Cities have emerged as major players on the international scene in recent years. Yet, their ambition to project themselves internationally and to influence global agendas is not a new phenomenon. Cities have operated through organised networks for decades. The first international organisation of cities was the International Union of Local Authorities, created in 1913. Towards the end of the past century, the regional integration processes of the 1990s engendered a proliferation of city networks, especially in Europe but also in Latin America, Africa and Asia. In 2004, the founding of United Cities and Local Governments as a platform for international municipalism marked a turning point.
Today city networks play a growing role in defining and implementing some of the main global agendas. Their involvement in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, their success in adding a territorial dimension to the UN 2030 Agenda, and their participation in the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, are good examples of how city networks are making their voice heard. But the increasing importance attributed to urbanisation processes on international development agendas has also caused a reconfiguration of the ecosystem of city networks that brings with it both risks and opportunities.
This volume seeks to analyse the changing dynamics of the ecosystem of city networks, focusing on how the main platforms operate, what influence they have on global agendas, what services they provide and how they coordinate their efforts. By zooming in on the strategies networks have been developing to enhance their influence and make their operations more effective, the volume examines the added value they provide.
Category: Categories
Urban Transitions Alliance Roadmaps
Industrial legacy cities face unique challenges, as they transition towards vibrant, sustainable and equitable urban centers. Cities around the world can learn lessons from where these cities have been, and how they are moving forward. The new report, "Urban Transitions Alliance Roadmaps: Sustainability Transition Pathways from Industrial Legacy Cities" details four transition pathways that eleven post-industrial cities have undertaken, with implementation ideas and best practices for each. These cities are all a part of the Urban Transitions Alliance, which was built on the premise that by connecting industrial legacy cities from the US, Germany, Poland and China through their transition stories and visions of sustainable urban development, common challenges and transition pathways would emerge.
Reflecting the thematic priorities of the Alliance members, the chapters subsequently focus on challenges and solutions in the fields of Infrastructure, Energy, Mobility, and Social Transition. Each topic is explored in terms of background, barriers and opportunities related to the industrial legacy context. Transition priorities and innovative approaches from the different regions are outlined in key pathways and exemplified in case studies from the Alliance cities and districts. Some of the conditions described might apply in various degrees to cities beyond the industrial legacy context – that is why transition experiences and pathways from the Urban Transitions Alliance can be of value to cities around the globe.
Including Urban Metabolism Principles in Decision-Making
Circular economy and urban metabolism concepts have recently received great attention both in the political and academic arenas, starting a roll-over process of the “take, make, and dispose” dominant economic model that is leading to an ongoing increase of resource consumption and waste generation. However, there is a relative lack of guidelines for introducing such concepts in a decision-making process able to support the design of appropriate policies and strategies and the definition of specific actions to cope with such challenges. This paper attempts to contribute to the recent efforts at incorporating these concepts in policy and decision-making processes by providing a methodology for the development of strategic plans for waste prevention and resource management. The proposed methodology, developed within the Urban_WINS project, combines different quantitative–analytical and qualitative methods and tools, together with a participatory process. The methodology was tested in eight EU cities and allowed to formulate several measures and actions aimed at addressing the challenges posed by the current consumption patterns. Moreover, the participatory approach led to the legitimization of the strategic plans, as well as to raise awareness among stakeholders. Although it might require specific tailor-made adjustments, this methodology is suitable to be replicated in other contexts.
Addressing Urban and Human Settlement Issues in National Adaptation Plans
"The Addressing Urban and Human Settlement Issues in National Adaptation Plans Supplementary Guide aims to comprehensively address urban and human settlement issues in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) at the formulation and implementation stage.
The guide primarily targets decision-makers at the national level working on NAPs, both within and outside UNFCCC focal point ministries, while it also targets a broader set of stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels who are interested in NAPs or who may be involved in their implementation."
Mexico City: The role of public transport in tackling air pollution and accessibility
Over the last two decades, Mexico City has implemented many successful mobility projects to partly relieve its saturated public transport system and diminish air pollution generated by vehicles, while also providing more transportation options for people in peripheral locations or vulnerable situations.
The City’s decision to diversify its public transport offer and to invest in new mobility options such as BRTs and bike-sharing systems proved successful and allowed to partially relieve the pressure put on the saturated metro system. The government has also learned from its previous errors, such as the Tren Suburbano’s lack of accessibility. This project showed the importance of taking into account user accessibility and the involvement of stakeholders in a transportation project, instead of focusing mainly on feasibility and infrastructure.
Sustainable Urban Transport: Avoid-Shift-Improve (A-S-I)
"Cities today are challenged with meeting steadily increasing mobility demands. Providing additional road space has not helped to solve the pressing problems of unacceptable levels of congestion, air quality deterioration and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in cities. In return, cities have not become more livable, and mobility remains far away from being human-centered.
What is required, therefore, is a fundamental rethinking of the paradigm by which mobility and city planning is guided. Inspired by the principles of sustainability, an alternative approach focuses on the mobility needs of people instead of car infrastructure. The approach, known as A-S-I (from Avoid/ Reduce, Shift/Maintain, Improve), seeks to achieve significant GHG emission reductions, reduced energy consumption, less congestion, with the final objective to create more livable cities."
Guadalajara: Revisiting Public Space Interventions through the Via RecreActiva
"Every Sunday, Guadalajara closes more than 60 kilometers of streets to car traffic, opening them up for public use by pedestrians, cyclists and performers. Since starting the "Via RecreActiva," Guadalajara has more open space for recreation, a new collective image of public space and a revitalized movement for transit equity.
The Via RecreActiva has had a clear “before” and “after” effect on the surrounding community. It marks the consolidation of both political and economic power around the importance of and investment in public space. The momentum created by civil society groups that advocated for the Via RecreActiva shifted demand for basic public infrastructure leading to new political commitments. This has increased transparency, created new roles for public space activists in municipal institutions, and institutionalized participatory processes."
Remarkable Women in Transport
Transport systems can only become truly inclusive and gender-responsive if the voices, perspectives and experiences of women are reflected at all levels in the transport sector. Thus, as it is still a largely male-dominated field, it is imperative to focus on increasing the number of women working on transport.
TUMI endeavours to support this transformational change by empowering women experts and stimulate behavioural change in the transport sector and in cities all around the world. As visibility is key to change mind-sets, this first round of TUMI’s Remarkable Women in Transport series introduces more than 60 highly qualified women transport experts, and highlights their contribution to sustainable mobility solutions on the ground – by women, for the entire society.
This publication is meant to showcase the diversity of female change makers in transport.
Reclaiming the Streets of Fortaleza, Brazil
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy works around the world to design and implement high- quality transport systems and policy solutions that make cities more livable, equitable, and sustainable.
Content of this issue:
The Effects of Transportation on Early Childhood Development
Fortaleza’s Progress Shows that Change is Still Possible in Brazil
Bucheon City Goes from a Car-Centric City to a People-Friendly Vision
In Cairo, ITDP Works to Improve Transport Access for Women
America, The Netherlands, and Oil Crisis: 50 Years Later
Frequency Is Freedom
Scooters, E-bikes, Rideshares, and More: Learning from Dockless Bikeshar
On Mexico City’s Buses, a Little Technology Goes a Long Way
MOBILIZE Dar es Salaam
In Jakarta’s Urban Villages Women Are Moving Mobility Forward
“Women-only” Transport: A "Solution" To What End?
As Cities in the US and Europe Explore Electrification, China Is Taking the Lead
Transforming Streets in São Pauo
From the Narrow Lanes of Agra to the BRT Lanes of Pune: 20 Years of the ITDP India Program
New Resources from ITDP
Content of this issue:
The Effects of Transportation on Early Childhood Development
Fortaleza’s Progress Shows that Change is Still Possible in Brazil
Bucheon City Goes from a Car-Centric City to a People-Friendly Vision
In Cairo, ITDP Works to Improve Transport Access for Women
America, The Netherlands, and Oil Crisis: 50 Years Later
Frequency Is Freedom
Scooters, E-bikes, Rideshares, and More: Learning from Dockless Bikeshar
On Mexico City’s Buses, a Little Technology Goes a Long Way
MOBILIZE Dar es Salaam
In Jakarta’s Urban Villages Women Are Moving Mobility Forward
“Women-only” Transport: A "Solution" To What End?
As Cities in the US and Europe Explore Electrification, China Is Taking the Lead
Transforming Streets in São Pauo
From the Narrow Lanes of Agra to the BRT Lanes of Pune: 20 Years of the ITDP India Program
New Resources from ITDP
Gender-inclusive climate action in cities
"In recent years, a small number of extraordinary women have emerged as key leaders on global action to tackle climate change. However, more generally, women are grossly under-represented in high-level climate negotiations; tend to be disproportionately vulnerable to climate impacts; and climate solutions tend to ignore gender-specific issues, perpetuating a general bias of infrastructure and services designed predominantly for men. This report sets out proposals for how to correct these imbalances and, through focusing on an inclusive climate action approach, to ensure that investment to cut emissions and improve resilience will benefit the full diversity of urban citizens, rich and poor, men and women."