinar on The Future of Food Markets in Latin America, including some best practices from European IURC Cities Madrid and Rotterdam. We look forward to welcoming you to the...

Publication by EU Commission, DG Environment

BACKGROUND This thematic cluster webinar is a part of International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia, which aims to further urban and regional cooperation in the fields of sustainable urban development and innovation between EU and non-EU cities. Within the thematic network “Ecological Transition & Green Deal,” this webinar will narrow in on two main topics related to current global issues. The effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced around the world. From the unprecedented, deadly flooding...

The EU-Korea Climate Action Project closes in October. Join this webinar to learn about the results of this cooperation on 16 September 2021, 8:00-11:00 CET. For registration and the agenda: https://next-ma.eu/landing/eu-ko-closing-event.

What is Malaysia’s view on climate change? What are corporate perspectives for net-zero emissions? What does civil society think about climate change and biodiversity loss? This virtual conference will generate new ideas for Malaysia to foster a nature-positive and net-zero economy, with high quality and resilient ecosystem services. Make your voice heard as we prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15). ********** Panel 3: Promoting and Developing Sustainable Cities There is vast scope...

Are you looking forward on the latest insights of district cooling system in Malaysia? You’re right on time! We are having an upcoming webinar titled “Exploring Potential of District Cooling System in Malaysia” on 2 Sept, Thursday, 2:00PM (UTC+8) Malaysia Time. This webinar is sponsored by Pendinginan Megajana Sdn Bhd and hosted by Asia Pacific Urban Energy Association (APUEA), in collaboration with ASEAN Super 8 - ASEAN TENAGA Energy. The key takeaways of the webinar: • Learn about the status...

The IURC programme will join the Malaysian Urban Forum 2021 as a knowledge partner with Pablo Gandara, the Team Leader of IURC Asia & Australasia, participating as a discussant in the "Consumer Behaviour Towards a Circular Pathway" roundtable on 8 September, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

The IURC Asia & Australasia will organise a kick-off meeting for EU and Malaysian cities that will cooperate within the IURC programme. Joining the meeting will be representatives from Bologna and Imola NCI from Italy; Eixo Atlantico, Vila Nova and Maia from Portugal; and Seberang Perai, Georgetown and Malacca City from Malaysia. The cities will cooperate on several areas including circular economy and will be briefed on pilot projects and action plans that are expected to result from their cooperation.

Leveraging distinctive economic, physical, and leadership assets to grow and cultivate, innovation districts have been emerging in dozens of cities and metropolitan areas globally and helping transform distinct urban geographies into thriving boosters for sustainable development. Introduced by the city of Barcelona in 2000, the 22@district is a new strategy enabling the connection between the local and international communities by providing better integration and increasing the productivity of both communities. Today, this district is seen as the inspiration by more...

In the context of the Bangkok Design Week 2021 hosted by the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme of the European Union and we!park, a partner of the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), will organise a series of activities aimed at advancing dialogue and multi-stakeholder cooperation on green urban development.   One of the activities planned for this event is an international online forum titled “New Green Possibilities”. The...

Green and Smart Building represents the perfect integration to support the development of sustainable cities. Low Carbon Smart Buildings are the positive catalyst towards sustainability and, even more than energy and technology solutions. The use of vertical green and roof garden offer a great opportunity to change the image of the city toward a nature-based solution for a clean healthy urban life. From the Roman Villa’s gardens to the Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia in Barcelona, design and technology are...

Thursday, 17 June 2021, 3:00-4:30 p.m. GMT+8 (9:00-10:30 a.m. CEST) Net Zero: 2050 Low Carbon Spatial Planning In this 4th session of the Low Carbon Cities Webinar, curated by the GTALCC Project under UNDP Malaysia and the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA), we’ll be taking a look at on the the topic of Spatial Planning in the context of Achieving Net-Zero Emissions by the year 2050. Joining with us this 17th of June will be 5 experts, both local...