Urban & Regional Renewal and Social Cohesion

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...