ICLEI European Secretariat

6 - 7 June 2013 : Informed Cities Forum 2013 & InContext Final Conference - Berlin, Germany

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:15:14 +0100

This event will be the meeting place for local government and community representatives, researchers and other actors interested in exploring how, through working together, we can facilitate change and move towards better places, stronger communities and resilient societies. This is an unmissable event for those with the ambition to act as a change agent within their own community or organisation.

The Informed Cities Forum 2013 & InContext Final Conference will take place from 6 – 7 June in the heart of ICLEI Member Berlin (Germany), the city that has come to symbolise change and urban transformation, acting as a creative laboratory for bottom-up initiatives.

The conference will be an interactive space for developing, shaping and exchanging ideas, centered on changing roles of local governments, researchers and citizens; embedding co-creation and transition management in urban governance; and mobilising the potential of bottom-up initiatives.

Looking for fresh ideas to inspire you in your work? Hoping to find people to join you in making your ideas a reality? This is the event you are looking for.

The conference is free of charge and limited funds are available for travel reimbursement.

Go to the event website

19 - 20 June 2013 : 2013 Global Forum on Human Settlements - Berlin, Germany

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:15:11 +0100

Every year the international negotiations on sustainable development aim to bring us globally closer to "the future we want." At last year’s Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, a comprehensive outcome document of that title was adopted and subsequently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly.

Whereas the Rio+20 Conference laid the foundation and charted the overall course for the desirable and needed policy action towards a more sustainable future, the challenges ahead lie in rapidly and effectively implementing the decisions taken by the national governments. As such, ICLEI is proud to be a cooperation partner of the High-level Dialogue on Implementing Rio+20 Decisions on Sustainable Cities and Urban Transport & 2013 Global Forum on Human Settlements, taking place 19-20 June 2013 in Berlin (Germany).

The main topics on the agenda will be urban (transport) planning and construction, sustainable transport operation and management, sustainable transport innovation policies and models, industry electric vehicles, sustainable city planning and design, sustainable construction, low-carbon tourism, renewable energy and smart grids.

A prestigious award will also be presented at the ceremony, rewarding the cities deemed to have done the most to support sustainable settlements. Awards will be given in a wide range of categories, from green mobility to green technology, to the most impressive residential area. The Global Green City Award application form is available to download below.

A range of interesting study visits in and around Berlin will complement the programme.

Speakers will include high-level officials of the UN and EU, mayors from Berlin and other famous cities, experts and scholars, representatives from international organizations, industry associations and enterprises, etc.

24 - 25 October 2013 : Local Renewables Freiburg 2013 - Freiburg, Germany

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:30:10 +0100

The ongoing economic crisis, the challenges of climate change and increasing resource scarcity mean it is imperative that we shift to sustainable economies. Safe, secure and, in the long run, affordable energy will only be available by switching to renewable sources that contribute to the local economy and improving energy efficiency. This will support sustainable development and innovation.

Cities can drive this process, and take the necessary steps to move towards Smart Cities, Solar Cities and low-carbon economies. Yet questions remain on where to start and how to plan this transition. Which tools are available to support planning and financing of local energy / climate action? Is the potential to stimulate the local economy and create local jobs really as large as believed? The 6th Local Renewables Conference will explore these issues, with a particular emphasis on how local governments can embrace clean energy and tackle financial, planning and regulatory challenges to shape their solar city.

The conference will bring together policy-makers from various levels of government, as well as representatives from energy, research and business, to analyse how cities can optimise collaboration with local stakeholders (such as business, civil society and academia); evaluate technological innovations such as solar cooling and waste-to-energy solutions; identify various sources of financing local action (public and private sources), and look at ways of developing meaningful financial partnerships.