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ICLEI Secretary General continues to advance urban agenda
Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, has re-appointed ICLEI Secretary General Konrad Otto-Zimmermann to serve on the Global Agenda Council on Urbanization for the term 2012-2013.
Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize to recognise outstanding city transformation
Nominations are open until March 2013 for the 2014 award
Fat of the land: how urban design can help curb obesity
OBESE NATION: It’s time to admit it – Australia is becoming an obese nation. This series looks at how this has happened and more importantly, what we can do to stop the obesity epidemic.
McKinsey Reports on the Exploding Urban Economy
600 cities will contribute $30 trillion in economic growth by 2025, increasing global consumption for energy and transportation. Photo by Rafael Rigues.
EU Cities Adapt invites cities to take part in climate adaptation training
European cities are invited to take part in a training aimed at building capacity on climate change adaptation. The end result will be a tailored adaptation strategy for each city in attendance.
Cities contribute to success of cohesion policy, says survey
Results of an EMI/urban intergroup survey reveal cities’ opinions on EU policies
Billboards on Versailles, the Colosseum, or Venice Canals?
As the European financial crisis drags on, money for the continent's numerous architectural and historical resources remains limited. As a result, cities are looking for new revenue streams, including billboards and image rights.
CityHush results to reduce traffic noise shared in new newsletter and upcoming workshops for local authorities
The EU project CityHush supports city administrations with the development and implementation of noise action plans according to the directive EC 2002/49.
European citizens can have direct influence on the development of EU policy
As of April 1st, 2012 citizens of the European Union Member States are able to organize a European citizens’ initiative. This means that citizens can ask the European Commission to focus on a subject that they find important.
Advice to Cities Considering Bankruptcy: 'Don't Do It'
As the third California city in a month files for bankruptcy protection, fears of a domino effect worry many. While bankruptcy may seem like an enticing solution, officials that have gone through it caution about the downside.
Action plan for urban mobility: the time for assessment has come
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) encourages local and regional authorities to respond before 7 September 2012 to the European Commission consultation on the implementation of the EU urban mobility action plan.
Ancient Chinese City Seeks Line Between Preservation and Implausible Perfection
The historic city of Pingyao, China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces an uncertain future as it tries to find a balance between managing modern threats and petrification by preservation, as it attempts to maintain its historic character.
Canadian Planners at a Crossroads
As several major Canadian cities seek to hire new chief urban planners, candidates are facing an emerging set of demographic and political challenges, while some question the role such officials should have in shaping the country's landscape.
Results EMI and URBAN Intergroup questionnaire – Cities contribute to the success of cohesion policy
In an effort to gain better insight into cities’ opinions on the policies from the European Commission (cohesion policy and integrated urban policy), the European Metropolitan network Institute (EMI) and URBAN Intergroup issued a joint online questionnaire and have now published the results.
Keen on your input for URBAN-NEXUS!
The EU funded FP7 project URBAN-NEXUS is starting the work on the topics Health and Quality of Life and Competing for Urban Land.
English Cities Gain Historic New Powers
In what Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg calls a "dramatic power shift", England's largest cities have gained new powers to control their economies and transportation, reports Sam Lister.
The Grave Health Risks of Unwalkable Communities
In a recent article on AtlanticCities.com, Richard J. Jackson, Chair of Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA says, "Safe, walkable neighborhoods are not just an amenity, they're a matter of life or death."
'Urban Renewal' May Replace Community With Commerce in Istanbul Ghetto
Officials and developers in the Turkish capital have set their sights on a poor but centrally-located neighborhood for an urban renewal project, leaving longtime residents worried they may not be around much longer, Jessica Bourque reports.
UN-Habitat invites bids for WUF7 host city
Habitat has formally launched a call for expressions of interest from cities wishing to host the Seventh Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF7).
Londoners Mixed on the City's New Tallest Building
The Shard, as it is known, has brought about much debate for its futuristic design and the expensive apartments in a part of town that is facing economic challenges.
Philadelphia Produces Energy with Mass Transit Braking Technology
Philadelphia's regional transit authority, SEPTA, has unveiled a new recycled energy and optimization project which will store kinetic energy produced from trains on one of the city’s subway lines, and integrate that energy into the regional electric grid.
Displaced Protesters Fight Urban Developers in Taipei
An urban renewal development reaches a violent climax as a clash breaks out between construction workers and protesters.
The Future of Transit, According to France
Yonah Freemark investigates France's new love affair with the tram, which is spreading like wildfire in cities across the country, supplanting major bus routes and giving transit ridership a healthy boost in the process.
Model “Green” Town Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Greenbelt, Maryland, one of the three greenbelt towns developed by President Franklin Roosevelt's administration, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
San Francisco Launches Website to Encourage DIY Urbanism
The city recently launched SFBetterStreets.org to be a central source of information to help residents with street improvements like traffic-calming, parklets, bike corrals, plantings, art installations, and sidewalk fixtures.
The Completely Privatized City
Sandy Springs, Georgia has taken the libertarian tip and privatized almost every city service - including planning. So does it work?
Abandoned Grain Elevators Revitalized in Port Cities
As economies and shipping routes change, many grain elevators in port cities have been abandoned. Unlike old office buildings and factories, converting these structures is especially complicated.
Training and Capacity Building for Cities
On behalf of the European Commission, the EU Cities Adapt project has the pleasure to invite cities to take part in the training phase of the project, aiming at building capacity on climate change adaptation in cities.
NiCE session during East-Meets-West Congress in Cyprus
Our NiCE project hosts a session on 'Green Digital Agenda in smart cities - European and Chinese cities leading by example' on 4 September 2012 in Cyprus
Major Green Redevelopment Underway in Queens
New York City has unveiled plans to turn a large industrial area in Queens into a new neighborhood filled with green spaces.
How to create good living conditions for urban populations?
Understanding the relationship between “quality of life” and “quality of place” is a key for urban practitioners to be in a position to propose projects that improve the well-being of inhabitants.
Cities in Decline: Finding Something To Celebrate
News always comes in twos; there's the good news, and then there's the bad news. In the city of Windsor, Canada, the bad news has consistently been their ailing economy. Residents look for something to celebrate.
The Big Commuter Experiment, Gothenburg (Sweden)
In 2010 Västtrafik launched a public campaign called "The Big Commuter Experiment". Motorists were offered a free two-week ticket on public transport. Car owners received information in a letter sent to their homes.
Shoring up cities against disaster
UN-Habitat launched a new programme calling on Heads of State and governments at the Rio +20 conference to provide a framework to help make cities around the world safer from disasters.
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