Feb2014

The development of so-called 'knowledge locations' is a popular local economic development tool. Many cities around the world have created their own knowledge hubs, including for example science parks, knowledge campuses or creative districts. However, we actually do not know a lot about the benefits of these kinds of knowledge locations. In his PhD thesis 'Knowledge Locations in Cities', Luís Carvalho sheds light on this question, and explores how knowledge locations have emerged and developed over time.

Cities - our inexorable future

Cities around the world are growing faster than you can say megalopolis. More than half the world lives in cities, and by 2050, it will be two-thirds. In China alone, 300 million people will move to the city within the next 15 years, and to serve them, China must build the equivalent of the entire built infrastructure of the United States by 2028.
At the same time, 250 million new urban dwellers are expected in India and 380 million in Africa. Even though cities will soon account for 90 percent of population growth, 80 percent of global CO2, and 75 percent of energy consumption, more and more, it’s where people want to live.
Why? Because it’s where 80 percent of the wealth is created, and it’s where people find opportunities, especially women in the developing world. But beyond basic needs from housing to jobs, how do we enjoy the benefits of the city—like cafes, art galleries, restaurants, cultural facilities—without the traffic, crowding, crime, pollution, and disease?

http://spectrum.mit.edu/articles/the-future-is-cities/

An EU Urban Agenda - for and with cities

How to strengthen the urban dimension of EU policies through a "European Urban Agenda"? The European Commission opens discussions and stands ready to work hand in hand with local authorities and their representative associations in this endeavour.
This message was made clear by European commissioner for regional and urban policy, Johannes Hahn, at a seminar entitled "An EU Urban Agenda - for and with cities", on 17 February 2014, in Brussels. The seminar was broken down into two sessions, one on the purpose and desired impact of such an agenda from a local perspective, the other on its priorities.

http://www.ccre.org/en/actualites/view/2788

ROMA-NeT to put Local Action Plans in place

Several cities involved in a previous URBACT project to improve the integration of Roma populations are now working alongside URBACT to implement their carefully designed plans to support the inclusion of Roma.

http://urbact.eu/en/news-and-events/view-one/news/?entryId=5327

Moving South and West? Metropolitan America in 2042

The United States could have three more megacities (metropolitan areas over 10 million) by 2042, according to population projections released by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston are projected to join megacities New York and Los Angeles as their metropolitan area populations rise above 10 million. At the projected growth rates, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, and Riverside-San Bernardino could pass the threshold by 2060.

http://www.newgeography.com/content/004153-moving-south-and-west-metropolitan-america-2042

Miami Mega-Development Halted by Historic Hallowed Ground

Underneath the parking lot destined to become the fourth and final phase of MDM Development Group’s multi-billion-dollar project lie the remains of an historic Native American village, thus throwing a wrench in the works.
"We're getting a glimpse of what might be one of the earliest town plans in eastern North America," said archaeologist Robert Carr, who was hired to survey the site by MDA. Unfortunately, the ancient site sits in the heart of Miami's latest real estate boom.
Plans for the site of the newly discovered Tequesta circles cover an entire city block. The 106-meter Met 3 tower is part of the four-phase Met Miami project, which includes the already completed JW Marriott, an office building anchored by Wells Fargo and a 447-unit condo tower overlooking Biscayne Bay.
"The cost to us of a full or partial taking of this property is far greater than the public would ever be willing to spend," stated MDM. "Imposing such a staggering burden on a single company is neither lawful nor acceptable."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/04/usa-miami-archaeology-idUSL2N0L917K20140204

Survey: Help IHS to continue to Make Cities Work for another 55 years!

With your input we can continue making cities work for at least another 55 years! By participating you stand the chance to win free participation in an IHS course! Thank you for your support.
At IHS we continuously strive to create meaningful and accessible programmes for urban professionals.Cities are dynamic places; as societies, needs and theories about optimal urban planning, management and inclusive habitats changed, so has our programme, research and knowledge offer developed in time. Seeing that the scope and demands in cities change so rapidly we would be very happy if you could take some time to share your opinion with us.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/makingcitieswork

Bike Commuting Numbers Higher for Low-Income Americans

Bikes are disproportionately popular with lower-income American commuters, according to a recent analysis by Michael Anderson at People for Bikes. Biking to work is inexpensive and more convenient than other transportation options for many lower-income workers, who often live some distance from bus or train lines.

http://streetsblog.net/2014/01/24/less-affluent-americans-more-likely-to-bike-for-transportation/#more-148667

Submit your abstract to become a speaker at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2014.

We are looking for speakers with significant contributions and innovative initiatives to share at Smart Cities. Submit your presentation proposal. Deadline: 18 May
Smart City Expo World Congress is aimed at cities, businesses and entrepreneurs, research centers, universities and other public or non-governmental organizations or consortiums (public-private) with innovative Smart City ideas, studies, visions and solutions.
Tracks for 2014: Smart Society, Technology, Governance, Energy, Mobility, and Sustainable City.

http://www.smartcityexpo.com/en/call-for-papers-2014

Local and regional governments launch manifesto for European elections

CEMR and its national associations of local and regional authorities officially launched "The local and regional governments' manifesto", during a meeting at the European Parliament, on 10 February 2014.
This event provided an opportunity to present the 9 local and regional governments’ key messages for the upcoming elections in May 2014.

http://www.ccre.org/en/actualites/view/2786

What makes a city resilient?

While many point to robust disaster defences, others claim social cohesion is what makes a city great. They're both right, and new projects aim to unearth dozens of other factors
When it comes to addressing civic problems, one of today's buzzwords is "resilience". The United Nations office for disaster risk reduction recently launched a Making Cities Resilient programme; in Wisconsin, the Centre for Resilient Cities opened a research lab just last year.
At the Rockefeller Foundation, the 100 Resilient Cities project is highlighting urban hardiness around the world, while the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives is hosting its resilience series. Companies like Siemens are getting into the act, as are organisations like the World Bank. Books are being published, conferences are being held, and, around the world, resilience is being encouraged.

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jan/27/what-makes-a-city-resilient

Will Norway's love affair with electric cars come to an end

Norway's traffic jams are becoming the cleanest and quietest in the world due to a flood of drivers buying electric cars which now power around the country's cities on hydro-electricity, competing for free charging points.
For three months at the end of 2013, the luxury electric sports car the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf family electric car were the best-selling models among all cars sold in the country, beating popular and conventionally-fuelled cars including the VW Golf.
The latest figures suggest that over 21,000 all-electric vehicles (EVs) are now registered in the country of 5 million people with sales running at over 1,200 a month, or over 10% of all sales. That compares with a total of around 70,000 EVs registered in the US with a population of 313 m, and just 5,000 in the UK with apopulation of 63m. Dealers expect there to be more in Oslo than in Los Angeles and San Francisco combined within a year.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/29/norway-electric-cars-sale

Clean energy for 2030 and beyond: cities and regions walk the talk

Thursday, 13 March 2014 - Brussels
A joint ICLEI Europe/WWF European Policy Office event, taking place at the Tuscany region liaison office, on 13 March 2014, between 2:30 and 5:30 pm.
A three hours policy event providing a platform for exchange on the Climate and Energy Package 2030 under discussion, with a special focus on renewable energies and their impact and benefit at cities and community level. The event will feature mayors and senior representatives of European cities, sharing and showcasing ambitious actions in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Relevant policy makers and stakeholders will join the debate and explore how renewable energy and energy efficiency can support and trigger both economic and social sustainable development.
At this event, ICLEI Europe and WWF European Policy Office will present a joint Call for action for ambitious and binding targets on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ea404aee9c118a31232e854a0&id=1389dd9636&e=

Conclusion of the campaign « A World you like. With a climate you like »

Launched by the European commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, this campaign allowed to create an exchange platform on climate, mainly for achieve the EU’s objective of an 80-95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The CEMR, deeply committed to the fight against climate change, took part to this campaign along with 320 other participating organisations.
To round off this initiative, a report has been published by the Commission.

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/publications/docs/campaign_desktop.pdf

Metropolis will debate on Equitable Metropolises at the 7th edition of the World Urban Forum

The seventh session of the World Urban Forum (WUF-7), hosted by the city of Medellin in Colombia is taking place from next April 5 to 11, with the general title of “Urban Equity in Development - Cities for Life”, and Metropolis is actively participating in its discussions.
The theme “Cities for Life”, which is both aspirational and practical, nourishes the hope of a more equitable, socially inclusive urban world that can devise comprehensive safeguards for all. "Urban equity in development" is not just an ideal. It is a concept framework that guides decision-making to enhance lives in cities for all; a useful tool needed to redefine the urban policy agenda at local, national and regional levels. How these notions apply to existing or emerging Metropolises?

http://www.metropolis.org/news/metropolis-will-debate-equitable-me

POSSE user studies published

Two studies on the use of open specifications and standards in traffic management have been published within the POSSE project.
POSSE is a 3-year Interreg IVC project facilitating knowledge transfer about open specifications and standards, focusing primarily on the two most widely used approaches: UTMC in the United Kingdom and OCIT/OTS in the German speaking part of Europe. One of the main outputs of the POSSE project will be a guide to the implementation of open systems in traffic management and ITS.

http://www.polisnetwork.eu/publicnews/569/45/POSSE-user-studies-published

15 Ancient Cities & What They Teach Us

A study at a US university is the latest to use ancient cities to mine secrets for today's urban centers.
Funded by the US National Science Foundation, a team of scientists at the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU) have embarked on a survey of ancient cities titled "Service Access in Pre-Modern Cities." (See the video below for more on the school.) The study aims to discern patterns of access to markets, worship sites, and other urban facilities that existed in ancient, non-Western urban areas.
By looking at archeological records and other data, the ASU team hopes to see how old cities planned access to these services by social class or other factors. In turn, this information could help modern cities set policies about access to similar services that affect the use of resources such as water and energy.

http://www.ubmfuturecities.com/author.asp?section_id=234&doc_id=526494

Serbia’s Shining, but Expensive, City Lights

The cost of staying warm and being able to eat enough during Serbia's long, cold winters makes daily life a struggle for many people.
For Srdjan and his wife Jugoslava, their working class suburb in Belgrade holds the promise of a better life and more opportunities. But life is not easy by any measure.
The family recently relocated to the capital from their small village near the Croatian border. Srdjan came first and found a job driving buses from Zeleznik to downtown Belgrade for a salary of up to 25,000 dinars ($284) per month. Compared to his previous job as a gas station attendant during the summer and occasionally as a bus driver, this was a major step up.
After more than two years, he found an apartment big enough for his family, but the monthly rent of 16,000 dinars ($188), along with high heating costs, takes away a significant portion of the family budget.
As a region, Europe and Central Asia faces a unique problem in the form of long, harsh winters. This means families have to pay a lot more to stay warm and eat enough to survive such unrelenting conditions, compared to other, warmer parts of the world. On a daily basis, these costs add up, and $2.50 per person is often not enough. Consequently, many of these families live in poverty.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/02/10/serbias-shining-but-expensive-city-lights

New Report: University Campuses Are Transportation Trailblazers as Young People Lead Shift From Driving

As Millennials lead a national shift away from driving, universities are giving students new options for getting around and becoming innovators in transportation policy, according to a new report released today. The report, titled, “A New Course: How Innovative University Programs Are Reducing Driving on Campus and Creating New Models for Transportation Policy” was released by U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
“Across America, colleges and universities are showing that efforts to meet increased demand for transportation options deliver powerful benefits for their community and surrounding areas,” said Phineas Baxandall, a co-author of the report and Senior Analyst at U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “These efforts are saving money for universities, and improving the quality of life on campus.”
Americans aged 16 to 34 years of age reduced their annual driving miles by 23 percent per person between 2001 and 2009, according to research based on the most recent data from the Federal Highway Administration that is included in the study.
“The trend toward more bicycle-friendly campuses is clearly increasing, as students demand more active, sustainable, and equitable transportation choices, and as neighboring communities recognize the benefits of reducing driving,” said Amelia Neptune, the Bicycle Friendly University Program Specialist at the League of American Bicyclists

http://uspirg.org/reports/usp/new-course

London Mayor leads in bid to make lorry design in EU safer for pedestrians and cyclists

When the European Commission tabled a proposal for the revision of the Weights and Dimensions (W&D) of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in April 2013, cities saw the opportunity to make lorry design safer for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. London, Polis member, has made it a priority to improve the safety dimension in European Commission’s proposal.

http://www.polisnetwork.eu/publicnews/571/45/London-Mayor-leads-in-bid-to-make-lorry-design-in-EU-safer-for-pedestrians-and-cyclists

City of Lublin powers buses with solar cells from Midsummer

In a move to reduce energy consumption and make public transport ‘greener’, the Polish city of Lublin has installed flexible thin film solar cells from the Swedish company Midsummer on the roofs of its municipal buses. Thin film solar cells are light and flexible and ideal to install onto moving vehicles in cities all over the world.
As one of the first cities in the world, the Polish city of Lublin has installed photovoltaic thin film CIGS solar panels on its buses' roofs. The solar panels turn solar energy into electric energy and are used to load the buses’ batteries. This will decrease the buses' alternators load, leading to lower fuel consumption and bringing both economic and ecological profits.
Thin film CIGS solar panels are thinner and lighter than traditional silicon solar cells made of glass. They are also non-toxic (no cadmium) and can be made frameless, thus ideal for buildings and moving vehicles in cities. They are flexible and can be bent.
Potential savings for the city of Lublin are estimated at up to 2,600 US dollars per bus per year. The system’s payback period is estimated at a mere two years, taking into consideration only the fuel consumption reduction and not the overall environmental benefits. After two years, the solar energy solution will create compound surpluses for the remainder of the panels’ life span that will outlast the lifetime of the bus.
The Lublin solar bus project will initially run for two years, after which it will be evaluated. The first solar bus is already in operation. The solar panels will be installed on Lublin’s fleet of Scania buses.

Chengdu Opens "City within a City"

The International Finance Square, which opened this month in Chengdu, features a 210,000 square-meter dynamic pedestrian podium to anchor the high-rise development of office, residential, and luxury hotel space.
Developer Wharf Holdings Limited conceived a plan that “amplifies the spirit of the streets” and focuses on celebrating the cultural life of an urban oasis, which includes a Sky Garden, alfresco dining, and an art gallery, acting in concert with the shopping mall and skyscrapers.
“The design for the sweeping and luxurious interiors was inspired by our desire to introduce new innovative ideals seen in capital cities across the world,” said Ferdinand Cheung, Project Director of Chengdu IFS.

For more on this story, go to www.Building.hk

“No Regrets”: agreement of basic principles to face climate change in cities right now

The Metropolis Initiative on Integrated Urban Governance, led by Berlin, organized the second dialogue of the series “No Regrets”, which seeks to mobilize cities to adapt to climate change. Recommending actions that must be taken now before it is too late, the initiative took a step further on promoting measures for sustainable development in European cities, which can be replicated further on at Metropolis member cities in other regions as well.
As climate change advances with extreme weather events worlwide, the No regrets measures focus on adaptation strategies, which some European cities are already implementing, rather than on mitigation measures, which rely on a consensus that has not yet been reached in international negotiations – for instance, on how much carbon emissions or the temperature of the planet must be controlled.

http://www.metropolis.org/news/no-regrets-agreement-basic-principl

Demographic trends changing planners plans

Professor Arthur C. Nelson, of the University of Utah, has made a career out of studying the relationships between demographic and real estate market trends. He predicted the 2007 collapse of the housing market because of oversupply of key housing types so, when he talks, I listen. And his latest analysis suggests that the growth in demand for new housing over the next 30 years will consist primarily of demand for smaller homes on smaller lots, a reversal of the type of demand that fueled sprawl in the late 20th century.
Much of Nelson’s thinking is collected in his data-rich 2013 book, Reshaping Metropolitan America. It is consistent with information I have collected and shared both here and, in more detail, in a chapter of my own new book, People Habitat.

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/ten_things_planners_need_to_kn.html

Streetcar Line May Attract $8 Billion in New Development

The Washington Post reported that Washington, DC may see up to $8 billion in new development in the decade following the completion of eight planned streetcar lines. Washington DC's Office of Planning forecasts demand for office space would increase by 3 million square feet, and retail space demand would increase by an additional 1.3 million square feet along the almost 40 miles of new planned streetcar tracks.

http://tinyurl.com/DCStreetCarImpacts

Melbourne: Black Saturday's fires could be all too easily forgotten

Australian city is rightly seen as hardy for rebuilding after the 2009 bushfires, but on their fifth anniversary observers wonder if some people's memories are too short
Saturday 7 February 2009 has been described as one of Australia's worst peacetime disasters. Following weeks of intense heat, hundreds of fires raged across the state of Victoria, on a day that became known as Black Saturday. These fires went on to claim the lives of 173 people and destroy almost 2,000 homes.
Kate McMahon, a Melbourne resident, remembers large parts of the city being covered by a fine layer of ash. "It was frightening and heart breaking at the time," says McMahon, an urban strategist at consultancy Hello City. "You could smell the smoke in the middle of the city and we all knew people who lived in bush properties or small townships who were affected by the fires."

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/feb/06/melbourne-black-saturday-fires-bushfires-2009-anniversary

And what if we tried to put food at the center of city planning?

This is the question that Sustainable Food network wanted to answer during a one-day workshop that took place in Brussels the 5th of february.
Half-way though their project, Sustainable Food network wanted to present the work they’ve done so far and also open up the discussion about developing low-carbon and resource-efficient urban food systems. They did this though a workshop that brought together more than 100 participants from over 40 European cities, involving also other city networks besides URBACT. The event took place in Brussels on the 5th of February.

http://urbact.eu/en/news-and-events/view-one/news/?entryId=5326

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Building More Inclusive Cities to Lift the Urban Poor

With 5 million people moving to cities every month, urban poverty is an increasingly complex problem for policy makers around the world. At the World Bank Group, urban experts are looking at innovative ways to help cities reduce poverty and include the urban poor in the opportunities offered by growing cities.
“In the past, our work on inclusive cities has primarily focused on slum upgrading, the ‘bricks and mortar’ interventions, to deliver infrastructure and improve services,” said Sameh Wahba, acting director for the Bank’s Urban and Disaster Risk Management Department. “But with the rapid growth of cities, it’s clear that it’s not enough to just go fix existing slums – cities need to plan for a growing population and deliver affordable housing to prevent new slums from forming.”
“We can’t continue to run after the problem to solve it,” he said. “We need to get in front of it. In other words, couple the curative with the preventive.”

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/01/30/beyond-bricks-mortar-inclusive-cities

Call for Papers - The Best in Heritage

The Best in Heritage is a two-day conference about professional excellence in public performances of heritage institutions. It is preceded by eCult Dialogue Day, a fascinating half day event on use of ICT as a cohesion factor for the entire public memory sector. This year, we add to this conference of excellence a one day symposium to be held on Sunday, September 28th on the theme of "Efficiency and excellence in the public memory sector". The book volume of presented contributions will be pre-published for the conference, distributed to the participants and made available on-line.
Our claim is that all heritage organisations and institutions (museums, conservation, libraries, archives, hybrid and cyber institutions, heritage actions and networks) continue to demonstrate a constant convergence of theories and practices and the need for a common science. This science in the making is another cohesion factor for the many diverse heritage occupations which each have their own theories (e.g. Museology, Archivistics, Librarianship, Computer science etc.).
Besides sharing ICT and theory, the heritage sector also shares a focus on visitors and users and the same mission in society: we all want to turn the heritage from the past into a noble and scientifically based wisdom that can then be used for the harmonious development of our society. Those shared values, together with the analysis of good daily practice, from eco-museums to citizen heritage action, should be the leitmotiv of the papers and presentations we expect to receive.

http://www.thebestinheritage.com/files/Images/static/excellence-club/pdf/The_Best_in_Heritage_2014_Call_for_papers.pdf

UN Secretary General appoints Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on 31 January 2014 the appointment of Michael Bloomberg of the United States as his Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change. His new role is to assist the Secretary-General in his consultations with mayors and related key stakeholders in order to raise political will and mobilize action among cities as part of the Secretary-General’s long-term strategy to advance efforts on climate change. This includes bringing concrete solutions to the 2014 Climate Summit that the UN Secretary-General will host in New York on 23 September.

http://www.iclei.org/details/article/un-secretary-general-appoints-special-envoy-for-cities-and-climate-change.html

Amsterdam amongst best performers in UITP report on sustainable urban mobility policies

The report identifies the mobility challenges facing cities worldwide, includes an update of an Urban Mobility Index, assessing the world’s cities in terms of mobility maturity and performance and identifies strategic directions and recommendations for improvement.

http://www.polisnetwork.eu/publicnews/573/45/Amsterdam-amongst-best-performers-in-UITP-report-on-sustainable-urban-mobility-policies

Tornadoes shape towns' past and future

Beneath a circus tent supplied by the federal government, residents of this map dot on the High Plains met night after night to plot a course for their town's future.
Eventually a vision emerged of an eco-friendly town that would attract visitors and, despite demographic trends that have long seen rural Americans fleeing to urban centers, bring jobs and workers back to town.
The goal was ambitious for a city that had a declining population even before 95 percent of its buildings blew away in the night, casualties of a 2007 tornado that claimed 11 lives in town. But today's Greensburg is very much a product of what its people imagined in the months after the storm, Mayor Bob Dixson said.
The Illinois towns of Washington and Gifford now face the same challenge of drawing plans for the future after tornadoes in November shredded neighborhoods and businesses. With much of the rubble cleared away, residents are preparing for construction season.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-tornado-rebuild-plan-met-20140131-69,0,2751335.story

Reclaiming American Cities: The Struggle for People, Place, and Nature Since 1900

"Humane urbanism" can take many forms, from affordable housing and networks of bike paths to refurbished waterfronts and urban farms. The goal is to connect people to one another and to bring nature back into the city. The book Reclaiming American Cities examines both sides of this historic transformation: the long struggle against patricians and technocrats of earlier decades and the recent sprouting of grassroots efforts to make metropolitan America more humane and sustainable.
http://www.umass.edu/umpress/title/reclaiming-american-cities

What walkability really means

Humans are creatures of intention. We use our language to communicate thoughts and ideas in a deliberate way.
But our language is imperfect, and sometimes the intention of our communication is muddied by the words we use. Confusion can result when we use a single word that is a stand-in for a larger set of ideas. Here, nuance and caveat become increasingly important if one hopes to convey precisely what they are meaning.
Take, for example, the word “sustainability” – a term often used in the world of development and planning, but rarely, we would argue, given the space, meaning and understanding to properly convey an intended set of ideas.
And so it is with a new term: Walkability.

http://communitybuilders.net/walkability/

Air quality package recognises city concerns

The European Commission published its air quality package on 18 December 2013. The package reflects crucial points we have been arguing for, in particular the need to improve source policies and set stricter national emissions ceilings to support air quality actions in cities.
The centrepiece of the proposal is a revision of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive, aligning it with the 2012 revision of the Gothenburg protocol on long-range transboundary air pollution in 2020; and setting stricter emissions ceilings in 2030, with intermediate obligations in 2025.
A new directive should limit emissions from medium-sized combustion plants.

http://www.eurocities.eu/eurocities/news/Air-quality-package-recognises-city-concerns-WSPO-9G4HJA

Buenos Aires wins 2014 Sustainable Transport Award

The City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has become the 2014 winner of the 9th annual Sustainable Transport Award. The city was awarded this honour for its reduction in CO2 emissions, and improvements in safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the past year.
“The success of Buenos Aires proves that you can dream of a sustainable city,” said Guillermo Dietrich, Buenos Aires Secretary of Transportation, on receiving the award.
In 2013, Buenos Aires gave its 9 de Julio avenue, the widest avenue in the world, an extensive transit makeover. The city replaced several of 9 de Julio’s lanes of car traffic with bus-only lanes for a high-quality bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The BRT has 17 stations along the median, accommodating 11 bus lines and improving travel for 200,000 passengers per day.

http://cities-today.com/2014/02/buenos-aires-wins-2014-sustainable-transport-award/

High Lines and park life: why more green isn't always greener for cities

Transforming old industrial areas into urban woodland may look nice but can be conterproductive in the long run
For a lot of people in the 20th century, the future of the city was simply a better, shinier version of what ancient cities looked like after they had been abandoned. There's a link between the visions of the Roman city, overgrown by vegetation that you can find in the etchings of Piranesi, and the vision of the "garden city" or "Radiant City" once so cherished by architects and planners.
Now, after a period in which real cities with all their asphalt, brick and concrete were reclaimed, the city-overtaken-by-greenery has returned, this time with a post-industrial spin. The abandonment of industry in most innercities left large areas free for grass, weeds and all manner of more exotic things to grow on them, and in recent years, those spaces have been reclaimed rather than simply built over; both the London Olympic Park and, much more impressively, the New York High Line are the transformation and decontamination of these verdant wastes, turning them into verdant parks.

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jan/30/high-line-park-green-cities-industrial-pastoral

The Future of Suburbs

On the far eastern edge of this sprawling desert community, nearly 100 buyers have already purchased single-family homes in the first major new master-planned development to break ground in the Phoenix metro area in almost 10 years.
At fully 3,200 acres and with a location adjacent to the small but growing Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Eastmark is being touted by city and state leaders as the next big economic engine for the metro area's East Valley. But it's not just the return of large-scale new home construction to a region that was hit particularly hard by the housing crash that has hopes running so high. Two major employers, Grand Canyon University, Arizona's largest for-profit Christian university, and GT Advanced Technologies, a supplier of sapphire-glass iPhone components for Apple, announced in the second half of last year that they would be moving in to Eastmark. The number and type of jobs these two projects are expected to bring to the area—faculty and staff to serve 10,000 students, and 700 permanent high-tech manufacturing hires—are key to developer DMB Associates' vision for a type of mixed-use community rarely seen in this part of the country.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2014/01/future-suburbs-unfolding-arizonas-east-valley/8251/

Real-Time Bus Arrival Information More Important than Bus Frequency

Mass transit agencies are discovering that they might get a better payoff by providing riders with real-time data on when buses will arrive rather than providing more frequent bus service. Studies by University of Washington researchers found that riders using a new phone app that provides real-time data on bus arrivals not only perceived that their waits were shorter, but in fact they waited less because the app enabled them to better plan their travel.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2014/01/why-technology-forever-changing-psychology-waiting-bus/8158/

Abandoned Metro stations - The Parisian proposal

The Paris Métro, opened in 1900, extends over more than 200 kilometers of track, serving more than 300 individual stops. But there are 11 more stations that, though once built, now stand nearly abandoned. Many of these "ghost" or "phantom" stations shuttered after the occupation during WWII.Two of them, Porte Molitor and Haxo, never opened at all.
Parisian mayoral candidate Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet has a bold plan for these phantom stations. The center-right candidate, known as NKM to her supporters, has argued that these abandoned spaces should be reclaimed for the city's residents.
To envision what these future public spaces could look like, NKM teamed up with architect Manal Rachdi and urban planner Nicolas Laisné. They drew up a few crazy-looking renderings to get started, starting with Arsenal, a 4th arrondissement station closed since 1939. She has pledged to solicit more inventive ideas if elected (though her opponent, Socialist Anne Hidalgo, is the frontrunner).

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2014/02/paris-mayoral-candidate-has-big-plans-citys-old-metro-stations/8324/

The Heat Pump City of the Year

As Covenant of Mayors Signatories, many cities have chosen -as part of their Sustainable Energy Action Plans- to develop heat pump systems to reach their CO2-reduction objective. The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) give them an opportunity to put their sustainable energy solutions in the spotlight.
In the framework of the 2014 Heat Pump City Award, the EHPA calls cities and regions from all over Europe to share their heat pump projects and best practices on renewable heating and cooling solutions. A jury of experts will as usual evaluate the projects according to criteria such as innovation, energy efficiency and relevance for the heat pump environment. For this 4th edition, all projects will aslo be submitted to a public online vote.
The Award Ceremony will be held on 19th of May in Berlin, just the day before the 7th European Heat Pump Forum.

http://www.eumayors.eu/news_en.html?id_news=533

Urban Train Stations Redeveloped as Gathering Places

Transit hubs across the US are being renovated into attractive public center destinations, instead of simply serving as buildings that are passed through. The Keystone Edge newspaper recently featured three planned redesigns of train stations in St. Paul, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.

http://keystoneedge.com/features/multimarkettrainstations013014.aspx

UN-Habitat launches call for applications for Urban Youth Fund

The UN-Habitat Urban Youth Fund will for the sixth year in a row provide grants to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good urban governance, shelter, secure tenure and risk rehabilitation. Small development initiatives are eligible for grants up to $25,000.
The Fund aims to assist youth-led organizations in designing and implementing projects that will contribute to sustainable urbanization in the developing world. Furthermore, the Fund seeks to gain insight from successful grassroots youth projects and create greater awareness of the need for youth mainstreaming in development policies and strategies.

http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=12899&catid=5&typeid=6&AllContent=1

Eliminating homelessness a reality in Utah

One of the great ambitions of socialists is universal housing, and it's ironic that the first state to have a policy like it is one of the most conservative in the nation.
It's proof that if you let data guide policy decisions, it's often progressive policies that win out.
Universal housing does seem like the kind of thing that would never happen in America. Unionized labor? Check. Social Security? Sure. Subsidized healthcare, childcare and groceries? We're working on it. Even the guaranteed minimum income has found support from sources as disparate as Tip O'Neill and Milton Friedman. But to have a home for every citizen with the state stepping in for those unable to afford shelter on their own? In this country? Forget about it.
Or don't. In 2005, one state defied "political feasibility" and began handing out free apartments to the homeless. These were neither temporary accommodations or shelters for the night. They were not welfare-to-work, or only if you're married, or just-take-this-drug-test: just free apartments, no strings attached. Nine years later, they've reduced long-term homelessness by 74% and are on track to eradicate it completely by 2015.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/81507/conservative-utah-is-quietly-implementing-a-massive-progressive-policy

Energy Cities Annual Rendezvous, 23-25 April 2014, Riga (Latvia)

Co-organised with the City of Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014
The true challenge of cities worldwide is to find the right ways to quickly shift and efficiently use decentralised and sustainable energies.
Hosted by the City of Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014 and gateway to the East, Energy Cities’ next Annual Rendezvous will explore the successful strategies of local leaders. The various interactive sessions will build bridges between the pieces of the energy transition puzzle.
The 2 days are an opportunity for professionals of various fields and political levels to network internationally and share insights on building, transport, cultural and financial issues.
Let’s use the event to think outside the fossil fuel box and exchange innovative city planning ideas. Let’s ensure high quality of life in cities and regions all over Europe!

More info on http://riga2014.energy-cities.eu

North America’s Tallest Hotel Opens

The Marriott Hotel chain has opened what it is calling the “tallest all-hotel building” in North America, at 1717 Broadway in New York. Split between two brands, the 261-suite Residence Inn and a 378-room Courtyard by Marriott, the $320 million, 68-story building also contains 6,000 square feet (557 square meters) of meeting space and full-wall murals by abstract expressionist William DeBilzan. The tower also features a fitness center on the 35th floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor sundeck.
At 754 feet (22.9 7 meters) the Courtyard-Residence Inn Central Park is 23 feet (7 meters) taller than the 727-foot (221.5-meter) Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, according to CTBUH’s Skyscraper Center. The 1717 Broadway building is also significant, in that it was the only North American building of 200 meters or more to complete in 2013, based on the Council’s research.
The Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences on Church Street and Park Place in Lower Manhattan, currently under construction and due to complete in 2016, will reach 285.6 meters (937 feet), but as a mixed-program building will not be able to claim the “tallest all-hotel building in North America” title from its Midtown neighbor.

http://www.ibtimes.com/tallest-hotel-north-america-opens-new-york-1532886

Survey on challenges of road pricing policies

The FP7 project Consensus, led by IBM, is running a public stakeholder consultation on the "challenges of road pricing policies".
Consensus is developing a multi-criteria optimisation tool to support high-level decision makers in the analysis and understanding of the various impacts of different road pricing schemes, leading to the identification of the most promising given the local constraints.
The results from the consultation will be used to enhance and improve the set of requirements which in turn are going to drive the design, research and technical goals of the project.

http://hestia.atc.gr/limesurvey/index.php/912923/lang-en

UN-Habitat announces 2013 Scroll of Honour Award winners

UN-Habitat on Thursday announced the winners of the 2013 Scroll of Honour Award.
The winners were picked from as far afield as Brazil and Ethiopia, underscoring the tag that the award is truly a global one.
Speaking about the nominees, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director, Dr Joan Clos, said: “As usual we have had a number of exceptional entries for the Scroll of Honour award. The Board felt that the winners showed exemplary evidence of their work enhancing the lives of urban dwellers and promoting the new urban agenda. The sharing of best practice from around the world is vital as we plan for the urban future we want in the run up to Habitat III in 2016.”

http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=12898&catid=5&typeid=6&AllContent=1

Can cities drive global growth and climate security?

NCE wants to hear from city leaders and decision makers by 4 April 2014 to gather valuable input on the economic advantages, risks and barriers to taking climate action
The New Climate Economy (NCE) is a project to gather evidence on the link between those actions which strengthen economic performance and those that tackle climate change. The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, a major new international initiative to examine the relationship between economic growth and climate risk, is behind the research. The NCE will report on its findings in September 2014, ahead of the UN Climate Summit, and aims to feed into global discussion on the future of economic growth and climate action.

http://www.eurocities.eu/eurocities/news/Can-cities-drive-global-growth-and-climate-security-WSPO-9G8CUD

Richard Rogers and YMCA unveil £30k flatpack homes for homeless people

Rogers’ ‘move-on’ homes look like Monopoly hotels – and are bigger than many private studio flats. But are they really the ‘answer to Britain’s housing crisis’?
A neat oblong box with a simple pitched roof and jolly red garb, it looks like a giant Monopoly hotel has been airlifted on to a side street in Wimbledon. But this dinky dwelling could be the answer to the housing crisis, according to its makers, providing a first step for those in desperate need of accommodation.
“The aim was to provide a truly affordable move-on scheme for our residents, which didn’t require a grant to build,” says Andy Redfearn of the YMCA, who has worked with architects Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners (RSH+P) for the last three years to develop a factory-made housing unit that can be built for up to 40% less than the cost of traditional construction. “The real issue is what happens when people leave our hostels,” he says. “The only option is often poor quality shared accommodation managed by private landlords, who require large deposits and rent in advance.”

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/feb/14/richard-rogers-and-ymca-unveil-30k-flatpack-homes-for-homeless-people

'Ghost buildings' to help public envisage impact of developments

Oxford to pilot scheme to outline shape of structures with poles before granting of planning permission
Clusters of spindly antennae poke up from rooftops and strange boxy frames project from walls. In the distance, a line of balloons hangs improbably in the air, describing a perfect square. This surreal panorama of rods and wires, which form the ghostly apparition of an alternative skyline, is a common sight in any Swiss city, where planning policy requires the erection of the profile of a building before it is granted permission to be built. And such ghost buildings may soon be coming to a street near you, if Oxford city councillor James Fry has his way.
"Our current planning system makes it very difficult for the public to actually see what is going to be built," says Fry, who represents the city's North ward. "You've got to navigate the website, track down the application and find the architects' drawings, which can often be hard to understand in context."

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jan/22/building-profiles-spring-up-uk-planning-consultation-oxford

Urban mobility an issue for European citizens

Four in ten Europeans experience problems with urban mobility, a new European Commission survey shows. Air pollution, congestion and travel costs are among the biggest mobility issues for EU citizens.
A Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport titled 'Attitudes of Europeans towards urban mobility' has revealed that 40 percent of Europeans experience problems "often or sometimes" when travelling in cities.

http://eltis.org/index.php?ID1=5&id=60&news_id=4454&back_id=8

EU project supports energy data collection in 74 cities

The IEE-funded project Meshartility is helping 74 municipalities across 12 European countries to collect relevant energy data for the development of their Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs).
Accessing detailed data on energy production and consumption in their territory is a crucial first step for Covenant signatories to identify which are the sectors where the energy transition efforts should be concentrated. Municipalities however still face many challenges in this respect: collecting data in the appropriate format (aggregated by sector, yet disaggregated enough to also understand user groups’ energy behavior); getting utilities and energy providers to agree to share these figures despite concerns over data protection, fear of competition, etc.

http://www.eumayors.eu/news_en.html?id_news=531

Building More Inclusive Cities to Lift the Urban Poor

With the rapid growth of cities, it’s clear that improving existing slums isn't enough – cities also need to plan for growth and deliver affordable housing to prevent new slums from forming.
Urban specialists at the World Bank Group are examining ways to help cities develop more inclusively.
“Social inclusion is more than just democracy or economics. It’s about how a city treats its poor, how it works with marginalized groups, and how it involves the excluded.”
With 5 million people moving to cities every month, urban poverty is an increasingly complex problem for policy makers around the world. At the World Bank Group, urban experts are looking at innovative ways to help cities reduce poverty and include the urban poor in the opportunities offered by growing cities.

http://www.urbangateway.org/content/news/building-more-inclusive-cities-lift-urban-poor

Turning Migration Policy from Failure to Opportunity

The challenges of managing international migration have been consistently underestimated. It is by definition a transnational phenomenon that states still try to manage at a national level. It is a truly global issue that affects every country in the world and almost every person in the world, either directly or indirectly. International migration is part and parcel of globalization, driven by disparities in development, demography and democracy. Yet, governments still insist that it can be controlled in time to win the next election. It impacts every aspect of the economy and society – from employment and education, to integration and identity – yet all too often is approached exclusively from a border management and security perspective.

http://citiesofmigration.ca/ezine_stories/turning-migration-policy-from-failure-to-opportunity

Riga 2014: create your own session at Energy Cities' Conference!

We have the great pleasure to invite you to the Energy Cities’ Annual Rendezvous from 23-25 April 2014 (draft programme attached). Riga, the European capital of Culture 2014 at the crossroads of the European Union and its Eastern neighbours, is an emblematic place for mayors and elected people to deliver a strong message.
The aim of this year’s event is to gather “Local leaders for sustainable energy: bridging people, ideas and regions”. You can submit your energy transition initiative online before the 21st of February to coordinate a one-hour networking session during Energy Cities’ Annual Rendezvous in Riga!

http://www.energy-cities.eu/-Annual-RendezVous-

Rust Belt gentrification and how it hurts the poor

When you think of the Rust Belt, glossy neighborhoods with rocketing rents may not be the first images to jump to mind.
But gentrification—and concerns about rising prices—can be problems even in places like Buffalo and Detroit, says University at Buffalo researcher Robert Silverman.
Silverman, an associate professor of urban and regional planning, is leading a project to make recommendations about where the government should place affordable housing in 10 of the fastest-shrinking U.S. cities. Eight are in the Great Lakes region, and two in the South.

http://phys.org/news/2014-01-rust-belt-gentrification-poor.html

Urban Observatory sheds light on life in 21st century cities

Urban experts looking for inspiration online should definitely have a look at the 'Urban Observatory'. Describing itself as a "live museum with a data pulse", the website provides access to datasets for cities around the world that provide insight into some of the most important questions impacting today's global cities. The app forms a valuable source for urban professionals wishing to gain a greater understanding of urban life in the 21st century.

http://www.eukn.org/E_library/Urban_Policy/Urban_Observatory_sheds_light_on_life_in_21st_century_cities

Exploring unpleasant design in European cities

We generally tend to think of 'urban design' in positive terms: it provides beautiful and practical spaces, and enriches our experience of city life. However, if we looked closer, we would come to see that there are many examples of 'unpleasant urban design' as well. Strangely designed benches that prevent rough spleeping, metal flanges added to the corner edges of pavements and low walls to deter skateboarders, or benches that are simply too uncomfortable to sit on for too long. They might be effective in stimulating or preventing certain behaviour, but they also restrict and limit urban residents. Selena Savic and Gordon Savicic wrote a book on unpleasant design.

http://www.eukn.org/E_library/Urban_Environment/Urban_Environment/Exploring_unpleasant_design_in_European_cities

Vienna to reduce car traffic by 2025

Trips taken on public transport, by bike or on foot will account for 80% of all trips made in Vienna by 2025 if the city's Urban Development Plan goes through as planned.
The announcement was made by Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou (Green) on Wednesday, who emphasised that traffic was a key feature of the plan to develop the capital city.
Currently 39% of people travel by public transport and 28% go by foot. Despite many initiatives to promote cycling, it accounts for only slightly more than 6% of total trips.
The Mayor's office in Vienna also hope to see the percentage of all trips taken by car reduce from 27% to 20%. This would amount to around 140,000 people in the city, which has a population of nearly 2 million, giving up a day using the car.

http://www.urbangateway.org/content/news/vienna-reduce-car-traffic-2025

Beijing’s Bad Air Would Be Step Up for Smoggy Delhi

In mid-January, air pollution in Beijing was so bad that the government issued urgent health warnings and closed four major highways, prompting the panicked buying of air filters and donning of face masks. But in New Delhi, where pea-soup smog created what was by some measurements even more dangerous air, there were few signs of alarm in the country’s boisterous news media, or on its effervescent Twittersphere.
Despite Beijing’s widespread reputation of having some of the most polluted air of any major city in the world, an examination of daily pollution figures collected from both cities suggests that New Delhi’s air is more laden with dangerous small particles of pollution, more often, than Beijing’s. Lately, a very bad air day in Beijing is about an average one in New Delhi.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/world/asia/beijings-air-would-be-step-up-for-smoggy-delhi.html

Johannesburg to fund retrofits through bond issues

The mayor of Johannesburg, Mpho Parks Tau, has said that the city is looking at issuing special bonds to help fund the retrofitting of its buildings.
According to a BDline report the mayor made the comments during a business dialogue on climate change in Johannesburg today. Tau said that developing alternative finance options for the funding of climate adaptation is central to his city.
“These strategic adaptations are regarded as being fundamental for the City of Johannesburg’s effort to effectively adapt to the evolving threat of climate change,” he said.
The city has issued seven bonds since 2004. In 2007 Jozibonds were listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange to help upgrade and build new infrastructure, including the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit. They were also publicised as a method to encourage a culture of savings among residents.

http://cities-today.com/2014/01/johannesburg-in-talks-to-fund-retrofits-from-city-bonds

Fifty-Fifty - Munich's winning programme

Fifty-Fifty is an energy and water savings programme that was implemented in schools and kindergartens in Munich in 1996.
It’s a kind of agreement between the municipality and the schools. Teachers and pupils are encouraged to reduce their energy and water consumption simply with changes in behaviour.
Half of the costs saved goes directly to the school itself, as the name of the project suggests, and it can to be used for leisure or quality of life for the pupils.
18 years after, the municipality of Munich can evaluate the success of this programme.

http://www.energy-cities.eu/Fifty-Fifty-Munich-s-winning

Is London a drain on other UK cities?

London is by far the most economically productive part of the UK but are politicians like Vince Cable right to be concerned that its success might be hampering other cities?
Cities dominate the UK. Both Manchester and Leeds have economies of over £50bn, which makes them more productive than the entirety of Wales.
However, the rest of the country is somewhat outgunned by London's size and scale. It accounts for roughly one-fifth of jobs and businesses and one-quarter of the UK's economic output.

London's sheer dominance has led some, including business secretary Vince Cable, to call the capital a drain on the rest of the country. The new Cities Outlook report by the Centre for Cities compiled various data sources to discover whether this is true.

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/datablog/2014/jan/27/london-a-drain-on-other-uk-cities

Urban transit stations redeveloped as neighborhood amenities

Even as the economy recovers, Americans are driving less. In urban areas across the country, people instead are choosing to walk, bike or take public transit.
When we have a long way to go, there's strong evidence that the Great American Roadtrip also is on the wane. Amtrak has set a new ridership record in 10 of the past 11 years, with fiscal year 2013 being its best ever with 31.6 million passengers riding.
With all that demand comes congestion and backups at major rail hubs, but smart cities are anticipating and adapting so that the train station of the future is full but not crowded, busy but not packed. And rather than being a place that commuters hurry through, the renovated train stations of tomorrow will be neighborhood amenities.

http://www.urbangateway.org/content/news/urban-transit-stations-redeveloped-neighborhood-amenities

First electric buses go into service in London (UK)

A trial of two electric buses is taking place in London, as progress continues towards greening the city's bus fleet.
London's first buses run solely on electricity began a trial service on 19 December 2013. Built by Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto Ltd, the buses have zero exhaust emissions and the manufacturer's tests have demonstrated a possible 75 percent reduction in running costs compared to diesel-powered vehicles. The buses can operate for a full day after charging overnight for around four to five hours, with a maximum range of 250 kilometres.

http://eltis.org/index.php?ID1=5&id=60&news_id=4456&back_id=8

CH4LLENGE project addresses the four most pressing challenges in the development and implementation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs)

Cities play a crucial role in contributing to the EU 2020 targets which aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) is a strategic document designed to contribute to meeting these targets as urban transport is one of the main contributors to energy consumption and emissions. SUMPs build on existing planning practices and take due consideration of integration, participation and evaluation principles.
In the CH4LLENGE project,which kicked off in May 2013,nine European cities and eight supporting organisations have teamed up to tackle the four most pressing challenges in sustainable urban mobility planning:
Participation:
Actively involving local stakeholders and citizens in mobility planning processes
Cooperation:
Improving geographic, political, administrative and interdepartmental cooperation
Measure selection:
Identifying the most appropriate package of measures to meet a given city's policy objectives
Monitoring and evaluation:
Assessing the impact of measures and evaluating the mobility planning process

www.sump-challenges.eu

Transit Investments Will Top $80 Billion in 2014

Transit expansion in North America is expected to be robust in 2014, with more than 700 miles of new light-rail lines or line extensions planned. In addition, 10 new transit stations or major station renovations are planned for the coming year. According to an annual survey by TheTransportPolitic.com, "Dozens of new lines will open to the public, including light rail lines in Houston, Minneapolis, Edmonton, Dallas, Calgary; heavy rail lines in New York City and outside Washington, DC; and streetcars in Tucson, Atlanta, Seattle, and Washington, DC; among many others … Bus rapid transit will see new lines opening in Chicago, Fort Collins, San Diego, Orlando, Los Angeles, and outside Toronto."

http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2014/01/05/openings-and-construction-starts-planned-for-2014/

Re-learning City Branding: the Role of Management

City branding is not only a question of marketing and communication, but is becoming more and more an issue for citizens, stakeholders and the wider community of actors connected to its territory. What is the role of management and leadership in this collaborative process? Which are the key ingredients for successful co-management of city branding? Here are some questions that this article from Miguel Rivas, Lead Expert of URBACT CityLogo project will answer for you.

http://urbact.eu/en/news-and-events/view-one/news/?entryId=5323

Smart Living Challenge

New challenges require smart solutions
Apply now for the Smart Living Challenge, an international innovation competition designed to generate business opportunities and develop ideas that foster sustainable lifestyles in urban environments. These can be products, services or solutions that make it easier for citizens to lead smarter and more sustainable lives.
Entries can be submitted in three categories, eat, live and move.

http://www.eurocities.eu/eurocities/news/Smart-Living-Challenge-WSPO-9FTDA8

Placemaking in Legacy Cities: Opportunities and Good Practices

Legacy cities are former industrial hubs, largely in the Northeast and Midwest, that experienced industrial and population declines during the latter half of the twentieth century. This new publication from the Center for Community Progress uses case studies from legacy cities in four states to explore placemaking in different settings: downtowns, anchor districts, neighborhoods, and corridors/trails.

http://www.communityprogress.net/placemaking-in-legacy-cities-pages-394.php

Sewage pinpoints drug use in communities

Scientists, increasingly able to detect minuscule amounts of compounds, have begun to test sewage to gauge communities’ use of illegal drugs.
Dan Burgard, an associate chemistry professor, knew students tried to get an edge. But he didn’t know about the “study drug.”
“I was walking with a student,” Burgard said, “and they bemoaned that it wasn’t students cheating nowadays to get ahead, but that they were taking Adderall,” a potent amphetamine used to treat attention disorders.
Burgard had an idea: Let’s test the campus sewage. What he and his students at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., found confirmed their suspicions.
“The amphetamine levels go through the roof during finals,” Burgard said.
Scientists, increasingly able to detect minuscule amounts of compounds, have begun to test sewage to gauge communities’ use of illegal drugs. When people take drugs, they are either unchanged or the body turns them into metabolites before they’re excreted.

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/jan/narcotics-in-sewage

OECD publishes new cycling safety report

The new report examines the policy background for cycling across OECD countries and provides detailed information on cycling safety statistics and the factors influencing cycling safety.
In a major report published in December, the OECD says increases in cycling need not lead to a higher number of deaths if appropriate safety measures are taken. The report cites the example of Copenhagen where cycling rates increased 20 percent between 1996 and 2010, while reported deaths and serious injuries dropped by 70 percent.
The report also looks at the various measures that governments at all levels have implemented to secure safety in cycling policy. In doing so it reviews the different legal frameworks and rules surrounding bicycles and cycling across different countries.

http://eltis.org/index.php?ID1=5&id=60&news_id=4475&back_id=8

Who will reclaim Europe’s competitiveness and climate leadership?

Europe can no longer afford to pay lip service to the energy transition. Concrete progress has been made at local level, as shown by the 3,300+ cities that have developed far-reaching action plans in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors, but this enthusiasm can only be sustained if it is combined with proper European ambition and support.
The energy and climate targets proposed by the European Commission in its unambitious 2030 framework proposal are not underpinned by the relevant instruments that would make their implementation realistic. This illogical strategy, which risks hampering the block’s competitiveness and climate leadership, is made worse by the fact that local authorities, the actual game-changers in the process, are only marginally mentioned in the Commission’s document.
This is all the more striking considering that EU institutions representatives – such as Members of the European Parliament and Committee of the Regions- and a wide variety of stakeholders including NGOs, industry and civil society representatives have agreed to the need to empower local and regional authorities in driving the energy transition. They have done so notably by responding to Energy Cities’ consultation on “The awaited and still unpublished Communication: Empowering local and regional authorities to deliver the EU climate and energy objectives”. The said communication will soon be updated to reflect all the contributions received so far.
Asserting Europe’s competitiveness
“Europe is sending a bad signal to investors, citizens and local authorities by downgrading its climate and energy ambitions. While European leaders fear for the block’s competitiveness, the energy transition that is being implemented by thousands of cities across the continent is creating local jobs, delivering tangible economic savings and fostering numerous business opportunities,” said Energy Cities’ Executive Director Gérard Magnin.
Cities play an instrumental role in generating the social and economic benefits of the energy transition, not only by harvesting their local energy resources thus keeping money within the territory, but also by implementing integrated energy solutions, encouraging green public procurement and acting as role models towards citizens.
Climate leadership
The Covenant of Mayors initiative, with its 3,300+ submitted action plans is the only tangible showcase of Europe’s climate leadership. For the benefit of their citizens and the economy, European decision-makers should make sure these committed cities are given the necessary means and recognition to keep driving Europe towards a sustainable future.

Post-carbon cities in Europe : A long-term outlook

Energy Cities is partner of a new 3-year project - POCACITO (POst-CArbon? CIties? of? TOmorrow) - which main objective is to produce a long-term outlook into the future of EU sustainable post-carbon cities in a global context.
This outlook serves to assess the long-term trends and tensions in EU cities which may have a relevant impact on urban development and to explore innovative approaches for achieving sustainable post-carbon cities in the EU.
http://www.energy-cities.eu/Post-carbon-cities-in-Europe-A

China's 2013 urban unemployment rate at 4.1 percent

Over 13 million jobs were created in China in 2013 while the urban unemployment rate in the world's second largest economy stood at around 4.1 per cent.
The unemployment rate edged up to 4.05 per cent at the end of the fourth quarter from 4.04 per cent at the end of the third quarter, the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said today.
A total of 13.1 million new jobs were created in urban areas last year, and 5.66 million people were re-employed, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

http://www.urbangateway.org/content/news/chinas-2013-urban-unemployment-rate-41-percent

Five Inaugural Communities Have Been Designated as Promise Zones

USDA and HUD have announced the first five communities to receive assistance under President Obama's new Promise Zones initiative. San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Southeastern Kentucky, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma were chosen. These Promise Zones communities will benefit from a comprehensive approach to development that will enhance and connect local assets ranging from schools to housing to jobs.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2014/HUDNo.14-003

SIMPLI-CITY project needs you: what is your opinion about transport apps?

Today the mobile internet is available almost everywhere. Nevertheless, the impact of the evolution has not arrived in road user information systems, apart very few exemptions. The European project SIMPLI-CITY - involving Polis member Bologna - contributes to solve this problem by adding a software layer to the hardware-driven "product" mobility.

http://www.polisnetwork.eu/publicnews/561/45/SIMPLI-CITY-project-needs-you-what-is-your-opinion-about-transport-apps

Beyond Exchange and Learning… URBACT Cities Delivering!

What happens once URBACT projects end? What concrete results can we expect after 3 years of exchange and learning at transnational level? Are the action plans produced by the cities implemented or end up in the drawers as we sometimes fear? Melody Houk, URBACT II Projects & Capitalisation manager answers these questions for us.

http://urbact.eu/en/news-and-events/view-one/news/?entryId=5324

Gentrification may be losing its stigma

Bobby Foster Jr. can often be found reading the paper on a wooden bench outside Murry's grocery store on the corner of Sixth and H streets northeast in Washington, D.C.
"The sun shines over here this time of day," says Foster, a retired cook. "It's always good when the sun shines."
Murry's has been an anchor in this neighborhood for decades — during the crack wars of the 1980s and the urban blight that followed, when most other businesses packed up and left. Foster has been somewhat of an anchor, too. He's lived here for 54 years.
But now, this neighborhood and hundreds like it across the country are changing. Every other shop is a new restaurant, high-end salon or bar.
The neighborhood is gentrifying.

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264528139/long-a-dirty-word-gentrification-may-be-losing-its-stigma

From Barcelona to Toronto: Myth-busting and migration

The City of Toronto plans to take a leaf from Barcelona’s anti-rumour public awareness campaign to tackle myths and misconceptions around newcomer settlement issues. “Newcomers tend to speak in their own languages amongst themselves at voting centres to ensure block voting.” “Immigrants coming from ‘corrupt’ and non-democratic countries bring with them illegal practices to distort elections and functioning of our democratic institutions.” These are just two of the negative opinions expressed at an Open Dialogue session held by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) and the City of Toronto on January 16, 2014. The discussion centred on facilitating the civic participation of newcomers, including the introduction of voting rights for permanent residents who are not Canadian citizens yet.

http://citiesofmigration.ca/ezine_stories/from-barcelona-to-toronto-myth-busting-and-migration

Air of revolution: how activists and social media scrutinise city pollution

Facebook and Twitter drives are turning concern over breathable air into grassroots campaigns that shame governments
In Krakow, Poland, lawmakers recently banned the burning of coal to heat homes after activists pressured them with a Facebook campaign that drew 20,000 followers. Driven by a survey that showed the city's air to be the third dirtiest in Europe, the small group of volunteers worked late into the evenings, on top of their day jobs, in an effort that had no funding at all until weeks after its big victory.
The relentless campaigner Simon Birkett, from London, messaged top European officials as they drafted important new air-quality rules. Working alone, funded largely by his own savings, he tirelessly posts smog warnings, health studies and detailed analysis of pollution regulations, making himself one of the best sources of expertise on London's air.

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jan/31/air-activists-social-media-pollution-city

International Urban Regeneration Congress - Regeneration in urban policy

The IIIrd International Urban Regeneration Congress - Regeneration in urban policy, will be held in Krakow, Poland on the 4 - 6 June 2014.
We invite all persons connected with the issue of revitalization to participate in the IIIrd Congress: animators, practitioners, experts, scientists and everybody for whom those issues are of interest.
We will make every effort to ensure that the deliberations of the Congress and the atmosphere among the participants were at least as good as in the previous congresses.

For further information please refer to our website http://irm.krakow.pl/en/urban_regeneration.html

Suburbs Emit More Carbon Dioxide per Household than Cities

A new survey from the University of California, Berkeley, has found that average household carbon emissions are loosely correlated with population density. Emissions are higher in the suburbs but decrease in inner-city areas where people rely more on mass transit and less on personal automobiles. The study found that suburbs alone account for half of the total US household carbon footprint.

http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/david-thorpe/212726/suburbs-emit-more-carbon-dioxide-cities-study

'Charge rage': Too many electric cars, not enough workplace chargers

Eager to reduce energy use, German software company SAP installed 16 electric vehicle charging ports in 2010 at its Palo Alto campus for the handful of employees who owned electric vehicles.
Just three years later, SAP faces a problem that is increasingly common at Silicon Valley companies -- far more electric cars than chargers. Sixty-one of the roughly 1,800 employees on the campus now drive a plug-in vehicle, overwhelming the 16 available chargers. And as demand for chargers exceeds supply, a host of thorny etiquette issues have arisen, along with some rare but notorious incidents of "charge rage."
"In the beginning, all of our EV drivers knew each other, we had enough infrastructure, and everyone was happy. That didn't last for long," said Peter Graf, SAP's chief sustainability officer and the driver of a Nissan Leaf. "Cars are getting unplugged while they are actively charging, and that's a problem. Employees are calling and messaging each other, saying, 'I see you're fully charged, can you please move your car?'"

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24947237/too-many-electric-cars-not-enough-workplace-chargers

UN-Habitat convenes international meeting on public space

thirty experts from around the world gathered in Rome for an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on the theme of public space in the global agenda for sustainable development.
The main objectives of the meeting were to discuss UN-Habitat’s policy approach and strategy on public space, and to refine a planned Global Toolkit on Public Space.
The meeting was organized by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Italian National Planning Institute (INU), with the support of the City of Rome and its Department for Urban Transformation. Experts, professionals,administrators, local governments officials, community-based organizations and researchers from different disciplines, cultural and geographical backgrounds, contributed and enriched the process of formalizing the policy/strategy.

http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=12880&catid=5&typeid=6&AllContent=1

Bilbao organises the Forum d’Avignon on “The city as cultural ecosystem”

From the 5th to the 8th of March 2014, the City of Bilbao will host for the first time the Forum d'Avignon, a prestigious forum to discuss about culture in Europe, an international meeting, where professionals of art, architecture, politics and entrepreneurship analyse different aspects of "The city as cultural ecosystem".
Bilbao is now a cultural ecosystem where every day we can find events and enriching dynamics for citizenship and visitors. Since the economic and urban transformation of the city happened, the city's name became associated with concepts such as excellence, economic activity, knowledge, art, technology, design or creativity. The Forum d' Avignon Bilbao will showcase how culture helps to drive the economic development and general welfare of the citizens, increases the innovation and creativity and becomes crucial to face attractiveness and global competition.

You can check the program and register to participate via the following link: http://forum-avignon-bilbao.com

Europe, Facing Economic Pain, May Ease Climate Rules

For years, Europe has tried to set the global standard for climate-change regulation, creating tough rules on emissions, mandating more use of renewable energy sources and arguably sacrificing some economic growth in the name of saving the planet.
But now even Europe seems to be hitting its environmentalist limits.
High energy costs, declining industrial competitiveness and a recognition that the economy is unlikely to rebound strongly any time soon are leading policy makers to begin easing up in their drive for more aggressive climate regulation.
On Wednesday, the European Union proposed an end to binding national targets for renewable energy production after 2020. Instead, it substituted an overall European goal that is likely to be much harder to enforce.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/business/international/european-union-lowers-ambitions-on-renewable-energy.html

Progressive cities forge path toward renewable future

Cities around the globe have received special recognition by the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) for impressive actions on climate change. The EHCC is run by WWF in collaboration with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Swedish Postcode Lottery.
Thirty-four finalists from 14 participating countries were selected from among the 163 entrants in this year’s Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC). Twenty one of the 34 cities are ICLEI Members. An expert jury, including ICLEI’s Secretary General Gino Van Begin, will now review the actions and commitments reported by these cities and ultimately identify one sustainability leader per country for the National Earth Hour Capital Awards to be presented on 27 March in Vancouver, Canada.

http://www.iclei.org/details/article/progressive-cities-forge-path-toward-renewable-future.html

Chinese cities lift property price caps

China’s biggest cities this month lifted a price cap on home pre-sale licences. In an action likely to release blocked prestige high-end schemes, and further propel the property market, Chinese news reports said it would boost developers’ confidence about home price increases in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, which are both in need of more housing.
Shanghai imposed an implicit limit on the price of new homes that could be approved for pre-sale in November. In one example, Shanghai media reports said it was set at 20,000 yuan (US$3,300.00) per square metre in the city’s Baoshan district. After the price of housing climbed more than 20 percent in the 12 months to October, Shanghai also intensified other measures to curb price rises.

http://cities-today.com/2014/01/chinese-cities-lift-property-price-caps

Metropolis Initiative: “Comparative Study on Metropolitan Governance”

Involvement of different stakeholders, guidelines for land use planning, strategic location of infrastructure projects, and the need for institutionalization of public-private arrangements. These are some of the elements that the team who coordinates the Metropolis Initiative “Comparative Study on Metropolitan Governance” identified as part of the main lessons taken from the experience of Rosario and Buenos Aires, cities which they visited in past December.

http://www.uclg.org/en/node/30655#sthash.aBMVQgET.dpuf

Launch of 'Zero Emmission Urban Bus System' project marks a major milestone for greener urban transport

On the 23rd of January, the ZeEUS project on electric buses was launched in Brussels. 40 partners, amongst whom several Polis members and the Polis secretariat are committed to make this innovative project a success. The project is coordinated by the UITP and aims at extending the fully electric solution to a wider part of European urban bus networks.

http://www.polisnetwork.eu/publicnews/560/45/Launch-of-39-Zero-Emmission-Urban-Bus-System-39-project-marks-a-major-milestone-for-greener-urban-transport

High Lines and park life: why more green isn't always greener for cities

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jan/30/high-line-park-green-cities-industrial-pastoral

Carbon footprint maps reveal urban-suburban divide

Where you live in a metropolis — the city or the suburbs — can make a huge difference in how much you are contributing to climate change, according to a new study.
People in the densely populated cores of big cities are responsible for less greenhouse gas emissions, but the more carbon-intensive lifestyle of their far-flung suburbs cancels out any of the benefits, researchers at UC Berkeley found.
The analysis used household income, vehicle ownership, home size, population density, weather and other data to estimate how different areas of the United States contribute to greenhouse gas emissions at the household level.

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-carbon-footprint-suburban-urban-20140114,0,687352.story#ixzz2sBSLiLPW

One year of free public transport in Tallinn (Estonia)

After a year of operating free public transport for residents of the city, Tallinn has presented the results and reaffirmed its commitment to the new system.
Estonia's capital Tallinn presented the results of a year of free public transport for its citizens at the annual POLIS conference in Brussels (Belgium) in December 2013. The reasons for switching to free public transport for Tallinn residents were numerous, including guaranteeing mobility for unemployed and low income residents, stimulating economic activity, and decreasing the modal share of private motorised transport.
The loss of revenue from fares is made up by municipal revenues from personal income tax, as people are encouraged to register their residence in Tallinn in order to be eligible for free public transport. Since April 2012 the registered population of Tallinn grew by 13 000. People registered with the system receive a card that can be used interchangeably on the city's buses, trams and electric trains.

http://eltis.org/index.php?ID1=5&id=60&news_id=4477&back_id=8

World Urban Forum website goes live

With just 10 weeks to go before the 7th incarnation of the World Urban Forum, the full event website with programme details is now live.
Participants will convene at the city's exposition center, Plaza Mayor, for six days of discussions examining the conference's theme "Urban Equity in Development - Cities for Life". As an international example of urban transformation through social urbanism, Medellín will also become an urban laboratory during the World Urban Forum 7. Both physically and institutionally, Medellín has exemplified its prioritization of vulnerable communities with solutions for accessible mobility, inclusive governance and quality education, together with the recovery of public space and green areas throughout the city.

http://wuf7.unhabitat.org/

Share the initiatives carried in your local community in the field of public order

Efus is looking for local prevention practices in the field of public order. Such practices can for instance be focused on mediation in public transport, in public spaces or in social housing estates; the prevention of disturbance around nightlife areas (health, noise); the prevention of risks for certain categories of public spaces users (children, homeless people, migrants, people addicted to alcohol or drugs). If you are implementing a local project on this topic, or have done so recently, please send us a description of your practice and of its objectives and results ...
Deadline: 28 February 2014

Contact: Joana Judice, judice@efus.eu

Car-Charging Stations Now Mandatory in New York City

A regulation passed in New York City will require new off-street parking facilities — such as garages and surface lots — to build in sufficient electrical capacity to accommodate automobile charging stations for 20 percent of their spaces. The legislation is expected to create a total of 10,000 charger-ready parking spots, roughly 5,000 of which should become available over the next seven years. New York City currently has fewer than 200 charging stations for electric cars.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1089035_nyc-law-to-make-20-percent-of-new-parking-spaces-electric-car-ready

Mapping the Inequality of Urban Perception

Cities are highly heterogeneous and often unequal with respect to the income of their residents, but also with respect to the cleanliness of their neighborhoods, the beauty of their architecture, and the liveliness of their streets. Until now, however, our ability to understand the effect of a city's built environment on social and economic outcomes has been limited by the lack of quantitative data on urban perception. This study therefore explores the perception of safety, class and uniqueness in the cities of Boston, New York, Salzburg and Linz.

http://www.eukn.org/E_library/Urban_Environment/Urban_Environment/Mapping_the_Inequality_of_Urban_Perception

“International Award UCLG - Mexico City - Culture 21”:

Take your chance to win 50 000 euros with projects linking culture and sustainable development!
Promoted by our international organisation, UCLG, and Mexico City, this award recognises policies, programs and projects promoting culture as a pillar for sustainable development. Moreover, this award aims at rewarding those that explicitly incorporate the principles of the Agenda 21 for culture*, by linking the values of culture (heritage, diversity and transmission of knowledge) with democratic governance, citizen participation and sustainable development.

http://www.ccre.org/en/actualites/view/2780

Transport: a future without farecards

Transit riders in Washington and New York are inching closer to a world that doesn’t require a paper or plastic farecard to hop on a train or ride a bus.
In Washington, Metro announced Wednesday that it will begin a pilot program later this year testing a new electronic fare payment system at rail stations, on buses and at its parking garages. The transit agency said it had awarded a $184 million contract to Accenture, a management consulting and technology company, to replace the current fare system.
“The new technology will provide more flexibility for accounts, better reliability for riders, and real choices for customers to use bank-issued payment cards, credit cards, ID cards, or mobile phones to pay their Metro fares,” Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles said in a news release announcing the contract.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2014/01/08/in-washington-and-new-york-looking-to-a-future-without-farecards/

Call for Abstracts for the International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC Davos 2014

The 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC Davos 2014 from 24 - 28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland, is organised in close cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). IDRC Davos 2014 will serve UNISDR as the science & technology input platform for the post-2015 framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA2) and provide recommendations towards the UN World Conference WCDRR in Sendai, Japan, in March 2015. Scientists from various disciplines, experts and practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this process by submitting papers to the IDRC Davos 2014. The call for abstract is open

http://idrc.info/programme/call-for-abstracts/

Urbanization Has Been Destroying the Environment Since the Very First Cities

It's easy to believe that humankind's earliest cities existed sustainably within the natural ecosystem, unlike modern megalopolises, fed and sustained by vast tracts of farm land and a global economy. But, as a team of researchers studying the ancient city of Akko found out, human cities have been radically transforming the environment since at least 6,000 years ago.
Writing for Nature's Scientific Reports, a team led by David Kaniewski showed that the development of Akko, a port city along what is now Israel's northern shores, coincided with a collapse of the local ecosystem, with dense coastal forests transforming into a dry, shrubby grassland. In their paper, the scientists describe how the growth of Akko, one of the world's oldest cities, reshaped the local environment:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/urbanization-has-been-destroying-the-environment-since-the-very-first-cities-180948243

New EU rules on public procurement

CEMR welcomes the European Parliament’s adoption of the new EU public procurement directives as it represents a step in the right direction for local government interests.
In total, expenditure by regional and local government represents more than a third of all public sector spending. This is why, CEMR has been involved in the shape of the Commission’s proposal since 2011, and has advocated relevant amendments. We welcome that many of them are reflected in the adopted text.
Public authorities can therefore share services without running a procurement
“In the current financial climate, sharing of back office or front-line services and tasks is increasingly common practice across contracting authorities. We therefore welcome the provision on public-public cooperation as it will make easier for local government to save public money by sharing services within the public sector“, points out Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General of CEMR. This disposition will also facilitate the provision of services by one local authority for another.

http://www.ccre.org/en/actualites/view/2776

Solving Britain's housing crisis

NOW that the economy is at last growing again, the burning issue in Britain is the cost of living. Prices have outstripped wages for the past six years. Politicians have duly harried energy companies to cut their bills, and flirted with raising the minimum wage. But the thing that is really out of control is the cost of housing. In the past year wages have risen by 1%; property prices are up by 8.4%. This is merely the latest in a long surge. If since 1971 the price of groceries had risen as steeply as the cost of housing, a chicken would cost £51 ($83).
By subsidising mortgages, and thus boosting demand, the government is exacerbating the problem. But that is not the main reason for rising prices. Driven by a baby-boom, immigration and longer lives, Britain’s population is growing by around 0.8% per year, faster than in most rich countries. Foreign wealth, meantime, is pouring into London.
If supply were rising fast too, increasing demand would not matter; but it is not. Though some 221,000 additional households are formed in England annually, just 108,000 homes were built in the year to September 2013.

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21593454-shortage-housing-gathering-national-crisis-rev-up-bulldozers-englishmans-home

Metropolis Initiative launches charter for climate change adaptation

The Metropolis Initiative "Integrated Urban Governance – Successful Policy Transfer" led by Berlin just concluded a chart about climate change adaptation in cities.
The document is a result of the first meeting which took place in Berlin in October last year. Below you will find the highlights of this first meeting. The next "No Regrets dialogue" meeting will take place in Brussels, on February 10, 2014.

http://www.metropolis.org/sites/default/files/no_regrets_charter_final_draft_en1.pdf