Urban & Regional Renewal and Social Cohesion

On April 14-15, 2025, 19 cities from Europe, Canada, and the USA gathered in Montreal for the Circular Economy thematic visit, part of the EU-funded IURC-NA programme. The event combined local site visits, workshops, and participation in the Canadian Circular Economy Summit, offering city leaders a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, explore successful solutions, discuss challenges and connect with leading innovators. Through two days of intensive collaboration, participants gained knowledge and inspiration to advance circular practices in their cities.

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

Shared Mobility: An Important Part of Urban Mobility Strategies and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

In Europe, the European Union strongly promotes sustainable mobility, digital innovation, and climate resilience. The European Green Deal, in its ambitious attempt to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, emphasises the importance of repurposing urban areas for both communities and nature,reinforcing the shift towards climate-neutral and more adaptable cities. Consequently, the EU Urban Mobility Framework encourages cities to implement Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.

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.

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. With cities embracing electric micromobility and shared transportation, the discussion highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of this shift. Key takeaways from the event include: ✅ Lessons from Munich – How the city successfully implemented shared mobility solutions....

Transforming underused or abandoned urban spaces is a universal challenge, regardless of a city’s size or scale. These areas often signify untapped opportunities for socio-economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social integration. Left unaddressed, they can become stark symbols of inequity and fragmentation within communities. Join us for our second webinar from the IURC NA Urban Planning network, where we will review successful examples of revitalized decommissioned industrial sites, abandoned military facilities, and vacant public buildings in Madrid, Dublin, Toronto, Rome, and...

The recent Urban Planning Cluster visit to Barcelona on November 4-5, part of the EU-funded IURC-NA programme, brought together 14 cities from Europe, Canada, and the USA for a focused, thematic event. Over two days of intensive collaboration through field visits, discussions, and participation in the Smart City Expo, participants addressed two critical urban challenges: affordable housing and urban data management. They explored innovative solutions and shared best practices summarized in key takeaways.

Affordable housing is a critical aspect of urban planning due to its profound impact on social equity, economic stability, and community well-being. The AMB, through IMPSOL, and the City of Toronto are transforming social housing by shifting the current model, using sustainable materials and technologies, incorporating innovative designs with a gender perspective, and creating spaces for community participation and support. This new paradigm is changing the image of social housing as a tool to transform neighborhoods.

Join us on the 20th of June for an engaging webinar on affordable housing, a key element in urban planning with profound impacts on social equity, economic stability, and community well-being. Discover how a paradigm shift in affordable housing is necessary and achievable. Learn how high-quality, affordable housing can promote positive behavioral changes among residents, benefiting entire neighborhoods and communities. We'll also discuss how population growth and the increase in homelessness in certain cities demand faster affordable housing development through non-traditional...

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.

Kanpur city faces the urgent need for an efficient parking management system due to increasing reliance on personal vehicles and a shortage of designated parking spaces.

This case study proposes implementation measures to transform Kanpur’s parking landscape, promoting sustainable urban mobility, reducing pollution, and creating vibrant, walkable neighborhoods that prioritize the needs of the community. A holistic and collaborative effort is essential to address Kanpur’s parking challenges and move towards a more sustainable and accessible urban environment.

A Centre of Excellence (COE) is proposed for the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) as they work towards building a region with sustainable growth potential and economic opportunities. The proposed COE aims to establish a Think Tank on the key pillars of Research and Participatory processes. The regional authority would then be able to make informed and inclusive decisions and thereby establish a one of its kind urban centre of research and participatory planning in the State.

Cycling infrastructure design is an important subject with the aim of creating quality infrastructure in every street and for every type of user. This report discusses key design principles that must be respected when designing new cycle paths. It also introduced practical recommendations and key resources with regards to designing cycle paths.

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...

Prague and Kyoto mutually aligned their efforts in pursuit of a shared sustainability agenda, encompassing goals related to decarbonization, energy, climate adaptation, and the circular economy.

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.

Sisak-Moslavina County initiated a climate-friendly economic transformation with the “Sisak Moslavina County – A Center of Gaming Industry” project. Meanwhile, Zhongxian (Chongqing) developed “Zhongxian E-sports” town as a new economic driver. Both sides cooperate to establish a gaming industry platform, enhancing education and training, organizing e-games and e-sport events, operating gaming incubators, and facilitating cultural exchanges.

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.

The webinar "IURC Latin America: Final lessons from the City-to-City cooperation" organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to  reflect on the main lessons learned from the IURC Latin America City-to-City cooperation and share best practices linked to sustainable urban development. 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 "IURC Latin America: Final lessons from the Region-to-Region cooperation" organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to reflect on the main lessons learned from the IURC Latin America Region-to-Region cooperation and share best practices linked to sustainable regional innovation. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here

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

IURC Cities Forum takeaways

Takeaways from IURC’s EU Week of Regions and Cities 2023 event.

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

The following Takeaways Factsheet highlights key aspects of the PRI operational framework, featuring strategic policy formulation, an open discovery process, and the mobilization of diverse policies and actions. Key supporting factors include the multi-level governance approach within the EU framework, the need for recalibrating operational methodologies, and the central role of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Cultural challenges are addressed, recognizing the contextual nature of human actions and decisions.

The One Stop Liaison Officer (OSLO) methodology developed in Central Macedonia (Greece) has a significant role in boosting the region’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. Operating under the Department of Innovation Support of RCM, OSLO acts as a vital link between academia, research, and businesses, promoting collaboration and innovation. OSLO’s diverse services include operating a Regional Intelligence Information System, coordinating RIS3 Strategy updates, informing stakeholders through a digital platform, and supporting SMEs with accessible information on calls and funding tools.

Incentives should be created for children to learn and live waste prevention and recycling
through competitions and rewards. Incorporating playful activities, related to specific environmental-themed holidays for example, is also a way to capture children’s attention. Furthermore, it is important to measure the impact of initiatives to assess their effectiveness and make necessary
adjustments, ensuring that children develop ecological awareness from an early age and
become advocates for good environmental practices.

Puerto Montt and Piraeus have been working on a variety of topics such as Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and participatory planning. Their cooperation also explored the Blue Economy approach as a cross-cutting strategy for urban planning, local economic development, protection of maritime resources, cultural recognition of coastal cities, sea-related productive activities, amongst other. As a result, both cities co-created a Blue Economy Cluster to continue sharing best practices, technical knowledge, applied methodologies and innovative strategies beyond the IURC-LA programme.

 

Genoa (Italy) and Mar del Plata (Argentina) are actively working on the digital transformation in the framework of IURC-LA. The topic became a opportunity to improve the efficiency of municipal services and data sharing. The two cities developed digital tools to facilitate the execution of municipal procedures, enhance the flow of information, and reduce in-person visits to municipal offices. Read the takeaway to learn about Genoa’s experience of the “Fascicolo del Cittadino” and Mar del Plata’s “Mesa Digital de Entrada”

Dublin and Seoul have jointly released a policy publication on Digital Transition in Sustainable Mobility, marking a significant milestone in their pilot project aimed at advancing urban mobility and digital transition within the framework of IURC Asia and Australasia.

The policy publication on Digital Transition in Sustainable Mobility is a result of their collaborative efforts following their participation in a study visit in 26 – 30 August 2023, as part of their competitive awardread, read more https://www.iurc.eu/2023/09/08/dublin-delegation-visits-seoul-on-the-topic-of-urban-mobility-and-digital-transition/ 

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...

The webinar "Bilbao’s Post-industrial Transformation: A Blueprint for Urban Rebirth" organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to delve into the urban regeneration and transformation process of Bilbao, highlighting key strategies, challenges, and successes. Through expert insights and discussions, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the Bilbao model and its relevance to urban development. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from...

In the framework of IURC LA, Umeå (Sweden) and Punta Arenas (Chile) collaborates on Urban Renewal and Social Cohesion, involving efficient participatory processes with a focus on integration a gender perspective into planning.

Within the process of technical cooperation between both cities, Punta Arenas incorporated Umea’s Gender Landscape approach into the design of the city’s “Green Areas Master Plan”.

To learn about this experience, read the pairing’s case study.

Find the guidelines about “gender equality perspective in urban planning”

Umeå, Sweden, is a city that actively strives for gender equality, aiming to create
conditions for women and men to have equal power to shape society as well as their own
lives. A crucial starting point is that planning approaches must integrate an understanding of
how gendered power structures and norms shape how we plan and interact with our
cities. It is therefore necessary to integrate a refined understanding of gender (in)equality
as a central aspect of planning strategies.

PMRDA and Karlsruhe’s key area of cooperation is to develop a concept for the establishment of a “Center of Excellence for Urban Planning” and support for the creation of an Eco-Industrial Township (EIT) within the framework of IURC Asia & Australasia.

The regions of Coimbra (Portugal) and Valle del Cauca (Colombia) have exchanged knowledge and good practices to boost their economic reactivation in the framework of the IURC Latin America programme. Both regions signed an economic agreement in April 2023, to address Coimbra’s shortage of qualified labor with Valle del Cauca’s surplus of highly qualified professionals in the engineering and hospitality sectors. The goal was the Mutual Recognition of professional degrees to certify engineers from Colombia and Portugal.

 

Merida and Parma are exchanging best practices to improve urban mobility by promoting non-motorized modes of transportation, public transportation and changing people’s behaviours and mobility choices.

As a result of the IURC-LA collaboration, the city of Merida aims to implement a Mobility Manager pilot with academic institutions, including collection of data through a standardized survey to better understand mobility habits and barriers for students.

Silesia’s Central Mining Institute (GIG) developped a new technology to transform sludge into fertilizers. As the cost of fertilizers is rising in Parana, the  SANEPAR is looking to test this new technology and theredore to reduce agricultural production costs. Both regions signed a Cooperation Agreement on April 17^th, 2023, aimed at implementing joint projects in areas of regional specialisation and sustainable economic development.

 

Dublin City Council is working with Seoul Metropolitan Government to build data analytics capacity in both cities to improve sustainable mobility including public transportation (PT), walking and cycling, and to support their respective targets for active travel.

The City of Rotterdam is working with Busan Metropolitan City from the Republic of Korea to conduct a joint policy study on urban mobility. This pilot project is expected to help policy makers in both cities to create greener urban mobility ecosystems.

As part of the IURC Kochi/India – Messina/Italy city pairing, a minimal viable use-case on flooding was developed in TOSCA by the Digital City Science team at HafenCity University in cooperation with Cochin University of Science and Technology and University of Messina.

Ostrobothnia (Finland) and Magallanes (Chile) are exchanging best practices for the implementation of a hydrogen green ecosystem (H2V) in the Chilean region. In the framework of IURC Latin America, Magallanes is currently working with the Finnish region of Ostrobothnia, which possess extensive experience in the development of green energy hubs, particularly in wind energy and biogas. Therefore, both regions are exchanging best practices that can contribute to accelerate the creation of the H2 Hub in Magallanes.

 

Genoa and Mar del Plata are exchanging knowledge and best practices on Tourism and Culture, to develop an action plan to promote sustainable, balanced, and diversified tourism, while meeting the needs of local communities. The pairing designed tourism diversification strategies to reach this objective, in the framework of the IURC Latin America programme. The pairing built a series of guidelines to share their learnings with other cities facing similar challenges. Find the tourism diversification guidelines here: https://www.iurc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/guidelines-Genoa-MDP-2.pdf

 

In the framework of IURC Latin America, Puerto Montt (Chile) and Piraeus (Greece) are collaborating on Nature-based Solutions (NBS) involving efficient participatory planning processes. Both cities are exchanging knowledge and good practices on the implementation of innovative strategies of social engagement. They are studying existing sociocultural capital that recognise and use traditional knowledge of citizens, as well as involve population groups that has been historically absent in urban planning decision-making, to co-created new green spaces.

Rome (Anci Lazio region) and Barranquilla exchanged best practices on urban and peri-urban agriculture to improve food security and participatory management of brownfield sites, contributing to reverse the growing threats of poverty and vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barranquilla and Rome developed a pilot project to test the idea of urban agriculture in Barranquilla, leading to the co-creation of a proposal approved by the European Commission in late 2021 with a 2,6-million-euro grant (“GenerACTOR” project).

 

The city of Hermosillo (Mexico) elaborated a “Green Infrastructure Manual” as a result of a joint effort by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and the North American Development Bank (NADB). The manual intends to connect Green Infrastructure with strategic planning, participatory management, and adaptation to local ecosystem conditions. It is not only aimed at the public government, but also seeks to transfer basic knowledge for Green Infrastructure implementation at the local and micro urban scale.

São Paulo and Milan are working on urban regeneration through the lens of sustainability and social inclusion. The cities are interested in uncovering common patterns, similarities, and important differences in their land-use organisation, city development plans, and policies. They have created a comparative study with the aim of shedding light on important urban regeneration policies, practices and projects that both cities are developing which includes a detailed analysis of different planning instruments and regeneration methodologies. 

The Canalejas Mobility Hub is a driver of sustainable urban mobility in Madrid, and the city of San Diego is eager to replicate it. By transforming underutilized parking structures into mobility hubs, both are becoming sustainable, accessible, and healthier cities.

The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona’s quest for civic innovation across 36 municipalities leads them to explore replicating Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Urban Mechanics, the City’s pioneering civic research & design team.

Our final Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transport online session featured an interactive exercise for participating cities to start thinking about the challenges and solutions to increasing bike ridership, such as infrastructure, incentives, and campaigns.

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.

 

Puerto Montt and Piraeus are exchanging innovative social engagement techniques and
local experiences implementing Nature-based Solutions (NBS) initiatives, generating
knowledge related to the crucial role that citizens have in the sustainable development.
The cities have prepared a set of recommendations for efficient participatory planning
processes in NBS projects. In this context, Puerto Montt expects to apply these lessons of
co-creation and green solutions in the urban park “La Paloma”, which has wetlands and
abundant native forests.

Genoa and Mar del Plata exchange best practices on Tourism and Culture, to develop an action plan to achieve balanced and sustainable tourism, while meeting the needs of local communities. Mar del Plata’s strategy is focused on attracting tourism during the whole year, not only the summer season, while Genoa seeks to diversify tourists’ profiles. As a result, the pairing built a series of guidelines to share their learnings with other cities facing similar challenges.

The cities of Milan and São Paulo are exchanging knowledge and best practices on the
regeneration of industrial heritage areas as a catalyst for social and environmental
transformation, and the creation of more livable and green neighbourhoods. The cities have collaborated on the creation of guidelines to ensure that regeneration projects integrally revitalise areas, that can then be integrated into the city’s fabric. This comparative study has been created to provide context for the guidelines.

São Paulo and Milan developed elaborated a comparative study of instruments and methodologies linked to the creation of more sustainable, inclusive, and lively neighbourhoods through the transformation of vacant or under-used spaces. A workshop allowed them to discuss common challenges and lessons learned, which led to the elaboration of a guideline for the realization of regeneration plans, which can be applied to other cities and also will be implemented in the regeneration of the Bras area in São Paulo.

Barranquilla’s “Todos al Parque” programme consists of the renewal and creation
of public space that guarantees universal access to a public park system
for Barranquilla’s citizens. The strategy has focused on the recovery of
existing parks, their maintenance, and the coordination of social activities,
creating a system of parks of different intervention levels; local, district,
and metropolitan.

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 Historic Center of Malaga suffered neglect due to the exclusive promotion of sun and beach tourism on the coast, which turned it into an aging neighborhood with social exclusion problems and abandoned buildings. To address this, urban and commercial development programs were carried out to make it more attractive to residents and visitors.

The webinar "15-minutes city: promoting sustainable mobility in Umea (Sweden) and Valencia (Spain)” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to explore the 15-minutes city model of planning, that became a global trend, in regard to its practical application and replicability in our cities. It discussed case studies to illustrate its contribution to increasing accessibility to urban life and promoting active and sustainable mobility patterns. Space The full agenda of the event is available...

Since 2022, the city of Hermosillo in Mexico has been implementing Participatory Budgeting through their Presupuesto Creces programme, as a way to promote greater transparency and citizen participation, and improve the decision making process for public works. You can learn the main lessons in this takeaway.

Through Parma’s Mobility Managers programme, companies work with the support of the city, on home-to-work travel plans, identifying actions to promote the use of more sustainable modes of transportation by their workers.

Placemaking and Tactical Urbanism in Public Spaces Tuesday 16.05.2023 Venue: Online (Zoom link will be sent after registration) 08:00 AM – 09:30 AM (IRL) / 09:00 – 10:30 (CEST) / 16:00 – 17:30 (Korea) Over the past decade, the concept of tactical urbanism (also known as “urban prototyping”) has gained a strong pace in many cities around the globe. Pedestrian plazas, pop-up bike lanes, pop-up parks and innovative playgrounds are just some of the examples developed by city authorities and...

The webinar "From Grey to Green: Torino’s Rebirth through Urban Regeneration & Social Innovation” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to share insights about the transformation of Torino which used to be known as the “City of the Automobile of Italy” to a city renown for design, culture, innovation, social inclusion and sustainability. The webinar provided a preview of the city to the delegates that participated in the Torino’s Cities Forum. Space The...

The webinar “Right to Green: Building parks through Community Engagement. Case Studies from Barranquilla, Essen, and Fortaleza” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to open up a technical discussion on the provision of inclusive access to green areas in cities. Three international experiences on the creation of micro-parks and the implementation of greening strategies, with strong participatory methodologies and community engagement approaches, were discussed to highlight opportunities and challenges. These include:

The webinar "Right to Green: Building parks through Community Engagement. Case Studies from Barranquilla, Essen, and Fortaleza” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to open up a technical discussion on the provision of inclusive access to green areas in cities. Three international experiences on the creation of micro-parks and the implementation of greening strategies, with strong participatory methodologies and community engagement approaches, were discussed to highlight opportunities and challenges. Space The full agenda...

During our second Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transport session, you will learn from Jacob Mason from ITDP what low-emission zones (LEZ) are and what can make them more successful. Hear directly from Jordi Jové from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, Spain, how they were able to implement their expansive LEZ and considerably reduced private vehicles and greenhouse gas emissions, and gain insights from Lidia Henderson from WRI on how to address the challenges to implement a LEZ in your city....

On February 2023, Miguel Ángel Ania’s presentation provided an overview of the evolution of Zaragoza’s public transport strategy to reduce emissions significantly. He spoke about the economic feasibility of the tram and the city’s move towards electric and hydrogen-fueled buses.The keynote presentation was followed by short interventions by representative from Madrid, Metropolis GZM, Ottawa, San Diego, Santa Monica, and Umea who talked about challenges, successes, and strategies related to public transport and low emission delivery zones.

The fourth IURC-NA Thematic Networking event, Sustainable Urban Mobility & Transport (SUMT), took place in Zaragoza on the 10th – 11th of November 2022, in coordination with the host city of Zaragoza, Spain. Participating cities created professional connections and networks while sharing knowledge to advance public transport for zero emissions, shared & micro-mobility strategies, and reducing the use of single occupancy private vehicles. The following insights were shared by a cohort of 13 cities from Europe, Canada, and the US.

Lessons Learned from Sao Paulo

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...

Thw webinar “Participatory Planning & Community Engagement: Towards More Socially Inclusive Cities” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sought to share challenges, opportunities, and strategic tools for developing and implementing participatory planning processes and community engagement. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here

This  event was organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme. It's objective was to discuss the role of urban planning in either reproducing or deconstructing gender inequalities in cities and showing how adapting urban environments to a variety of needs and identities can contribute to necessary social, sustainable, and economic transformation. 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 was organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme with the objective of present the experience of rehabilitation of abandoned historic buildings in city centers and its challenges. The topic is of great interest, since  historic centers concentrate a large number of heritage buildings, which, in many cases, remain disabled and unusable for years. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from...

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 among pilot cities. Within the IURC thematic network n°2 “Urban and Regional Renewal”, this webinar will narrow in on Tactical Urbanism in Public Spaces.   Over the past decade, the concept...

The "Mobility Behaviour Change: Promoting Sustainable Travel Choices in Cities" webinar sought to highlight the importance of mobility behaviour change for a transition towards greener transportation patterns. Reviewing different strategies and case studies can inspire urban practitioners to develop and adopt nudging strategies and to involve local communities in their green transition.  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 Planning and Design Webinar

Trans Semarang is a bus transit system in Semarang City and Semarang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The service aims to break down congestion in Semarang and to accommodate commuters to the city center and tourist destinations in the city.

Hear from Pittsburgh’s experience planning and implementing Move PGH, the first MaaS system in the US. Through the creation of the Pittsburgh Mobility Collective (PMC), the city brought together a wide range of stakeholders that, instead of competing, are now working together to bring Pittsburgh a greater variety of transportation options. The change makes it easy for residents to locate mobility hubs, find transportation and mobility options and pay for services seamlessly through one app. As a result, there is...

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...

  BACKGROUND   Around 57% of the global population lives in urban areas, which contribute 80% of the global GDP. Cities play important role in enabling innovation. Meanwhile, urban growth presents enormous social, economic and environmental challenges, which necessitate a new way of planning and design. Urban and transport planning practices are about to change from urban infrastructure design to participatory approach using new and emerging technologies.   The EU implement the urban development strategy through an integrated, partnership, and...

This webinar focused on the ways to reinstate public systems and non-motorized means as better means of city transport in the context of the covid19-induced reduced ridership.

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

The webinar took place on 23 June 2022. Space --> Watch the recording here Space --> Agenda here  Space --> More information: aamerico@iurc.eu Space Takeaways Transport is one of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy – Europe key sectors, representing the 14.5% of actions submitted by Covenant signatories (Covenant in figures) and the 26% of the total emissions in the BEI (JRC, Covenant of Mayors 2019 Assessment). This is why the Covenant of Mayors is working with a...

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

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...

Manaus (Brazil) and Naples (Italy) share common challenges for improving their historic centres but focus on different approaches for citizens participation, financing, and implementation. Discover their recommendations!

China’s Regional Development Strategies and Regional Policies (2021-11)

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

Sustainable Urban Renewal in China (2021-11)

Is Chinese Urbanisation Unique? (2021-11)

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...

The webinar "Rehabilitation strategies for Historic Centres: case studies from Naples, Manaus, and Cienfuegos", organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC LAC) Programme, presented multisectoral strategies and lessons learned in the rehabilitation of historic city centres, as a way for integral territorial recovery and revitalization. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here

In this first session of our Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transport Cluster, we will address the challenge of planning and managing public transport to achieve a zero emissions target by 2030. A keynote presentation by Miguel Angel Ania from the Ministry of Public Services and Mobility of Zaragoza, Spain, will guide us on:   - Identifying the optimum technology for each city’s public transport vehicles, - The relevance of planning an integrated system - Reevaluating strategies for success   Miguel’s presentation will be followed by...

Visual Takeaways of the Urban Renewal and Regional Competitiveness parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (24 November).

Visual Takeaways of the Urban & Regional Renewal and Social Cohesion parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (23 November).

The webinar "Smart Strategies for Equality and Social Inclusion" organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sought to introduce smart strategies and analyse how innovation and digitalization can promote more inclusive policies. Space The full agenda of the event is available here Space Download the presentations here Space Read the highlights from the event here

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

Thursday, 11 November 2021 2:00 - 3:00 pm IST / 9:30 - 10:30 CET   As part of the IURC Asia and Australasia programme, we invite you to our interactive discussion series on Post COVID-19 and Inclusive Recovery. IURC recognises the need to deliberate on the implications of COVID, by carrying out a series of regular discussion events on different urban topics (1. Mobility; 2. Health; 3. Economy; 4. Education; 5. Environment; 6. Gender). The objective is to discuss urban...

BACKGROUND In the past 40 years, China´s urban population has grown from about 200 million or 20% in 1980 to nearly 800 million or 60% in 2020. That is about 1.5 times the total population of the EU. Urban development process in China is profoundly different from the urban development process in EU. For this reason, urbanization in China and associated transition tendency is a very relevant topic for EU-China urban and regional development cooperation. The Zoom-in China is part...

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...

In the context of the IURC project, the coordinators of the selected European and Korean pilot cities are invited to join a kick-off event on Thursday, 30 September 2021, 17:00-18:00 KST (10:00-11:00 CEST). Agenda • Welcome by Patrick Polacsek, Delegation of the European Union to Korea (5 min) • Introduction by DG REGIO (10 min) • Comments by the IURC team • City Presentations (5 slides): Rotterdam, Dublin, Sofia, Busan, Seoul, Sejong (30 min) • Q&A, discussion on next steps,...

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) as a part of the C40 Cities Network in collaboration with Government of Maharashtra, WRI, Climate Voices and Waatavaran will organise the Stakeholder Consultation on Sustainable Mobility on 3 September, 15:00-16:00 India time, to seek feedback and recommendations from organisations and sector experts for the development of the Mumbai Climate Action plan (MCAP). Representing the IURC Asia & Australasia project at the meeting will be Ms Prachi Merchant, a Senior Non-Key Expert based...

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...

Organised part of the cooperation between the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation programme (IURC), the South Asian chapter of the Global Covenant of Mayors, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs in India, the Mobilising Indian Cities for Race to Zero webinar encouraged Indian cities to join the global pledge to achieve net-zero GHG emissions and build an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for all.

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...