Category: Integrated urban development

Sustainable Urban Mobility and COVID-19

Posted on by erik

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to fundamental changes in urban mobility worldwide. Some impacts are short-term, especially during lockdowns. Others are long-term changes in the way urban mobility and traffic will operate in the future. Sustainable urban mobility and Covid-19 was the focus of the Connective Cities Virtual Dialogue Event in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and UN-Habitat and hosted by the City of Wiesbaden – Germany that took place on 19, 20 and 22 July 2021. This peer-learning note summarizes good practices of participating cities with a focus on local public transport, bicycle traffic and sustainable urban logistics.

In addition to the English version, there is also a German and Spanish version.

Additional information: a summary of the event including all presentations is available here.

“Firewatch” – State-of-the-art technology for early forest fire detection

Posted on by erik

Both the frequency and intensity of wildfires are increasing worldwide as a result of climate change.  If wildfires are out of control, they can have a devastating effect, endangering human lives and causing long-term damage such as biodiversity loss. To minimise this danger, the State Forests Department of Lower Saxony, Germany has installed a system for the early detection of wildfires.

TUMI Transport Outlook 1.5˚C

Posted on by erik

The Paris Climate Agreement as adopted in December 2015 set out to reduce global greenhouse emissions at a rate that would limit global temperature increase this century to a level 2.0˚C above pre-industrial levels. It went even further, laying out steps that might be taken to pursue an increase limited to 1.5˚C.

for exactly how we can achieve the goal of limiting greenhouse emissions. The transport sector accounts for nearly one-quarter of global energy-related carbon emissions. Climate action in transport is urgently needed because energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are the main driver of climate change (Teske et. al 2019). Yet a clear-cut path to transformation, one which is backed up with ‘hard’ numbers for policymakers around the world, remains missing. To close this gap, TUMI and the University of Technology Sydney developed a robust scenario study.

This study considers the conditions necessary to achieve these goals under three scenarios: A reference baseline study, in which no changes are implemented in terms of transport, along with a look at those changes that need to take place in order to limit warming to 1.5˚C or 2.0˚C.

For an executive summary and animated charts visit:

https://outlook.transformative-mobility.org/

TUMI Transport Outlook 1.5˚C

Posted on by erik

The Paris Climate Agreement as adopted in December 2015 set out to reduce global greenhouse emissions at a rate that would limit global temperature increase this century to a level 2.0˚C above pre-industrial levels. It went even further, laying out steps that might be taken to pursue an increase limited to 1.5˚C.

for exactly how we can achieve the goal of limiting greenhouse emissions. The transport sector accounts for nearly one-quarter of global energy-related carbon emissions. Climate action in transport is urgently needed because energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are the main driver of climate change (Teske et. al 2019). Yet a clear-cut path to transformation, one which is backed up with ‘hard’ numbers for policymakers around the world, remains missing. To close this gap, TUMI and the University of Technology Sydney developed a robust scenario study.

This study considers the conditions necessary to achieve these goals under three scenarios: A reference baseline study, in which no changes are implemented in terms of transport, along with a look at those changes that need to take place in order to limit warming to 1.5˚C or 2.0˚C.

For an executive summary and animated charts visit:

https://outlook.transformative-mobility.org/

Building. Forward. Better

Posted on by erik

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 )

A green infrastructure plan for Mexico City

Posted on by erik

In collaboration with public administration, academia and urban society, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of the City of Mexico has developed a comprehensive master plan for the development of green infrastructure in Mexico City. The master plan aims to preserve and create green urban spaces ranging from parks and gardens to larger nature reserves. Another focus is the renaturation of urban rivers. Especially in one of the world’s largest cities, the pandemic highlights the importance of access to public green spaces for residents. This good practice from Mexico shows how the design process of a master plan can succeed in an inclusive and dynamic way with the involvement of diverse population groups.

Watch video at YouTube:

https://youtu.be/5mstcHadvho

Unturning the Stones

Posted on by erik

The virtual dialogue event “Unturning the stones – Exploring Climate Finance for Asian Cities” was held on the Connective Cities platform from the 28th to the 30th of September 2021. It was jointly hosted by Connective Cities and 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).

The active participants consisted of 25 urban practitioners and experts from 6 countries (Nepal, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Germany) working in the sectors financing, public works / infrastructure, greening and planning departments. 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. In order to implement green and sustainable solutions that leapfrog current unsustainable patterns, it is essential to develop innovative and efficient financing approaches to build climate resilient and low-carbon cities.

Development of bankable project proposals for sustainable urban energy planning in Southeast Europe

Posted on by erik

Nearly 50 people from approximately 10 municipalities across 5 countries of Southeastern Europe (SEE) region as well as from EU and MENA gathered during the Planning Workshop to further the process of their project development.

The Planning Workshop held on 2-4 November 2021, represented a follow-up and a continuation on a learning process started through Dialogue Event in May 2021.

The ongoing COVID-19 situation ruled out meeting up in person. That’s why the workshop was planned as an online consultation event. Rather than travelling to a single location, the teams worked individually on pre-defined ‘homework’ which was later smoothed off during the workshop’s first and last days. Connective Cities team with the aid from mentors, who guided the process, oversaw the proceedings of project outline finalizations. The workshop aimed at supporting the municipalities in fine-tuning their project ideas and developing them further towards bankable project proposals.

The concept and content of the Planning Workshop was elaborated based on the Connective Cities’ methodology and the findings of the pre-workshop interviews that were conducted with the respective municipalities.

Invitation: Good municipal green recovery practices and the importance of renewable energy

Posted on by erik

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)

Sustainable, informed and participatory land management and land use planning in rapidly growing cities in Sub Saharan Africa

Posted on by erik

Connective Cities Sub Saharan Africa organized a three part series of workshops on the topic of ‘Sustainable, informed and participatory land management and land use planning in rapidly growing cities’ as subsequent steps to the dialogue event held in May. The objectives of the series were to support the cities better understand their projects, provide an opportunity for review by German experts, train on proposal writing and offer financial advisory.

 The conceptual approach was based on:

  • analyzing the status quo of the process and the individual projects
  • integrating all stakeholders of the relevant projects
  • co-designing solutions through interactive learning
  • harnessing the skills within the group of the project owners supported with expert advice
  • outcome driven to achieve the main goal to enable the participants finalize their relevant proposals

Four municipalities from Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia presented their project ideas and the gaps therein. These project ideas are:

  1. Development of socio-economic initiatives that will complement biodiversity protection and management and enhance cultural and heritage resources in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa
  2. Adams-R603 Settlement Plan- eThekwini, South Africa
  3. Integrated Land Management System for Livingstone City Council, Zambia
  4. Development of the banks of Lake Baleng with rest & recreational areas in the Commune of Bafoussam II, Cameroon