ICLEI European Secretariat

7.9.2010 : European Mobility Week launches 2010 Best Practice Guide

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:26:51 +0200

The 2010 Best Practice Guide for European Mobility Week has been released. The document aims to promote best practice in European cities and towns, drawing examples from a selection of high-performing European cities. Included amongst the good practice examples are schemes from ICLEI members Stockholm and Sundsvall (Sweden), Budapest (Hungary) and Rome (Italy).

Taking place from 16-22 September, European Mobility Week promotes public awareness of the need to act against pollution caused by motorised traffic in urban environments. European Mobility Week 2010’s focal theme is 'Travel Smarter, Live Better', and, this year, organisers aim to focus on health and mobility.

Participating cities and towns organise their own events during the week to show their support for measures for a better quality of life in the urban environment. Over 1,000 cities have already registered to take part in European Mobility Week and registration is still open for any city that wants to host an event.

For a copy of the 2010 Best Practice Guide, click here.

3.9.2010 : CONCERTO Final Forum to take place in December

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:30:37 +0200

The CONCERTO City: Every-City conference will present the results that have been drawn from the experiences of the 58 European cities that implement the CONCERTO concept. The event will take place from 6-7 December in Place Rogier in ICLEI member the Brussels Capital Region.

The different sessions of the Forum will identify solutions found for some of the challenges that face cities today and propagate their European dimension and replication potential. Key topics include CONCERTO’s achievements so far, as well as how to optimise energy performance, financing sustainable built environment in European cities and creating the adequate regulatory and political environment, amongst others.

The programme includes half-day plenary and parallel sessions on the opening day, followed by another half-day plenary session on the second day. The CONCERTO initiative aims to support local communities in developing and demonstrating concrete strategies and actions that are both sustainable and highly energy efficient. Participation is free for this event and registration is currently open.

For further information, contact euro.keys@eurokeys.com.

2.9.2010 : ICLEI members make final list for European Green Capital Awards

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:54:41 +0200

Five of the six finalists chosen for the 2013 and 2013 European Green Capital awards are members of ICLEI; Barcelona (Spain), Malmö (Sweden), Nantes (France), Nuremburg (Germany), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain). These five cities were chosen from a list of 52 applicants.

The results will be revealed during the First European Green Capital Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, 20 – 22 October, 2010. An evaluation panel, set up by the European Commission, began the process of examining applications from cities after the 1 February 2010 application deadline. Cities are evaluated on the grounds of the competition selection criteria.

ICLEI member city Stockholm (Sweden) is the current, 2010 Green Capital. Hamburg, also an ICLEI member has already been selected as the 2011 Green Capital.The European Green Capital Awards aim to recognise the urban sustainability achievements of European cities whose environmental performance stands out from the crowd.

For further information, click here.

1.9.2010 : Former Mayor of Barcelona elected as head of UN-HABITAT

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:57 +0200

Joan Clos, a former mayor of ICLEI member city Barcelona, has been appointed head of housing agency UN-HABITAT. After being nominated by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the appointment was approved by the United Nations General Assembly. Clos replaces Anna Tibaijuka as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and is expected to serve a four year term.

Clos has had a long career in the Spanish Government both at the local and national level. Between 2006 and 2008, he was appointed Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Between 1997 and 2006, he served two terms as Mayor of Barcelona. His last role was as Spain´s Ambassador to the Republics of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

UN-HABITAT aims to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. In 1996, ICLEI and UN-HABITAT signed a memorandum of understanding at Habitat II. Since then, ICLEI has been a partner in the UN-HABITAT Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme (BLP), which works with a decentralized network of organizations committed to the identification, analysis and dissemination of lessons learned from best practices.

For further information, click here.

31.8.2010 : Website launched to support water project funding call

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:43:02 +0200

The European Union has made €40 million available to support water partnership projects with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. To aid these water partnerships, a website has been launched by the University of Greenwich. It provides assistance in finding partners or help with drafting concept notes or full proposals, as well as offering more general advice and information.

The website’s aim is to help water utilities, local authorities and civil society organisations use EU aid to build not-for-profit water partnerships for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. It is funded under a contract from the European Commission.

Grants of between €250,000 and €1,000,000 are to be awarded for schemes that must last between two and five years. Concept notes of a maximum of four pages must be submitted by applicants by 6 October.

For further information, click here.

30.8.2010 : Sustainable Biomass for European Energy to take place in Belgium

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:25:09 +0200

A new conference, Sustainable Biomass for European Energy, will be held by the Belgian Presidency of the European Union on 29-30 November. The event will take place in Committee of the Regions in ICLEI member the Brussels-Capital Region and is held in cooperation with VITO and ValBiom, Wallonia and the Flemish Region.

The conference will attempt to address several key questions: whether there is enough biomass to realise the 2020 target for renewable energy; how the local production of biomass be increased and how much biomass can be imported; what should the provisions be for a sustainability ordinance in the field of stationary bioenergy use; is there need for a European framework and how to use biomass in the most optimal way.

The second day of the event will be dedicated to displays of innovative biomass installations in both Flanders and Wallonia. Policymakers, experts, civil servants and stakeholders from the European Union are expected to attend the conference.

For further information, click here.

25.8.2010 : Stockholm set for What about Urban Nature conference

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:30:25 +0200

What about Urban Nature – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is a new conference to be held in ICLEI member the City of Stockholm on 14-15 October, 2010. The conference will take place in the House of the European Commission in Sweden and will focus on opportunities and methods to combine urban development, biodiversity and access to ecosystem services that urban nature can provide.

The conference aims to present research and good practises, and to give a platform for an exchange of experiences and to discuss future collaborations. Side events will begin the day before the conference, on 13 October. Registration is still open and there is a participation fee of €150.

The City of Stockholm has been awarded the EU Green Capital 2010 by the EU Commission and will give a presentation on some of the city’s own experience during the event.

For further information, click here .

24.8.2010 : Video explores the effects and reasons behind the European Green Capital Award

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:56:16 +0200

As the quest to become the European Green Capital for 2012 and 2013 continues, a new video takes a look at the short history of the award and why it was established. ICLEI member cities Stockholm (Sweden) and Hamburg (Germany), were the first winners of the Award for 2010 and 2011 respectively, and they discuss what winning has meant to them.

Regional Director of ICLEI Europe, Gino Van Begin also appears in the video and explains that, “The Green Capital Award is a means for recognising these ambitions, for recognising the efforts that cities are making”. ICLEI has an active role in the process and is once again on the judging panel for the next cycle of the Award.

Six finalists have been chosen to vie for the title of European Green Capital 2012 and 2013. Nuremberg (Germany) and ICLEI member cities Barcelona and Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), Malmö (Sweden), Nantes (France) and Reykjavík (Iceland) have been shortlisted by the award's evaluation panel and must now prepare for an enhanced contest.

To view the video, click here.

23.8.2010 : SWITCH video shows the future of water management

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:23:48 +0200

A new video has been produced by ICLEI as part of the SWITCH - Managing Water for the City of the Future project.

The video describes an imaginary city in the future that successfully manages its water in an integrated way. It has been produced to demonstrate the SWITCH vision for urban water management as well as to promote the SWITCH Training Kit currently being developed by ICLEI. The different aspects of water management mentioned in the video will be covered in a series of training modules, which will be available, free-of-charge, in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

SWITCH is a five-year project led by UNESCO-IHE that is working with 13 cities worldwide, including ICLEI members Zaragoza, Birmingham and Hamburg, to investigate and promote sustainable urban water systems through action research and multi-stakeholder Learning Alliances. The project is part-funded by Directorate General Research of the European Commission and will end in January 2011.

To view the video, click here.

20.8.2010 : Freiburg launches Green City Cluster website

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:44:23 +0200

ICLEI member city Freiburg (Germany) has launched a new Green City Cluster initiative. The initiative consists of a website that contains information on a huge number of locally-based companies, including firms that specialise in energy, solar technology, environmental technology, building and construction, mobility and green products, as well as education and trainings.

Green City Cluster aims to help its members position themselves better on the international markets for products and services in the areas of renewable and solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable building and planning, as well as environmental technologies. Another goal is to create future-oriented employment opportunities in the Freiburg region. This can be achieved by networking, the transfer of knowledge, support for innovation and the development of the Green City Freiburg brand.

There are currently around 12,000 people employed in green industries in the Freiburg region. Freiburg is famous internationally for its environmental approach and use of solar and renewable energy. It is also the host city for the ICLEI European Secretariat and has a strong track record of sustainable development in promoting local public transport and bicycle infrastructure.

For further information, click here.

19.8.2010 : New green schemes in Bristol

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:27:25 +0200

A new grant scheme has been announced by ICLEI member Bristol City Council (United Kingdom), to help residents who want to run green projects. The Bristol Green Capital Community Challenge Fund will offer grants ranging from £1,000 to over £10,000 to charities, groups of volunteers and not-for-profit organisations.

Council leader Barbara Janke said, “We want Bristol to become a low carbon city with a high quality of life and have set a number of targets to reach, including a 40% reduction in the city’s carbon emissions by 2020.” For application details, click here. The closing date for new applications is 31 January 2011.

Meanwhile, residents of St Paul’s area in Bristol are set to take part in a new scheme for their household waste and recycling. From 16 August, around 800 homes will be given a communal bin system, which will replace their individual wheelie and recycling bins. The communal bins are seagull, rodent and fox-proof, which will cut down on spillage from ripped bags.

For further information, click here.

18.8.2010 : Zero emissions district to be built in Heidelberg

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:48:05 +0200

ICLEI member city Heidelberg (Germany) has launched an ambitious plan to build a large, new, zero-emissions city district on the site of a former goods station. The new district will be known as Bahnstadt, be centrally located and cover a total of 116 hectares - more than Heidelberg’s old town.

Buildings shall be built according to passive house standards and renewable energy will be supplied, largely by district heating from biomass thermal power plants and deep geothermics. Promotional funds will be available for the construction of passive houses, with the aim of becoming the largest passive housing area in the world.

The plans for Bahnstadt also include rainwater management systems, nature protection and good public transport infrastructure, as well as a thorough electricity-saving concept. Bahnstadt will be a residential area, as well as a base for business and research.

For further information, click here.

17.8.2010 : City of Malmö prepares to host the 2010 Annual CIVITAS Forum Conference

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:29:35 +0200

ICLEI member the City of Malmö (Sweden) is getting ready to host the 2010 Annual CIVITAS Forum Conference, which will take place from 27-29 September this year. The event is run by the CIVITAS Initiative and can provide cities with a platform for exchanging views with European politicians, as well as a chance to speak with leading experts in urban mobility.

To register for this year’s event, click here. There is no registration fee involved, but participants should be ready to explain their affiliation to CIVITAS within their application. The CIVITAS Forum Network currently includes 181 cities from 30 European countries.

During the conference, Malmö will receive the opportunity to share its own success stories with other participants. The city is renowned for its eco-friendly neighbourhoods and successful public transport system, which includes one of Europe’s most extensive bicycle networks.

For further information, click here.

16.8.2010 : Coudekerque-Branche fruit scheme top of the class

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:04:39 +0200

A successful school-diet project is underway in ICLEI member the Municipality of Coudekerque-Branche (France). The scheme, named ‘Récré Fruitées’, consists of offering pupils one piece of fruit a day during school time, ensuring students learn the importance of having a healthy diet from a young age.

As a result of the project, a total of around 3,000 pieces of fruit a day and 35 different types a year are consumed by students. Extra training is available for local teachers as support for the initiative, which has been running since 2008. ‘Récré Fruitées’ is the only French project of its kind north of Paris.

The Municipality of Coudekerque-Branche presented the initiative at the 6th European Sustainable Cities and Towns Conference, which was held in Dunkerque (France) in May 2010. The conference showcased the many sustainable initiatives underway across Europe through a range of plenaries, presentations and discussion groups. ICLEI is a partner in the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign, which began in 1994.

For further information, click here.

13.8.2010 : New Cycle Hire Scheme gets underway in London

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:29:49 +0200

A new bicycle hire scheme has been launched by ICLEI member the Greater London Authority. The Cycle Hire Scheme offers 6,000 new bicycles, available to rent at anytime for anyone who has already signed up. Membership costs £1 a day, £5 a week or £45 a year. Plans are already underway to extend the scheme to non-members.

The bicycles are sturdy, weigh around 23 kilos and have blue frames. The Cycle Hire Scheme has 400 docking stations, over 10,000 spaces in total, spread all across the city. The total cost of the scheme has been estimated at just under €100 million, however around €28 million of that was spent on the development of 16 miles of new ‘Cycle Superhighways’.

The bikes are aimed at short-distance commuters and this is reflected in the pricing. Rental is free for the first half hour, which is designed to encourage users to return the bikes quickly. An online map is available, showing the locations of the docking stations.

For further information, click here.

12.8.2010 : New United Nations panel set up to promote sustainability

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:32:18 +0200

The Presidents of Finland and South Africa will lead a new panel established by the United Nations (UN) to promote a global plan for sustainable development, as well as addressing climate change. Finnish President Tarja Halonen and South African President Jacob Zuma head up a panel that includes, amongst others, the Prime Minister of Barbados and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, as well as former Prime Ministers from Norway, Korea, Japan and Mozambique.

The panel has been named Global Sustainability High Level Working Group and will concentrate on sustainable global development and work to remove poverty in a way that does not harm the environment. The final report of Global Sustainability High Level Working Group will be submitted by the end of 2011.

It is hoped that the findings from these reports could help set the agenda for the 2012 Rio De Janeiro UN Sustainable Growth conference.

For further information, click here.

11.8.2010 : Learn, debate and innovate at Local Renewables Freiburg 2010

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:50:47 +0200

Do electric cars turn car manufacturers into mobility service providers? Can cities and the automotive industry work together for sustainable urban mobility's future? Do cities, the automotive industry and energy providers share the same vision? Find out at the Local Renewables Freiburg 2010 conference, which takes place from 14-15 October 2010 in ICLEI member city Freiburg (Germany).

First-class speakers, including Rolf Schumann (CEP at Better Place), Lew Fulton (Senior Transport Energy Specialist at International Energy Agency), Andreas Leo (Corporate Communications Manager for Daimler AG), Andreas Knie (Director Intermodal Services and Business Development at Deutsche Bahn Rent GmbH) and Christian Thiel (Researcher for the Institute for Energy at the European Commission) alongside many others, will address these questions and more at the Local Renewables Conference Freiburg 2010.

You can find out who the other confirmed speakers are and what new approach or innovation they will present by viewing the programme. This year’s conference boasts of the collaboration with the International congress Solar Summits, which represents the perfect setting for the transfer of know-how among researchers, businesses and local government representatives. Come join us in Freiburg to engage, connect, take action and be part of the switch towards a sustainable future - register now.

For further information, contact the conference team at lr2010@iclei.org.

10.8.2010 : ICLEI deliver speech at UN Climate Talks

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:52:25 +0200

ICLEI got involved at last week’s UN Climate Talks, delivering a joint intervention alongside United Cities and Local Government (UCLG). The intervention highlighted the danger that without proper recognition of the role of cities and local governments, it may be difficult for national governments to reach effective conclusions at the next United Nations Conference, to be held in Cancún (Mexico).

ICLEI and UCLG spoke at both the opening and closing of the Climate Talks. Other topics addressed in their interventions included cities and local governments' plan to launch their global response for measurable, reportable, verifiable local climate action, which will take place on 21 November 2010 in Mexico City.

The Climate Talks were held from 2 - 6 August in ICLEI member city Bonn (Germany). The UN Climate Conference is to be held in Cancun, Mexico from 29 November to 10 December 2010. ICLEI acts as the Focal Point of Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency to the UNFCCC since 1995 and coordinates the advocacy work of local governments in the UNFCCC process.

To feed your local government's views and needs into this international process, please submit your input through the LG Action project.

9.8.2010 : Platform for auctioning carbon permits created

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:58:48 +0200

Rules for auctioning carbon permits have been agreed by European Union governments. A central platform will be created to enable the selling of carbon permits, however member states will still be allowed to opt out of this and hold their own auctions. The United Kingdom are understood to be keen to do so. Details of individual auctions are to be published almost a year in advance.

"I am satisfied to see that member states have found a compromise that will provide a basis for a solid common auction platform and that member states can opt out of this common platform provided they meet certain criteria that ensure the proper functioning of auctions and the carbon market," said Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action.

The draft rules have been handed to the European Parliament for a three-month scrutiny period. The venue for the central platform has yet to be decided.

For further information, click here.

6.8.2010 : Water asserted as a basic human right by the United Nations

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:05:23 +0200

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared access to clean water and sanitation to be a basic human right. A resolution was proposed by Bolivia and signed by 33 other countries. At the Assembly 121 voted in favour and none against, however 41 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, abstained from the vote.

Although the non-binding agreement places no obligations on nations to share water resources or to assist other nations in their projects financially, the Assembly called on United Nations Member States and international organisations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer states provide basic facilities. UN figures state that 884 million people live without safe drinking water and that up to 2.9 billion people do not have basic sanitation facilities.

"Every year, around 2 million people die from diseases caused by unsafe water and sanitation, the most of them small children, said German ambassador Peter Wittig. A lack of clean water can result in diarrhea, the second highest cause of death amongst children.

For further information, click here.

4.8.2010 : CIVITAS Plus II Call for Proposals announced

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:30:24 +0200

The European Commission has unveiled the new CIVITAS Plus II Call for Proposals. The proposals were revealed during the second of two information days on Sustainable Surface Transport, held in Brussels. Cities can apply for funding as part of CIVITAS Plus II which aims to support them in designing, deploying and evaluating ambitious new policies and technologies for more sustainable urban transport.

Included amongst the expected impacts of CIVITAS Plus II are the promotion of integrated approaches to urban transport planning and financing, the networking of cities to promote dialogue and the development of methods of assessing the cost-effectiveness and long-term viability of integrated packages of mobility measure.

The CIVITAS Plus II call has an indicative budget of 18 Million Euro and will open on 21 September 2010 and close on 12 April 2011. Information can be found from pages 61 to 66 of the Sustainable Surface Transport Work Programme for 2011, now available for download here.

For further information, click here.

3.8.2010 : New Rotterdam conference to focus on how climate change affects deltas

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:06:25 +0200

What climate change could mean for deltas and delta cities will be examined in a new conference, Deltas in Times of Climate Chance Rotterdam 2010 - Connecting world science and deltas. The event will take place in ICLEI member city Rotterdam from 29 September to 1 October 2010.

The programme will see leading figures from the political and business communities take part in sessions, focusing on the latest scientific insights on topics such as flood risk management, salt water intrusion and governance. The conference also hopes to strengthen the ties between delta cities and bridge the gap between science and practice. Home to more than half the world’s population, deltas are set to come under severe threat from rising sea levels.

The conference will be hosted by Climate changes Spatial Planning and Knowledge for Climate, two Dutch research programmes, as well as the City of Rotterdam's Climate Initiative. It is also supported by C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate.

For further information, click here.

30.7.2010 : Cycling lexicon aims to break down language barriers

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:29:41 +0200

The new edition of the European Cycling Lexicon has been released, containing more languages, terms and information on cycling in Europe. This is the second edition of the European Cycling Lexicon and it includes a glossary of cycling terms in 27 languages, including all 23 official European Union languages.

The Lexicon is funded by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and serves as a reference for travellers and anyone who wishes to cycle in Europe. Mr János Tóth, President of the EESC’s Section for Transport said, “Cities that are good for cyclists are cities that are good for all citizens.”

This updated release now includes four more languages in the printed version (Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic) as well as six additional languages online (Croatian, Icelandic, Turkish, Macedonian, Montenegran and Albanian). Information on funding sources for cycling projects and infrastructure, as well as statistics underpinning the economic, environmental and health benefits of cycling have also been added.

To request a print copy, contact ten@eesc.europe.eu.

29.7.2010 : Glasgow gears up for electric transport

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:54:22 +0200

ICLEI member Glasgow (United Kingdom) has joined the e-mobility revolution by acquiring its first fleet of electric, zero emission vehicles. The trial is part of the United Kingdom’s new Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator initiative, a project estimated to be worth £25m. The cars will be used during the council staff’s daily work.

An initial fleet of 10 Peugeot eExpert cars, will be followed in September by 30 Peugeot ePartners. The vehicles have been provided to Glasgow City Council by Allied Electric. The cars have a battery range of between 80 and 100 miles and top speeds of 65 mph.

It is hoped that the trial will gather enough information to make a judgment on the long-term viability of such a project. Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council intends to have city-wide charging points in operation and available to electric car owners by 2011.

For further information, click here.

28.7.2010 : Brussels minister invites Europe to urban renovation seminar

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:06:42 +0200

ICLEI member the Brussels Capital Region (Belgium) is to host an exciting new event, sustain@brussels, a European seminar on urban renovation. The symposium will focus on the best practice for sustainable urban renovation, particularly as part of European Financing programmes and will take place on 15 September 2010.

The event will be hosted by Evelyne Huytebroeck, Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for the Environment, Energy, Water Policy, Urban Renovation, Fire-fighting, Emergency Medical Assistance and Housing.

During the opening morning session, the Belgian capital will share the city’s own experiences through a series of short presentations that examine the sustainable urban renovation policies implemented there during the past few years. These will be presented by speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including property developers, public representatives and architects, as well as citizens. This will be followed by an evening of presentations from industry experts focused on in-depth analyses of projects from all across Europe.

For further information, click here.

27.7.2010 : European Union opens membership negotiations with Iceland

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:07:10 +0200

The European Union (EU) has opened accession talks with Iceland. Having applied for membership of the Union just over one year ago, Iceland has been fast-tracked to this stage. The country is already a member of the European Economic Area and has also subscribed to parts of the Schengen Agreement.

The European Commission will now examine Iceland’s existing laws and their compatibility with those of the EU. Environmental issues will play a large part in any further talks, as Iceland is home to several aluminium smelters.

Despite feeling the effects of an economic downturn, ICLEI member city Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital city, was selected as the host city for EcoProcura 2009, due to their commitment to sustainable purchasing. Iceland unveiled a new national sustainable procurement national action plan during the event.

For further information, click here.

23.7.2010 : Catch up on latest news on sustainable procurement

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:43:00 +0200

The latest release of Sustainable Procurement Update takes a look at issues and developments in that field over the past three months, focusing on the role of public procurement in the food consumption of individuals, something that ICLEI is currently researching as part of Policies to Promote Sustainable Consumption Patterns (EUPOPP), a European Union funded project.

The newsletter also covers the launch of six online working groups by the Sustainable Construction and Innovation (SCI) Network. These working groups cover a variety of topics, including procuring innovation and sustainable renovation. ICLEI’s publication of the UN Green Meeting Guide in Spanish is also amongst the 12 distinct topics explored.

The Sustainable Procurement Update is published by ICLEI and covers the work of Procura⁺ - an initiative designed to help support public authorities in implementing Sustainable Procurement and to promote their achievements.

For further information, click here.

22.7.2010 : Outlook healthy for renewables according to Global Status Report

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:24:53 +0200

Global investment in renewables topped non-renewables for the second consecutive year in 2009, according to newly-released Global Status Report from REN21. The report also states that more new power capacity came from renewable sources than from fossil fuels in the USA and Europe during the same period.

According to REN21, almost 80 GW of renewable capacity was added worldwide, 37 GW of that in world-leader China. Despite the economic downturn, it seems as if investment in green energy grew and this trend carried on through to the start of 2010, which seen first quarter rise of over 50 percent on the same period a year before.

Worldwide, an estimated 3 million people are employed in renewable energies industries. With assistance from ICLEI, 180 cities and local governments were studied as part of the report and receive special praise for their willingness to establish future targets. REN21 are a renewable energy policy network.

For further information, click here.

21.7.2010 : Local Renewables Freiburg 2010 registration is now open

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:59:10 +0200

If urban mobility is the current challenge, is the integration of renewable energy in mobility plans the answer? Find out at the Local Renewables Conference Freiburg 2010. Held on 14-15 October 2010, in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) the conference will deal with the role of renewables in sustainable urban mobility.

This event addresses local governments and local decision-makers - those responsible for planning urban mobility and dealing with climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches. Experts in the field, decision-makers, energy service providers and business representatives will meet and discuss the challenge of urban mobility and the solutions offered by renewable energy.

The focus is on innovative ideas, proven methods and technologies, as well as presenting successful renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in mobility. Be part of this transition. Exchange, engage, connect, take action and be part of the switch towards a sustainable future: register now and join us in Freiburg!

For the first announcement, available in English, Francais, Español, Deutsch and Italiano, click here

20.7.2010 : SURE project releases Krakow Declaration

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:34:12 +0200

SURE, a research project supported by the European Commission, has released The Krakow Declaration - on a Sustainable Future for Europe and the World. The paper is the result of a conference held in the Polish city in March of this year, which saw over 70 participants from 14 EU member states and Croatia take part.

The Krakow Declaration outlines the challenges facing national, local and regional governments as they battle against climate change. It advocates dealing with large issues on a local or community level, as well as addressing the climate-related problems facing, or caused by, major industry.

The build up to this declaration began with a workshop in ICLEI member city Gothenburg (Sweden), in late 2009. The SURE project takes its name from its main focus – sustainable regeneration. SURE was commissioned by the Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency and is co-funded through the EU’s Europe for Citizens programme.

For a copy of the declaration, click here.

16.7.2010 : Belgium takes over EU Presidency as cyclists call for change

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:58:40 +0200

Belgium began its presidency of the European Union (EU) this month, amidst growing calls for cycling to be moved to the top of the transport agenda. The European Cyclists Federation, along with lobby groups Fietsersbond and Gracq, has issued a memorandum that outlines suggestions for improving awareness of the benefits of cycling.

The memorandum calls on the Belgian leadership to introduce measures that have succeeded in their country to the wider EU. These include bicycle education programmes, two-way cycling on one-way streets and fiscal incentives to promote cycling to work. In the near future the EU may pass a White Paper on a Sustainable Future for Transport, as well as the 4th Road Safety Action Programme. These key documents could affect the next decade of transport policy.

Belgium last took charge of the EU presidency, rotates between member states, in 2001. Each period lasts for six months and Hungary are due to take over from the beginning of 2011.

For further information, click here.

15.7.2010 : Copenhagen children sowing the seeds of environmental action

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:06:18 +0200

ICLEI member city Copenhagen (Denmark) is turning to the next generation as part of an ambitious Climate Plan. 1,500 school children will be selected and then trained as Climate Ambassadors, becoming experts in environmental issues. These students will then be able to communicate issues to their classmates, as well as initiate new schemes to ensure that sustainable measures are introduced in their school.

A comprehensive pilot project, called A New Climate Generation, is already underway in schools in the Municipality of Copenhagen. In 2009 four schools, including Gulbergskole and Matthaeusgade Skole, were selected as Climate Schools, and underwent some sustainability-friendly repairs.

The aim of Copenhagen’s Climate Plan is to establish the Danish capital as a carbon neutral city by 2025. Other initiatives include the Children’s Climate Forest, which has seen children plant 8,111 trees so far. By the end of this project it is hoped that each middle-school student in Copenhagen will have been given the chance to plant a tree in his or her local environment and it is hoped that this will help teach them about green issues while improving the city.

For further information, click here.

14.7.2010 : Europe looking ahead to EU Sustainable Energy Week 2011

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:08:24 +0200

Preparations are already underway for EU Sustainable Energy Week 2011. Running from 11-15 April 2011, this key event will have a particular focus on energy efficiency, whilst also continuing its commitment to drawing attention to renewable energy.

The organisers are sending out a Europe-wide call, asking people to join in and organise an Energy Day in their city, town or region during this week in April 2010. An Energy Day event can be anything from exhibitions, conferences, online events, and performances to guided tours, open door days, workshops, media campaigns or concerts. All events are welcomed, as long as they encourage and promote energy efficiency or renewable energy.

Plans have also been put in place for a series of events in Brussels (Belgium), including a 3-day policy conference organised by the European Commission, which will run from 12-14 April 2011. EU Sustainable Energy Week is an annual event which began in 2005.

For further information, contact eusew@sustenergy.org.

13.7.2010 : Christiana Figueres takes over key UN Climate Change Framework post

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:32:59 +0200

Costa Rica’s Christiana Figueres has been appointed the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Ms Figueres, a member of the Costa Rican negotiating team since 1995, has led a distinguished career within the UN, dedicating herself to negotiating global strategies to combat climate change. For this, she received National Geographic’s Hero for the Planet award in 2001.

The appointment was made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Ms. Figueres’ predecessor, Dutch diplomat Yvo de Boer, led the praise, “I have known Christiana Figueres for many years and can testify to her deep commitment and work.” A talented facilitator, published writer and noted public-speaker, Ms Figueres is aware of the scale of her new role, “I am humbled by the opportunity of the challenging task at hand” she said.

Based in Bonn, Germany, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has 194 members and is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Ms Figueres will now oversee preparations for the next major UN Climate Change summit in Cancun (Mexico), in November.

For further information, click here.

12.7.2010 : UK's North-East moves to implement Whole-Life-Costing Tool

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:22:50 +0200

More than 50 public procurers of UK's North East region have been trained in using the Whole-Life-Costing and CO₂ Assessment Tool, developed by the SMART SPP project. The Excel-based tool is presented alongside a practical guide explaining the steps a public authority can take to encourage energy efficient innovation through public procurement.

It aims to help save money while reducing CO₂ emissions by calculating not only acquisition but also maintenance, operation and end-of-life costs. The SMART SPP project promotes early market engagement between public authority procurers and developers of innovative products or services during public tenders. Though still in development, feedback on the tool is already positive with Vicky Reevel, Procurement Officer for Sunderland City Council, saying it is a "comprehensive tool, that’s relatively simple to use if you have the data to populate".

The training series, supported by the North East Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, will continue in September 2010. The Whole-Life-Costing and CO₂ Assessment Tool is available online and a final release is scheduled for 2011.

For further information, contact philipp.tepper@iclei.org.

9.7.2010 : Stockholm to host first European Green Capital Conference

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:59:38 +0200

The City of Stockholm (Sweden), will host the first European Green Capital Conference from 20-22 October 2010. The conference will present inspiring examples of how ICLEI member city Stockholm and other European and international cities work towards their common main challenge: meeting the demands of growing cities, and combining them with a sustainable urban development.

Stockholm is the European Green Capital for 2010 and was chosen for its broad range of initiatives. These include the city’s clear and effective measures towards reducing noise pollution, its protection plan, which sets new standards for cleaner water and the fact that 95 percent of the population lives less than 300 metres from a green area. The conference will also be the location for the announcement of the winners of the European Green Capital title for 2012 and 2013.

Mr Janez Potonik, the European Commissioner for the Environment, will announce the winners at a Gala Dinner in Stockholm City Hall. The finalists for the 2012 and 2013 awards are Nuremberg (Germany) and ICLEI member cities Barcelona and Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), Malmö (Sweden), Nantes (France) and Reykjavík (Iceland). ICLEI has been invited to join the jury panel once again and will be represented by Regional Director for Europe, Gino Van Begin.

For further information, click here.

8.7.2010 : European Democracy Week to focus on fight against climate change

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:32:12 +0200

European Local Democracy Week 2010 running from 11-17 October, is a pan-European campaign concerning the over 200,000 municipalities and local authorities in the 47 countries that are part of the Council of Europe.

Organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe its aim is to raise the profile of local governments, increase their transparency, and, in particular, to involve the people in the processes of participatory democracy familiarising them with local decision-making mechanisms. European Local Democracy Week 2010 has a topical theme - The impact of sustainable communities in fighting climate change. It was chosen to make local authorities and the public aware of the importance of working together towards the common goal of safeguarding the environment and its integrity for future generations.

The European Local Democracy Week website is constantly being updated with new information, including useful suggestions for organising public initiatives in a number of areas, such as saving energy and water, renewable energies and clean urban mobility. These suggestions can be used to organise activities involving schools, associations, technical and economic operators, the elderly, young people and families.

For further information, visit www.coe.int/demoweek, or contact democracy.week@cor.int.

7.7.2010 : Hannover makes a climate protection alliance

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:26:06 +0200

ICLEI member city Hannover (Germany), has set ambitious targets for climate protection within the scope of its Climate Alliance 2020 programme. The programme aims to cut local CO₂ emissions by 40 percent by the year 2020, making Hannover one of the most ambitious cities, both in Germany and internationally.

In close co-operation with the city's energy utilities company Stadtwerke Hannover AG, and under the guidance of the city of Hannover, around 80 partners from companies and organisations of the industry, office buildings, residential and multiplicators work groups have announced their own climate protection goals. Many projects make up the programme including giving older less energy efficient buildings a makeover, constructing new buildings that meet strict ecological and low energy standards, introducing efficient technology into the industrial sector to decrease emissions from this area and extending the use of combined heat and power (CHP).

Stadtwerke Hannover AG also wants aims to produce 700,000 tons less CO₂ effective in the Hannover balance with regards to supply (compared to 1990), as well as increase energy generation from renewable sources and CHP by around 50 percent. Hannover’s citizens are also encouraged to get involved and there is now an energy advice centre, a telephone hotline and several organisations such as the Bürgerinitiative Umweltschutz.

For further information, click here.

6.7.2010 : IEA releases technology scenario roadmap

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:40:17 +0200

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Energy Technology Perspectives 2010, will provide local government staff with new and valuable material to assist the development of their local sustainable energy action plans and emission reductions scenarios.

The information will be a valuable resource for the process of educating elected officials and communities about the need for rapid change, and some of the expected technologies that will help local governments make a difference. The report introduction notes that there is now evidence of many “green shoots” but there is still an urgent need for a rapid, large-scale deployment of low-carbon technologies, and a massive decarbonisation of the energy system to break the historical link between CO₂ emissions and economic output.

The report concludes that decarbonising the electricity sector must involve dramatically increasing the shares of renewables but that nuclear power, and carbon capture and storage (CCS), will play significant roles in the future energy supplies.

For further information, click here.

5.7.2010 : Photovoltaic plants for Ferrara

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:07:08 +0200

ICLEI member, the Municipality of Ferrara (Italy), is implementing an innovative new project called Photovoltaic for Ferrara. Photovoltaics is a type of solar power where photovoltaic solar panels convert solar radiation into direct current electricity. The project will see the introduction of new photovoltaic plants in various areas in the municipality.

These plants will meet the energy needs of Ferrara and contribute to solving citizen’s energy and environmental problems. A technical team selected the most suitable public areas owned by the Municipality as sites for the plants. Ten areas were selected according to the characteristics of the buildings and/or the type of soil. The project aims to increase the value of unused municipal owned sites, contribute to solving energy and environmental problems and produce clean renewable energy.

Ferrara has issued a call for tenders in order to select the suppliers that will make the project a reality. The contract for the project includes the management, financial supporting, making and maintenance of the photovoltaic plants already selected. These will become the property of the supplier when the contract expires, preventing the Municipality from incurring extra costs. The Municipality of Ferrara wants to create a utility without investing extra funding and the clean energy will be used by the administration itself and other users on the territory.

For further information, visit www.comune.fe.it.

2.7.2010 : Procura⁺ Manual now available in Russian

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:17:46 +0200

Russian speakers now have the chance to find out how to put sustainable public procurement into practice by using the Procura⁺ Manual. Procura⁺ is an initiative that supports public authorities in implementing sustainable procurement and then promotes their achievements.

The Campaign was established in 2004 by ICLEI, and allows public authorities to contribute to a growing international movement and help bring about real change on the market. With versions in English, German, Catalan, Greek, Croatian, French and Italian, the Manual is now also available in Russian.

A newsletter outlining how to download and best use the Manual will be disseminated among the municipalities of the Ukrainian Network for Local Environmental Sustainability. In Nikolaev (Ukraine), where the translation is based, the translation has been used for the sustainable procurement of energy saving equipment. The Manual will also be used for step by step guidance in other sustainable procurement activities.

For further information, contact yuriykerbunov@mail.ru.

30.6.2010 : Informed Cities taking stock and moving ahead

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:00:53 +0200

The quarterly Informed Cities Update with the latest news on making research work for local sustainability is now online. The update contains details about free support available to evaluate and benchmark sustainability processes, as well as a recap of the first Informed Cities Forum that brought together local leaders and researchers from all over Europe.

Other news includes a look back at both the Informed Cities Forum in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) and the 6th Sustainable Cities and Towns Conference in Dunkerque (France). Over 110 participants from 24 countries took part in the Forum, a key European event linking research and local policy-making for sustainable development, hosted by Northumbria University. At Dunkerque 2010, the Informed Cities session was organised by ICLEI, with the city of Turku and Åbo Akademi (Finland), demonstrating how close cooperation between a city and its local universities can accelerate local sustainable development. Advancity, a French urban innovation pole, proved that excellent solutions can be developed by public, private and academic sectors together.

In the next nine months Informed Cities experts will visit 12 European countries, inviting interested local authorities to discuss the methodology and practice behind measuring and benchmarking local sustainability. We want you to be part of this discussion!

To read the update, click here.

29.6.2010 : Dublin develops Sustainable Energy Action Plan

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:29:52 +0200

ICLEI member city Dublin (Ireland), is working with energy agency Codema to achieve a carbon emissions reduction of 33 percent by 2020. The city details it's proposed actions in its new Sustainable Energy Action Plan.

The Plan shows how over the next 20 years, the introduction of carbon neutral and low-energy buildings, improvements in information technology and the development of a low-carbon transport system could lead to the city reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent. Local authorities in Dublin will also increase their use of renewable energy. Dublin City Council is producing renewable electricity locally at Fr Collins Park, which opened as Ireland’s first wholly sustainable urban park last year. Five 50 kilowatt wind turbines provide electricity for the park’s sport facilities, public lighting and water aeration, bringing the portion of renewable energy for the Council’s own use to 19 percent.

Dublin also signed up to the Covenant of Mayors last year, which is a commitment by signatory towns and cities to go beyond the EU targets for a reduction in carbon emissions. Lord Mayor Emer Costello says, “We are extremely proud of Dublin’s involvement in the Covenant of Mayors and of our solid commitment to make Dublin an energy-smart city over the next 10 to 20 years. Our long-term vision for the city is one of smart buildings complemented by smart behaviour”.

For further information, click here.

28.6.2010 : Helsinki named the world’s third most ecological city

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:22:27 +0200

The city of Helsinki (Finland) clinched third place in this year’s eco-city index of the Mercer Quality of Living survey. The ICLEI member city tops the ranking among European cities.

According to the survey, the world’s most ecological city is Calgary (Canada), with Honolulu (United States) in second place. Helsinki shares third place with Canadian capital city Ottawa. Other Nordic capitals also fare well in the survey, with three other ICLEI members cities coming in the top ten, Copenhagen (Denmark) in eighth place and Oslo (Norway) and Stockholm (Sweden), sharing ninth place.

The survey’s eco-ranking of cities is based on water availability and drinkability, waste removal, quality of sewage systems, air pollution and traffic congestion. In overall quality of living, European cities topped the polls as being the best places to live. Vienna (Austria), took the top spot for the second year running, followed by Zurich and Geneva (Switzerland). The survey assesses 221 cities across 39 different factors, which include political stability in the city, crime levels, health, education, sanitation and eco-rankings.

For further information, click here.

25.6.2010 : Creating a CO₂ free district of the future in Copenhagen

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:06:32 +0200

The city of Copenhagen is busily working on achieving its goal of becoming C02 neutral by 2025. As part of its plan the ICLEI member city is focusing on creating a CO₂ free city district.

Amager Faelled Bykvarter is the chosen area and Copenhagen has prepared catalogues which show that in the long-term the transition to CO₂ neutral can be made at no higher cost than a conventional urban area. The plan has not been accepted yet but is clearly an innovative and ambitious initiative. The vision includes a street plan with a clear hierarchy of streets and squares, no long straight roads, shifts in the building structure and varied successions of open and closed spaces to create shelter.

All buildings will be low energy, using less than 50 percent of the energy of standard buildings. A major percentage of the energy will come from wind turbines, with buildings also equipped with solar cells and panels. In the year 2010, a resident of Amager Faelled Bykvarter will use 65 percent less energy than a Copenhagener consumed in 2008. To clearly show its vision of Amager Faelled Bykvarter the city produced a video. The case study is a part of the many projects developed in the municipality of Copenhagen in relation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

For further information, contact Annette Egetoft at aneget(at)tmf.kk.dk.

24.6.2010 : Bikes go electric in Aalborg

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:20:24 +0200

As part of the city of Aalborg’s commuter travel plan a group of employees at one of the participating companies is offering their employees the chance to test an electric bike as a new green way of getting to and from work. Aalborg (Denmark), is both an ICLEI member and a member of the CIVITAS Initiative, a European Commission funded project that promotes sustainable urban mobility in cities across Europe.

In the commuter travel plan the employees’ travel behaviour was examined in a survey. The survey showed that the majority of commuters travel by car. In addition, only a small group of the employees used bicycles to travel to and from work. Ten employees were asked to test the electric bikes for a period of four months. The participants had to have previously been car users, be willing to use the new bike no less than four days a week, and have a distance of more than 5 km to work.

The electric is bicycle equipped with an electric motor that only assists the cyclists when pedaling. Therefore, the cyclist still needs to be active in order to get moving. An electric bike is an environmentally friendly and health promoting way of traveling. It also removes barriers to cycling such as level of fitness and travel distance.

For further information, click here.

23.6.2010 : FA!R PROCURA 2010 Conference to provide platform for exchange and discussion

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:51:03 +0200

The FA!R PROCURA 2010 Conference is a European event is dedicated to Fair Trade Public Procurement (FTPP) and takes place in Dortmund Westfalenhalle (Germany), on 24 September.

The conference will bring together all the stakeholders the event, providing a platform to share information and engage in discussions with high level European experts. The emphasis will be on how Fair Trade procurement can help public authorities to support sustainable development and make a change for marginalised producers and workers from developing countries.

The programme includes interactive sessions with high level speakers on FTPP from all over Europe, workshops focusing on specific aspects of FTPP such as food - catering, canteens etc. textiles - clothing, uniforms etc. and legal issues. There will also be a session dedicated to the particular FTPP issues in the member states where Fair Trade awareness is low. As a partner in the project ICLEI is helping to organise the conference together with the project coordinator EFTA. The invitation and registration form are available in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Swedish.

For further information, click here.

22.6.2010 : Birmingham gets on its bike

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:53:56 +0200

As part of Team Green Britain Bike Week from 19-27 June, a peloton of cyclists gathered to promote the launch of a campaign by Birmingham City Council (United Kingdom), to encourage more people to cycle to work rather than drive.

The ICLEI member city will be offering anyone who cycles to work for at least one day during Bike Week the chance to cycling vouchers by logging details of their journey online. On 22 June Birmingham City Council will host its first public cycle forum. Team Green Britain Bike Week is the UK’s biggest mass participation cycling event, which is challenging everyone to rethink their everyday journeys and switch to cycling as the most convenient way to get around.

Timothy Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Regeneration at Birmingham City Council, says, “Plenty of people get in their cars and travel to all manner of places without giving it a second thought. Yet hopping on a bike can prove cheaper, better for the environment and give you a healthy boost along the way”.

For further information, click here.

21.6.2010 : Hamburg to host congress on waste under the theme of urban development and sustainability

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:19:14 +0200

The city of Hamburg will host the International Solid Waste Association World Congress 2010 on Urban Development and Sustainability from the 15-18 November 2010.

The event is a unique occasion and offers participants the opportunity to participate in an international forum where outstanding experts in the different fields of Research and Practice will present and discuss the different aspects of a sustainable development in our urbanised world. In several parallel sessions there will be presentations on the latest developments not only on waste management, but on all aspects related to urban development.

There will also be the opportunity to visit different waste treatment plants located in or near Hamburg. The city is an ICLEI member and was awarded the title of the European Green Capital 2010. Speakers include Surya Prakash Chandra, Deputy Director UNEP, On Waste Management and Norbert Röttgen, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany.

For further information, click here.

16.6.2010 : Entries for the 2010 European Solar Prize accepted until the end of June

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:54:30 +0200

Outstanding achievements, innovation and creativity in expanding the use of renewable energy will be recognised through the annual EUROSOLAR European Solar Prize. EUROSOLAR will accept applications and proposals until 30 June 2010.

Established in 1994 the prize has rewarded towns, municipal enterprises, associations or communities, individuals, engineers, architects and also organisations for outstanding service rendered to the use of renewable energy. To cover the broad effects and diversity of renewable energy applications, the prize is presented in several categories. These include, towns/municipalities, council districts, public utilities, owners or operators of renewable energy installations, Local or regional associations/organisations and transport and mobility.

The award is intended to spark and strengthen the public interest in renewable energy. The competition is running in several European countries at the same time through the different EUROSOLAR section members. All winners of the European Solar Prize will be selected from the entrants for the national Solar Prize in each country and from the applications directly received at EUROSOLAR Germany.

For further information, visit www.eurosolar.org.