In Quito, many people have started travelling by bike during the Covid-19 pandemic. This momentum has to be used to change people’s mobility behaviour also in the long-term.
Category: Climate neutral urban development
Call for participants: How to promote locally-driven knowledge networks for climate neutral city development solutions
“How to assure a locally-driven and knowledge network-oriented approach to Climate neutral City Development?” is one of the key questions the 2nd Green City Pioneers of Change Workshop will provide answers to. Join us in this 2nd Pioneer-Event and register here!
As part of the Connective Cities’ recovery program on “Municipal response to COVID-19” the topical cluster “Green Urban Development” is currently working on synergies between mobility and urban space solutions involving cities like e.g. Kigali, Kisumu, Hamburg, Hanoi, Dortmund, Belo Horizonte, Kochi, Lalitpur, Quito, and Buenos Aires.
The cluster wants to encourage an exchange between Green City Pioneers of Change which involves, apart from peer-learning between the above-mentioned cities, two public events.
The first of the two planned Green City Pioneers of Change Workshops was conducted on 19. January 2022. It focused on the presentation of inspirational international practices and encouraged a reflection among city pioneers on how to promote first green initiatives and the role of pioneers in facilitating them (see video and case documentation here).
This 2nd Green City Pioneers of Change Workshop on 25 February 2022 will focus on the reflection of critical success criteria for the promotion of bottom-up approaches to Climate neutral City Development. The cities cooperating in the cluster and the experts facilitating the cluster will share their efforts and their way of learning in
- the creation of local knowledge networks that integrate young researchers und local universities, change makers in the local administration, existing firms and start-ups with new business models
- promoting several smaller “learning by doing” and implementation-oriented initiatives that are becoming building blocks for a more systemic transformation approach in the respective cities.
Based on the presentation of these concrete experiences we will reflect with the participants in an interactive way on the need and ways to promote a locally versus mainly externally driven approach to Climate neutral City Development.
Join us in this 2nd City Pioneer of Change Event! Register now here.
Conference language is English.
Unturning the Stones – Exploring Climate Finance for Asian Cities
In the event 25 urban practitioners and experts from 6 countries exchanged on innovative and efficient financing approaches to build climate resilient and low-carbon cities. They were united by the fact that all of them are working at the forefront of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in their cities. The event was jointly organised by Connective Cities, TURBOCLIC (Transformation – Urban Opportunities – Climate Change), an initiative from GIZ’s sector networks TUEWAS (Transport Environment Energy and Water in Asia) and SNGA (Governance Asia).
Southeast European (SEE) Regional Network continues exchange on recovery methods and practices
A total of up to 100 urban practitioners and experts participated in the Network Events held on behalf of Connective Cities international network initiative and Covid-19 Program. Two separate events held on 12th of November and 13th of December 2021, served as final big get-togethers of the year 2021 for the SEE Network members, leaving them with some food for thought and the floor for exchanges widely open for an upcoming year.
First Event on November 12, 2021 – “Connective Cities virtual exchange discussing the Southeast European Network’s development and presenting good municipal practices in the area of digitalization and crisis management” – was devoted to supporting peer-to-peer exchange and gathering municipal representatives, as well as field experts, to discuss crisis management and digitalization experiences, existing challenges, and to explore how scale-up strategies could be enhanced to meet crisis-induced demands. To cover these topics, the event was divided into three parts ensuring representation of all types of interaction as well as exchange. The web-seminar featured a Keynote speaker, who focused on COVID-19 and long-term challenges for territorial policies, followed by 3 case-study presentations on municipal responses to COVID-19 in terms of digitalization and crisis management from Melitopol (Ukraine), Tbilisi (Georgia) and Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – these examples demonstrated diverse practices taken up by each municipality during recent times. A panel discussion about the importance of digitalization for efficient crisis management at local governance level amid COVID-19 served as a closing ground of the event, ensuring an all-encompassing discussion on challenges, visions and possible peer-to-peer exchanges in the regards of topics discussed all throughout the day.
Recording and resources of the first session can be found on Connective Cities Platform here.
Building. Forward. Better
We look back on an eventful year. Hopes of getting the Corona pandemic under control quickly fizzled out. The World Climate Conference cast its shadow ahead, only to end with a mediocre result. Despite, or perhaps because of, these setbacks, experts at the municipal level intensified their cooperation to better meet the challenges of the pandemic and climate change. Our networks expanded, project proposals became more concrete, working groups more agile, and some “champion municipalities” are themselves doing much to move the networks forward. It is time to pause for a moment, look back and dare to look forward to the future. Our coordinators of the regional networks in South Eastern Europe, the MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa describe this from their own personal perspective.
The Future of the Southeast Europe Region – by Irakli Samkharadze and Elene Samukashvili
As the year comes to a close Connective Cities Southeast European Region celebrates achievements of every concurrent Learning and Peer-exchange processes held with the support of urban practitioners, experts, consultancies and technical personnel from all over the world.
Activities under Learning Processes on Climate Resilient Urban Development and Sustainable Urban Energy Planning, underway in SEE region will continue into the upcoming year with an updated roadmap. We will proceed with expert missions, financial advisory and project proposals polishing support, in close synergy with financial institutions. This support will be provided for projects identified through Dialogue Events and Planning Workshops held in past two years.
In 2021 under Connective Cities COVID-19 Programme, Southeast European Region (SEE) gathered amazing and motivated professionals from all over the region who worked in two directions of Crisis Management and Digitalisation. As of new year, Programme Teams aims to maintain the close contact with the groups, through the Network, providing them with further news, updates and guidance.
As the network of the region is constantly expanding, planned activities are also amplifying and growing in their directions and frequency. 2022 promises to be a very active and highly engaging time for the network. Our topics include but are not limited to Sustainable Urban Development, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Urban Planning, Green Technologies, Infrastructure and recovery, Crisis management & Digitalisation, while also constantly looking into new directions according to preferences of Network Members and political Developments in the region.
Kontakt: Irakli Samkharadze (irakli.samkharadze@giz.de)
Sub-Saharan Africa – an outlook to 2022 – by Sophia Kamau
We have braved another year of virtual learning, networking and finding solutions to our urban challenges. Thank you for being part of this journey by sharing good practices, challenges, contacts and expertise.
We look over the skies into the endless opportunities that time gives and envision 2022. Based on the networks built, relationships established, and ideas exchanged, we would like to share our thoughts with you as we get into a reflective season.
In 2022 we will finalize the learning processes on urban basic services and sector governance and land management and land use planning. This will be through support to municipalities working on their proposals and those seeking expertise support. Through partnerships with like-minded institutions, we will have more opportunities to learn and exchange through the thematic working groups; solid waste management, urban green spaces, climate change and urban mobility.
We welcome you to join this community of transformers in the region.
From the Sub Saharan Africa desk, we appreciate your cooperation and wish you happy holidays!
Contacts: Sophia Kamau (sophia.kamau@giz.de)
Connective Cities in the MENA region: Champion Cities taking ownership of the network in 2022 – by Muna Shalan
Over the past year, the vibrant network of Connective Cities in the MENA region has grown and has intensified its activities: we are now at 235 registered members! To sustain the momentum and ensure the sustainability of the network, champion cities will take the lead in steering the activities of the different thematic working groups starting next year. This will include peer learning, good practice presentation and joint proposal development. Upon showcasing the outcomes of the activities in the planned regional event in January 2022, the network members will be able to nominate themselves or vote for the steering committee of the regional working groups that include local economic development and job creation, municipal energy efficiency projects, biodiversity and environmental protection, digitalisation of municipal services, social entrepreneurship and circular economy.
We are also looking forward for new partnerships with regional city associations in 2022. This includes our recently signed MoU with UCLG MEWA to strengthen decentralised regional cooperation.
Contact: Muna Shalan (muna.shalan@giz.de )
The Connective Cities Lab 2021 – Facts & Findings
Municipalities around the world are affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Connective Cities organised a series of virtual formats to discuss and develop measures, challenges, and solutions to overcome the pandemic and support the municipal recovery.
The Connective Cities Lab – an online programme for urban practitioners and municipal experts – created an international exchange between 85 municipalities from 57 different countries worldwide to support the development of solutions and prototypes for local challenges.
With a total of 72 hours of programme, the following components were implemented and results achieved within the Connective Cities Lab.
Invitation: Good municipal green recovery practices and the importance of renewable energy
The event aims to explore the crisis management mechanisms that cities employed and ways in which they envision green recovery especially on the bases of introducing the use of renewable energy.
The pandemic tested the robustness and remorsefulness of mostly all municipal services, from transportation and waste management to recreation and food supply. Pandemic-centered protocols set new behavioral patterns – many of which were quite stressful for urban economies. On the contrary, others – such as raised environmental awareness – made both city leaders and citizens rethink the status-quo regarding sustainability, resilience and in overall – stressed the importance of accelerating previous commitments and striving for even more.
Date and time: 13 December 2021, 12:00 – 14:30 CET
Please find more information in our Call of Participants or enroll in the event here.
If you have any further queries about the event encourage you to contact:
SEE Regional Network Coordinator: Irakli Samkharadze (irakli.samkharadze@giz.de)
Workshop invitation: regaining trust in public transport after Covid 19
After two years of a global pandemic, some of the preconditions of sustainable mobility plans of municipalities are questioned.
- Increased use of home-office leads to changed or even reduced mobility flows and needs
- Lack of information and fear to get infected due to unclear hygienic conditions and compliance with hygienic rules lead to loss of trust in public transport
Therefore, instead of increased public transport, people are increasingly using individual transport,
- counteracting efforts to improve sustainable mobility
- putting financial pressure on public transport
- sometimes even increasing infection risks by travelling in smaller vehicles
In this workshop we will focus on the following questions:
- Scientific findings on hygienic guidelines for public transport
- Good practices on
- defining hygienic rules for public transport
- ensuring compliance with hygienic rules in public transport
- regaining trust in public transport from political stakeholders and potential passengers
In exploration of abovementioned topics Connective Cities team would like to invite you to a workshop on December 9, 2021 at 13.00-15.00 CET on the following link
Regaining trust in public transport after Covid-19 | Connective Cities Network
Please log in or sing up on Connective Cities platform to access Event and resources. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions.
Contact:
Dr. Irakli Samkharadze
GIZ Regional Network Coordinator Connective Cities – Southeast Europe
irakli.samkharadze@giz.de
For German experts:
Alice Balbo
Connective Cities Project Manager at the German Association of Cities
alice.balbo@staedtetag.de
The sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO) for Cities report
GEO for Cities aims to inform, engage and support dialogue among city decision makers and other actors involved in urban issues. The GEO-6 report identified urbanization as one of five main drivers of environmental change and also looked at the impact on cities and city residents of related challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
The GEO for Cities looks at these issues but also presents the types of solutions that can lead to environmentally sustainable and just cities. The GEO for Cities process is led by two co-chairs, guided by an Advisory Committee of organizations focused on urban and environment solutions (ICLEI, C40, Cities Alliance, IIED, ODI, IIHS, GCSE), has been drafted by around 20 expert authors and supported by the GEO Secretariat. The environmental and urban challenges outlined in this report require urgent and sustained attention from everyone involved in building or managing cities.
Some of the questions explored here concern the past and present. What are the urban dynamics that have resulted in environmental degradation and inequality? How can we overcome barriers to create a more sustainable future in different types of cities? How are cities affecting fresh water, land, biodiversity, the oceans and air? And how are changes in these dimensions of the environment affecting cities?
Other parts of the report address the future: What are innovative, ground-breaking visions for an environmentally sustainable and just future in cities for both people and nature? What are some of the pathways for transformative actions in cities and where can we find stories of success and hope? The report covers a wide range of environmental, social and economic issues while providing key starting points to take action and convert transformative visions into reality.
Invitation: “Citizen engagement in planning and implementation of sustainable mobility after Covid-19”
Connective Cities Southeast European Region is pleased to invite you to a Workshop on “Citizen engagement in planning and implementation of sustainable mobility after Covid 19”, discussing a collection of successful tools and roadmaps that can be used in different phases of sustainable mobility planning and implementation in and after the pandemic. The tools will cover different levels and degrees of participation.
This Planning Workshop is dedicated to
Presenting and discussing the prototype of the toolbox, selected roadmaps and tools for citizen engagement in the pandemic;
Sharing additional experiences and good practices;
Collecting ideas for publishing the toolbox (CC platform, municipality websites, research institute websites …); and
Identifying potential next steps for extending the toolbox.
The workshop will take place on
December 3, 2021 14.00-16.30 CET on the following link Sustainable Mobility Core Group | Connective Cities Network.
Please log in or sing up on Connective Cities platform to access Event and resources. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions.
Contact:
Dr. Irakli Samkharadze
GIZ Regional Network Coordinator Connective Cities – Southeast Europe
irakli.samkharadze@giz.de
For German experts:
Alice Balbo
Connective Cities Project Manager at the German Association of Cities
alice.balbo@staedtetag.de