IURC and EUCG Knowledge Library

On April 14-15, 2025, 19 cities from Europe, Canada, and the USA gathered in Montreal for the Circular Economy thematic visit, part of the EU-funded IURC-NA programme. The event combined local site visits, workshops, and participation in the Canadian Circular Economy Summit, offering city leaders a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, explore successful solutions, discuss challenges and connect with leading innovators. Through two days of intensive collaboration, participants gained knowledge and inspiration to advance circular practices in their cities.

 Circular innovations in the built environment 

The future of urban transportation is evolving rapidly, and shared mobility is at the forefront of this transformation. Experts from the Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transport (SUMT) IURC-NA network gathered for an insightful webinar to explore the latest strategies for integrating shared mobility into urban policies.

Applications are now open for European cities and regions to join the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme. Take this opportunity to become a global partner in shaping sustainable and innovative urban futures.

🔗 Apply Now

Shared Mobility: An Important Part of Urban Mobility Strategies and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

In Europe, the European Union strongly promotes sustainable mobility, digital innovation, and climate resilience. The European Green Deal, in its ambitious attempt to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, emphasises the importance of repurposing urban areas for both communities and nature,reinforcing the shift towards climate-neutral and more adaptable cities. Consequently, the EU Urban Mobility Framework encourages cities to implement Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.

The future of urban transportation is evolving rapidly, and shared mobility is at the forefront of this transformation. Experts from the Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transport (SUMT) IURC-NA network gathered for an insightful webinar to explore the latest strategies for integrating shared mobility into urban policies.

The recent Urban Planning Cluster visit to Barcelona on November 4-5, part of the EU-funded IURC-NA programme, brought together 14 cities from Europe, Canada, and the USA for a focused, thematic event. Over two days of intensive collaboration through field visits, discussions, and participation in the Smart City Expo, participants addressed two critical urban challenges: affordable housing and urban data management. They explored innovative solutions and shared best practices summarized in key takeaways.

• Circular Flanders: Aims to reduce its material footprint by 30% by 2030. This strategy emphasizes cross-organizational integration, effective policy research, and building partnerships with local governments, businesses, and research sectors. The result? Enhanced guidance tools, monitored contracts, and a marketplace engaged for continuous improvement.
• Richmond, Canada: Leverages strategic data analysis to uncover opportunities, close value loops, and drive circular solutions across city projects, from infrastructure to office assets. Community engagement is critical to co-owning the process and fostering innovation.

The latest IURC NA Best Practice on Public Procurement for Circular Cities lets cities and regions discover actionable strategies, so their spending power can drive sustainable change! By embracing circular procurement, cities can create new local jobs, reduce waste, and boost social integration. Some key features include:

• Start simple and scale up
• Engage suppliers early to foster innovation
• Use life-cycle costs to guide decisions
• Join buyers’ networks and share best practices

Cities increasingly adopt systemic and integrated planning approaches to enhance their resilience and address challenges like climate change, population growth, and food security. The circular economy has gained traction because its principles can be applied at various scales and offer broad benefits. Effective planning is crucial to harnessing the circular economy’s potential for environmental benefits, job creation, support for local businesses, and social cohesion. Leading examples of municipal innovation demonstrate that cities are key to driving this transformation.

Affordable housing is a critical aspect of urban planning due to its profound impact on social equity, economic stability, and community well-being. The AMB, through IMPSOL, and the City of Toronto are transforming social housing by shifting the current model, using sustainable materials and technologies, incorporating innovative designs with a gender perspective, and creating spaces for community participation and support. This new paradigm is changing the image of social housing as a tool to transform neighborhoods.

The IURC-China initiative achieved success in enhancing partnerships and facilitating the exchange of knowledge among European and Chinese cities and regions. It developed 9 city and regional cooperation partners in 3 thematic networks, bridging over 40 cities and regions across China and Europe. During 2021-2023, participants engaged in 78 thematic events, resulting in the creation and dissemination of more than 50 knowledge products.

This repository lists organisations providing funding for sustainable urban projects, providing details on sectors, budget, eligibility, application timelines, case studies, with potential applicability to cities, states, national governments, non-government organisations, private sector, etc. While the primary focus is India, the information may apply to various other countries.

Kanpur city faces the urgent need for an efficient parking management system due to increasing reliance on personal vehicles and a shortage of designated parking spaces.

This case study proposes implementation measures to transform Kanpur’s parking landscape, promoting sustainable urban mobility, reducing pollution, and creating vibrant, walkable neighborhoods that prioritize the needs of the community. A holistic and collaborative effort is essential to address Kanpur’s parking challenges and move towards a more sustainable and accessible urban environment.

In May 2023, the collaboration between Gwalior, India, and Leuven, Belgium, reached new heights as three representatives from Gwalior start-ups and a representative from G.Incube joined forces at the And& Connect event in Leuven from 2-5 May 2023 to promote innovation, connectiveness and inspiration, bringing together professionals and experts from diverse fields.

A Centre of Excellence (COE) is proposed for the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) as they work towards building a region with sustainable growth potential and economic opportunities. The proposed COE aims to establish a Think Tank on the key pillars of Research and Participatory processes. The regional authority would then be able to make informed and inclusive decisions and thereby establish a one of its kind urban centre of research and participatory planning in the State.

Cycling infrastructure design is an important subject with the aim of creating quality infrastructure in every street and for every type of user. This report discusses key design principles that must be respected when designing new cycle paths. It also introduced practical recommendations and key resources with regards to designing cycle paths.

Urbanisation and industrial transformation are common challenges faced by the industrial cities of Zagreb and Rijeka in Croatia, and Kawasaki, Japan. By making use of their respective unique characteristics and local resources, the three cities are promoting sustainable urban development. Zagreb and Rijeka gained knowledge into Kawasaki’s efficient “waste management” and “business incubation”, while lessons learned by Kawasaki included how nature-based solutions (NbS) are being implemented by Zagreb and Rijeka, and the co-benefits approach on climate change action.

Prague and Kyoto mutually aligned their efforts in pursuit of a shared sustainability agenda, encompassing goals related to decarbonization, energy, climate adaptation, and the circular economy.

Turin and Nagoya aim to be vibrant hubs for industrial and social innovation. Turin learnt of Nagoya’s entrepreneurial education for children. In return, Nagoya learnt how to develop demonstration projects using public spaces from Turin.

European Union regions and Japanese prefectures have launched diverse initiatives and programs dedicated to nurturing startups and cultivating open innovation. EU-Japan cooperation will bring mutual benefits: it opens up opportunities for EU startups to enter the Japanese market and access various technologies, while Japan can encourage its startups to adopt a global mindset and provide support for international expansion.

Hydrogen projects in EU regions and Japanese prefectures represent significant steps toward achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable energy solutions. Both are actively developing policies and infrastructures to promote hydrogen use, with a focus on green hydrogen. Their collaboration on hydrogen projects offers substantial mutual benefits, including economic growth and environmental improvements.

Initiatives in EU Regions and Japanese prefectures are Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Val d’Oise (France), Basque Country, Catalonia (Spain), Emilia Romania (Italy), Ljubljana Urban Region (Slovenia), Aichi, Osaka and Oita (Japan).

The Alentejo Region integrates natural resources with strategic logistics and transport infrastructures, supported by strong educational and research institutions. This strategic approach is reflected  through Alentejo Region’s cooperationwith Dalian on Green Port development and cultural tourism, further enriching its economic and cultural diversification.

Region Lazio integrates sustainable agriculture and agri-food supply, focusing on safety, sustainability, and enhancing tourist attractions. It promotes local produce through various gastronomic experiences, establishing a distinct local identity for international markets. Lazio’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) targets development, employment, and regional competitiveness, supported by innovation in diverse sectors like agri-food, circular economy, life sciences, and more. Its cooperation with Zhengzhou focuses on sustainable agriculture, focusing on sustainable urban agriculture, agri-food systems, and climate change.

The Western Greece Region, with its dynamic innovation ecosystem and diverse cultural & economic fabric, is committed to cooperative development in key sectors like agro-food,  digital sciences, renewable energy, and cultural tourism, especially in Ancient Olympia. Western Greece collaborates with Hangzhou (China), focusing on internationalization and digitalization of local products and services, particularly in e-commerce education and vocational training.

Bari, a key economic and educational center in Southern Italy, owns wide array of academic and research institutions and a dynamic tertiary sector. The city’s urban development strategy focues on revitalizing its waterfront, transforming brownfields, and enhancing cultural landmarks, with a strong focus on community-led governance and active citizen participation. The city´s expertise in urban regeneration, with initiatives that prioritize neighborhood development, public space revitalisation, and community engagement, has many synergies with developmental strategies in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.

Both Lazio Region and Zhengzhou prioritize sustainable agri-food supply, integrating urban-rural development and encouraging innovation in agriculture. Lazio region’s agri-food production, intertwined with its natural and cultural heritage, promotes local food networks. Zhengzhou, confronting challenges in peri-urban agriculture like economic viability and biodiversity conservation, can learn from Lazio’s experience in sustainable farming and the Slow Food movement. The cooperation between Lazio and Zhengzhou fosters regional dialogue, knowledge sharing, and innovative practices in sustainable agri-food supply.

Sisak-Moslavina County initiated a climate-friendly economic transformation with the “Sisak Moslavina County – A Center of Gaming Industry” project. Meanwhile, Zhongxian (Chongqing) developed “Zhongxian E-sports” town as a new economic driver. Both sides cooperate to establish a gaming industry platform, enhancing education and training, organizing e-games and e-sport events, operating gaming incubators, and facilitating cultural exchanges.

European cities and regions are committed to digitalizing their economies, aligning with the digital agenda. Hangzhou cooperate with several European cities and regions on E-commerce ecosystem and advancing in education and vocational training.

Taicang (Suzhou) and the Stuttgart Urban Region are collaborating to address their urban development challenges balancing economic growth with ecological transition. Their joint efforts on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and low-carbon urban districts involve government dialogues, knowledge exchange, joint projects, and technical support, aiming to establish green, productive, and eco-friendly urban areas. They are implementing the TOD model and Low Carbon City principles, with three pilot projects in Taicang.

NCI Bologna and Yangzhou jointly endeavour on green and resilient urban development, focusing on nature-based solutions, ecological transition, cultural heritage, and smart cities. A MOU has been signed to establish a joint research centre on green design.  Stakeholders from universities, governments, social organizations, and businesses are involved. The goal is to develop a long-term partnership, fostering joint activities in urban design, music, art, and education, with plans to set up a Green Design Centre and facilitate ongoing dialogue and cooperation.

Over three years, European cities and regions have had the opportunity to cooperate with colleagues across the world in order to develop their capacity in ecological transition and the Green Deal; urban & regional renewal and social cohesion; and innovative sustainable & carbon neutral ecosystems and strategic sectors. These are the takeaways of the programme’s final event 2023.

IURC Annual Event 2021 visual takeaways

IURC Cities Forum takeaways

Takeaways from IURC’s EU Week of Regions and Cities 2023 event.

A selection of thematic posters from the IURC 2022 annual event.

The following Takeaways Factsheet highlights key aspects of the PRI operational framework, featuring strategic policy formulation, an open discovery process, and the mobilization of diverse policies and actions. Key supporting factors include the multi-level governance approach within the EU framework, the need for recalibrating operational methodologies, and the central role of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Cultural challenges are addressed, recognizing the contextual nature of human actions and decisions.

The One Stop Liaison Officer (OSLO) methodology developed in Central Macedonia (Greece) has a significant role in boosting the region’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. Operating under the Department of Innovation Support of RCM, OSLO acts as a vital link between academia, research, and businesses, promoting collaboration and innovation. OSLO’s diverse services include operating a Regional Intelligence Information System, coordinating RIS3 Strategy updates, informing stakeholders through a digital platform, and supporting SMEs with accessible information on calls and funding tools.

Incentives should be created for children to learn and live waste prevention and recycling
through competitions and rewards. Incorporating playful activities, related to specific environmental-themed holidays for example, is also a way to capture children’s attention. Furthermore, it is important to measure the impact of initiatives to assess their effectiveness and make necessary
adjustments, ensuring that children develop ecological awareness from an early age and
become advocates for good environmental practices.

Puerto Montt and Piraeus have been working on a variety of topics such as Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and participatory planning. Their cooperation also explored the Blue Economy approach as a cross-cutting strategy for urban planning, local economic development, protection of maritime resources, cultural recognition of coastal cities, sea-related productive activities, amongst other. As a result, both cities co-created a Blue Economy Cluster to continue sharing best practices, technical knowledge, applied methodologies and innovative strategies beyond the IURC-LA programme.

Essen, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, Koriyama, and Toyota City are creating a physical and virtual place that helps their private contractors meet innovators, start-ups, and SMEs of the partner cities. The topic they chose to work on is “new energy technologies and hydrogen”.

Bratislava and Tokorozawa aim to be green and energy-efficient. Bratislava has learnt from Tokorozawa’s greenery expansion measures and active use of renewable energy, especially solar power. In return, Tokorozawa has gained insights from Bratislava’s longstanding approach to city greening and adaptation, and their efforts to initiate actions for energy efficiency and renewables.

Genoa (Italy) and Mar del Plata (Argentina) are actively working on the digital transformation in the framework of IURC-LA. The topic became a opportunity to improve the efficiency of municipal services and data sharing. The two cities developed digital tools to facilitate the execution of municipal procedures, enhance the flow of information, and reduce in-person visits to municipal offices. Read the takeaway to learn about Genoa’s experience of the “Fascicolo del Cittadino” and Mar del Plata’s “Mesa Digital de Entrada”

Piraeus and Puerto Montt consolidated the Blue Economy Cluster (BEC), to promote and diversify local development strategies.

The main objective is to generate a platform for interaction between stakeholders involved in the local development of both cities, focusing on sharing technical knowledge on fields:

1. Innovation and Research
2. Tourism sector and local culture
3. Local governance on Blue Economy
4. Port and logistic activities

Read the takeaways.

Dublin and Seoul have jointly released a policy publication on Digital Transition in Sustainable Mobility, marking a significant milestone in their pilot project aimed at advancing urban mobility and digital transition within the framework of IURC Asia and Australasia.

The policy publication on Digital Transition in Sustainable Mobility is a result of their collaborative efforts following their participation in a study visit in 26 – 30 August 2023, as part of their competitive awardread, read more https://eucg.iurc.eu/2023/09/08/dublin-delegation-visits-seoul-on-the-topic-of-urban-mobility-and-digital-transition/ 

In the framework of IURC LA, Umeå (Sweden) and Punta Arenas (Chile) collaborates on Urban Renewal and Social Cohesion, involving efficient participatory processes with a focus on integration a gender perspective into planning.

Within the process of technical cooperation between both cities, Punta Arenas incorporated Umea’s Gender Landscape approach into the design of the city’s “Green Areas Master Plan”.

To learn about this experience, read the pairing’s case study.

Find the guidelines about “gender equality perspective in urban planning”

Umeå, Sweden, is a city that actively strives for gender equality, aiming to create
conditions for women and men to have equal power to shape society as well as their own
lives. A crucial starting point is that planning approaches must integrate an understanding of
how gendered power structures and norms shape how we plan and interact with our
cities. It is therefore necessary to integrate a refined understanding of gender (in)equality
as a central aspect of planning strategies.

On the 18th-20th of September, a cohort of 14 IURC cities gathered in Mannheim, Germany, to create professional connections and networks while facilitating knowledge for a green, sustainable urban transformation on topics such as:

• Challenges and Opportunities of the Green Deal
• Integrated Sustainable Urban Redevelopment
• Nature-based solutions
• Brownfield remediation
• Energy efficient communities

The event was co-hosted with Mannheim and included presentations and site visits to learn and experience how urban planning can be done with a climate lens.

PMRDA and Karlsruhe’s key area of cooperation is to develop a concept for the establishment of a “Center of Excellence for Urban Planning” and support for the creation of an Eco-Industrial Township (EIT) within the framework of IURC Asia & Australasia.

Within the IURC Asia & Australasia framework, Rotterdam is working with Surat to construct and efficiently operate a water plaza in a dense city neighborhood, in order to manage water resources, reduce the climate change impacts, facilitate social interactions and encourage athletic activities.

Urban transformation through the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an event Barcelona hosted in 1992. Through the IURC, experts from both sides engaged in several activities to gain a deeper understanding of how global events can create tangible benefits for their citizens and strengthen sustainable urban development.

The regions of Coimbra (Portugal) and Valle del Cauca (Colombia) have exchanged knowledge and good practices to boost their economic reactivation in the framework of the IURC Latin America programme. Both regions signed an economic agreement in April 2023, to address Coimbra’s shortage of qualified labor with Valle del Cauca’s surplus of highly qualified professionals in the engineering and hospitality sectors. The goal was the Mutual Recognition of professional degrees to certify engineers from Colombia and Portugal.

Merida and Parma are exchanging best practices to improve urban mobility by promoting non-motorized modes of transportation, public transportation and changing people’s behaviours and mobility choices.

As a result of the IURC-LA collaboration, the city of Merida aims to implement a Mobility Manager pilot with academic institutions, including collection of data through a standardized survey to better understand mobility habits and barriers for students.

Silesia’s Central Mining Institute (GIG) developped a new technology to transform sludge into fertilizers. As the cost of fertilizers is rising in Parana, the  SANEPAR is looking to test this new technology and theredore to reduce agricultural production costs. Both regions signed a Cooperation Agreement on April 17^th, 2023, aimed at implementing joint projects in areas of regional specialisation and sustainable economic development.

Seberang Perai have successfully replicated two circular economy waste management models post-study visits to Vila Nova de Famalicão & Maia: (1) Bagan Ajam Market and (2) eco-school vocational training (citizen centric community programmes)

Sofia Municipality is working with Sejong City from the Republic of Korea to conduct a joint business venture on solar panels. This pilot project is expected to develop a partnership between Bulgarian and Korean companies on renewable energy.

Dublin City Council is working with Seoul Metropolitan Government to build data analytics capacity in both cities to improve sustainable mobility including public transportation (PT), walking and cycling, and to support their respective targets for active travel.

The City of Rotterdam is working with Busan Metropolitan City from the Republic of Korea to conduct a joint policy study on urban mobility. This pilot project is expected to help policy makers in both cities to create greener urban mobility ecosystems.

As part of the IURC Kochi/India – Messina/Italy city pairing, a minimal viable use-case on flooding was developed in TOSCA by the Digital City Science team at HafenCity University in cooperation with Cochin University of Science and Technology and University of Messina.

Ostrobothnia (Finland) and Magallanes (Chile) are exchanging best practices for the implementation of a hydrogen green ecosystem (H2V) in the Chilean region. In the framework of IURC Latin America, Magallanes is currently working with the Finnish region of Ostrobothnia, which possess extensive experience in the development of green energy hubs, particularly in wind energy and biogas. Therefore, both regions are exchanging best practices that can contribute to accelerate the creation of the H2 Hub in Magallanes.

In the framework of IURC Asia and Australasia, Leuven is working with Gwalior to strengthen the capacity of start-ups inspiring them to become a genuine force of change and economic development for the city and India, while promoting the development of partnerships with businesses in Europe.

Genoa and Mar del Plata are exchanging knowledge and best practices on Tourism and Culture, to develop an action plan to promote sustainable, balanced, and diversified tourism, while meeting the needs of local communities. The pairing designed tourism diversification strategies to reach this objective, in the framework of the IURC Latin America programme. The pairing built a series of guidelines to share their learnings with other cities facing similar challenges. Find the tourism diversification guidelines here: https://eucg.iurc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/guidelines-Genoa-MDP-2.pdf

Bangkok’s District Food Management Sandbox: Applying the MUFPP to the Thai context

In the framework of IURC Latin America, Puerto Montt (Chile) and Piraeus (Greece) are collaborating on Nature-based Solutions (NBS) involving efficient participatory planning processes. Both cities are exchanging knowledge and good practices on the implementation of innovative strategies of social engagement. They are studying existing sociocultural capital that recognise and use traditional knowledge of citizens, as well as involve population groups that has been historically absent in urban planning decision-making, to co-created new green spaces.

Rome (Anci Lazio region) and Barranquilla exchanged best practices on urban and peri-urban agriculture to improve food security and participatory management of brownfield sites, contributing to reverse the growing threats of poverty and vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barranquilla and Rome developed a pilot project to test the idea of urban agriculture in Barranquilla, leading to the co-creation of a proposal approved by the European Commission in late 2021 with a 2,6-million-euro grant (“GenerACTOR” project).

In the framework of IURC Latin America, Essen and Fortaleza are exchanging knowledge and best practices on circular economy and waste management, linked to the recycling and collection of special waste, legal frameworks, and waste fee structures, that promote zero-waste policies. They coined the name “Fortalessen” for their collaboration, as a symbol of how working together made them stronger.

The city of Hermosillo (Mexico) elaborated a “Green Infrastructure Manual” as a result of a joint effort by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and the North American Development Bank (NADB). The manual intends to connect Green Infrastructure with strategic planning, participatory management, and adaptation to local ecosystem conditions. It is not only aimed at the public government, but also seeks to transfer basic knowledge for Green Infrastructure implementation at the local and micro urban scale.

São Paulo and Milan are working on urban regeneration through the lens of sustainability and social inclusion. The cities are interested in uncovering common patterns, similarities, and important differences in their land-use organisation, city development plans, and policies. They have created a comparative study with the aim of shedding light on important urban regeneration policies, practices and projects that both cities are developing which includes a detailed analysis of different planning instruments and regeneration methodologies. 

Final Report of the Asia Pacific Food Policy Training implemented by Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Secretariat and the IURC Asia and Australasia project team in 2022.

The Canalejas Mobility Hub is a driver of sustainable urban mobility in Madrid, and the city of San Diego is eager to replicate it. By transforming underutilized parking structures into mobility hubs, both are becoming sustainable, accessible, and healthier cities.

IURC NA, in partnership with the Baltimore Development Corporation, held on May 10th to 12th, 2023, the Urban Regeneration and Economic Development for Social Inclusion event in Baltimore, USA. Twenty-one cities from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Mexico, the US, and Canada gathered to work on key urban regeneration & economic development challenges, economic inclusion & community impact, public-private partnerships, sustainable waterfront development, adaptive reuse & neighborhood regeneration, and innovation economy & social inclusion. These are the takeaways.

The EVENTSOST system is transforming the tourism and events sector in Zaragoza, while Ottawa is analysing its adoption as another step to ensure that economic growth is accompanied by sustainability, a smaller carbon footprint, and a positive social impact.

A Canadian model of urban farming sparks a strategy for the prevention of fires and the generation of incentives for repopulation in Galicia and the Northern region of Portugal.

The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona’s quest for civic innovation across 36 municipalities leads them to explore replicating Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Urban Mechanics, the City’s pioneering civic research & design team.

The online Capacity Building on Regenerative Design by ACCIONA, organised by the IURC Central Coordination Services in coordination with the Geographical Areas in two sessions (morning for Asia & Australasia and China; afternoon for Latin America and North America) aimed to support worldwide pairings and clusters to path the way of their ongoing projects during the last year of the programme. The training was conducted on March 7th 2023 and welcomed more than 75 participants from all around the globe.

The training session was held on the new approach to smart specialization for the 2021-2027 programming period but starting with main approach to S3, learning about good practices in defining and implementing the Smart Specialization strategy following the methodology recommended by the European Commission.

5 case studies:

Case study 1 – Climate & Food (Umeå) 

Case study 2 – Over-tourism and sustainable promotion of territories (Metropolitan City of Venice) 

Case study 3 – Citizen-led sustainable urban development (Kamakura) 

Case study 4 – Station of Being (Umeå) 

Case study 5 – Over-tourism (Kamakura) 

For each of the case studies, there is an executive summary, special features, results and impact, key figures and lessons learned.

Puerto Montt and Piraeus are exchanging innovative social engagement techniques and
local experiences implementing Nature-based Solutions (NBS) initiatives, generating
knowledge related to the crucial role that citizens have in the sustainable development.
The cities have prepared a set of recommendations for efficient participatory planning
processes in NBS projects. In this context, Puerto Montt expects to apply these lessons of
co-creation and green solutions in the urban park “La Paloma”, which has wetlands and
abundant native forests.

Genoa and Mar del Plata exchange best practices on Tourism and Culture, to develop an action plan to achieve balanced and sustainable tourism, while meeting the needs of local communities. Mar del Plata’s strategy is focused on attracting tourism during the whole year, not only the summer season, while Genoa seeks to diversify tourists’ profiles. As a result, the pairing built a series of guidelines to share their learnings with other cities facing similar challenges.

Essen and Fortaleza (“Fortalessen”) are exchanging knowledge and best practices on circular economy and waste management in the framework of the International, Urban and Regional Cooperation programme (IURC Latin America), linked to the recycling and collection of special waste, legal frameworks, and waste fee structures, that promote zero-waste policies.
These guidelines share the main learnings from this exchange and provide a roadmap for other cities that wish to implement a solid waste recollection fee while integrating
complementary interventions.

The cities of Milan and São Paulo are exchanging knowledge and best practices on the
regeneration of industrial heritage areas as a catalyst for social and environmental
transformation, and the creation of more livable and green neighbourhoods. The cities have collaborated on the creation of guidelines to ensure that regeneration projects integrally revitalise areas, that can then be integrated into the city’s fabric. This comparative study has been created to provide context for the guidelines.

São Paulo and Milan developed elaborated a comparative study of instruments and methodologies linked to the creation of more sustainable, inclusive, and lively neighbourhoods through the transformation of vacant or under-used spaces. A workshop allowed them to discuss common challenges and lessons learned, which led to the elaboration of a guideline for the realization of regeneration plans, which can be applied to other cities and also will be implemented in the regeneration of the Bras area in São Paulo.

Barranquilla’s “Todos al Parque” programme consists of the renewal and creation
of public space that guarantees universal access to a public park system
for Barranquilla’s citizens. The strategy has focused on the recovery of
existing parks, their maintenance, and the coordination of social activities,
creating a system of parks of different intervention levels; local, district,
and metropolitan.

The Jarillón Plan in Cali is a city megaproject and is classified as the largest resettlement project in Latin America. This project was born due to the winter wave of 2010-2011 when many families where affected by heavy floods throughout Colombia and the Jarrillón area.  The Jarillón Plan aims for resettlement with a full guarantee of rights, improving their quality of life, and living in areas of non-mitigable risk.

Read the takeaways.

One of the most interesting environmental and social challenges in Rome is the emergence of urban gardens. Currently there are more than 150 municipal urban gardens, providing citizens with the opportunity to grow their own food and create green spaces in the city. Despite their benefits, urban gardens face challenges such as limited space, lack of resources and funding, and difficulty in coordinating multiple stakeholders.

Read the takeaways.

The Historic Center of Malaga suffered neglect due to the exclusive promotion of sun and beach tourism on the coast, which turned it into an aging neighborhood with social exclusion problems and abandoned buildings. To address this, urban and commercial development programs were carried out to make it more attractive to residents and visitors.

Since 2022, the city of Hermosillo in Mexico has been implementing Participatory Budgeting through their Presupuesto Creces programme, as a way to promote greater transparency and citizen participation, and improve the decision making process for public works. You can learn the main lessons in this takeaway.

Through Parma’s Mobility Managers programme, companies work with the support of the city, on home-to-work travel plans, identifying actions to promote the use of more sustainable modes of transportation by their workers.

In recent years, the City of Puerto Montt (Chile) has been facing several challenges arising from unplanned urban sprawl, which has put cultural and environmental heritage under pressure. In this context, Puerto Montt’s team integrated the preservation of wetlands into its planning strategies and is working on the systemic integration of indigenous communities and their traditional knowledge into green infrastructure projects.

We invite you to read some lessons learned and recommendations from Puerto Montt.

The City of Piraeus (Greece) has been implementing Nature Based Solutions (NBS) projects with participatory planning processes to strengthen Public Health (PH) and Wellbeing (WB). The EuPOLIS project participated to open up spaces for social interaction to empower citizens in decision-making processes. They integrate different voices, point of views, and current needs of the local community, and especially of vulnerable groups tending to be traditionally excluded from co-creation processes.

The webinar “Right to Green: Building parks through Community Engagement. Case Studies from Barranquilla, Essen, and Fortaleza” organized by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Latin America (IURC-LAC) Programme sougth to open up a technical discussion on the provision of inclusive access to green areas in cities. Three international experiences on the creation of micro-parks and the implementation of greening strategies, with strong participatory methodologies and community engagement approaches, were discussed to highlight opportunities and challenges. These include:

Different perspectives on the Blue Economy concept and reflections on the importance of the sea and coastal borders as a platform to generate social benefits, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

The Vénkert community garden in Debrecen is an example of greening and recovery of unused gray areas, by transforming them into gardens that produce healthy organic food while strengthening the sense of community. The city of Debrecen help gardeners with raised beds, irrigation infrastructure and seeds. 

On February 2023, Miguel Ángel Ania’s presentation provided an overview of the evolution of Zaragoza’s public transport strategy to reduce emissions significantly. He spoke about the economic feasibility of the tram and the city’s move towards electric and hydrogen-fueled buses.The keynote presentation was followed by short interventions by representative from Madrid, Metropolis GZM, Ottawa, San Diego, Santa Monica, and Umea who talked about challenges, successes, and strategies related to public transport and low emission delivery zones.

IURC NA, in partnership with the City of Ottawa and the EU-funded project Reducing Plastic Waste in Canada, held on June 2nd and 3rd, 2022, the Waste Management & Circular Economy Networking Event in Ottawa, Canada. Approximately 50 representatives from Spain, Poland, Italy, the USA, and Canada gathered to work on managing plastic at various levels of government level, developing strategies to enhance recycling, and generating energy from multiple sources of waste. These are the takeaways.

IURC NA, in partnership with Climate Action KC and GCoM USA, held on April 7th and 8th, 2022, the Renovation Wave Networking Event in Kansas City, USA. Approximately 40 representatives from Portugal, Dortmund, Poland, Belgium, the US, and Canada gathered to work on making buildings more energy-efficient, tackling energy poverty, and creating green jobs. These are the takeaways.

The fourth IURC-NA Thematic Networking event, Sustainable Urban Mobility & Transport (SUMT), took place in Zaragoza on the 10th – 11th of November 2022, in coordination with the host city of Zaragoza, Spain. Participating cities created professional connections and networks while sharing knowledge to advance public transport for zero emissions, shared & micro-mobility strategies, and reducing the use of single occupancy private vehicles. The following insights were shared by a cohort of 13 cities from Europe, Canada, and the US.

Lessons Learned from Sao Paulo

With support from the European Union, the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Secretariat, the City of Bandung, and the University of Parahyangan co-organised the 1^st MUFPP Asia Pacific Regional Forum on 3-4 August 2022 in support of Indonesia’s U20 Mayors Summit and G20 Summit, held at the end of August and in mid-November this year respectively.

This report provides an overview of the Pact and summarises key points from the event.

Takeaways of IURC China Urban Renewal Webinar

Takeaways of IURC China Urban Planning and Design Webinar

Trans Semarang is a bus transit system in Semarang City and Semarang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The service aims to break down congestion in Semarang and to accommodate commuters to the city center and tourist destinations in the city.

Takeaways of IURC China Education, Jobs and Skills Webinar

With the amount of food imports from outside the city being as high as 96%, Bandung City established in 2020 the Buruan SAE programme to improve urban food security.

Takeaways of IURC China Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-food System Webinar

Takeaways of the IURC China Regional Innovation and RIS3 Webinar

The webinar sought to inform/discuss/share best practices on nature-based solutions for flood management. Cities of Rotterdam, Messina, Surat, Kochi, Panaji and Semarang shared their efforts/initiatives apart from two flood management experts.

This webinar focused on the ways to reinstate public systems and non-motorized means as better means of city transport in the context of the covid19-induced reduced ridership.

Ban Nam Kieng Din is a trailblazer in food waste management in Bangkok. Since its establishment in 2000, the restaurant has been making continued efforts to better manage its waste and energy and has received countless visits from government officials, researchers and other restaurants and businesses interested in circular food waste management from all over the world.

This flow chart is a result from Milan’s study visit to Thailand from 8 to 11 August 2022.

Takeaways of the IURC China Technologies 4.0, Industry 5.0 & Innovation Webinar

Takeaways of the IURC China Circular Economy Webinar

Takeaways of the IURC China Nature-based Solutions Webinar

Takeaways of the IURC China Tourism and Culture Webinar

Experiences with Solid Waste Fee in Essen and Fortaleza: Important & transferable lessons

Experiences with Urban Regeneration Projects: Milan – São Paulo

Discover the takeaways of the IURC Side Event at the Eurocities Annual Conference 2022.

Vila Nova de Famalicão and Seberang Perai
Advancing Policies for Circular Neighbourhoods

IURC-China Programme promotes the inter-city and regional cooperation, learning and innovation between the EU and China, as well as supports cities and regions in implementing the United Nations´ Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the local development agenda, bringing together 44 cities and regions to collaborate in an inclusive and win-win approach towards sustainable urban development and regional innovation.

This booklet provides information of their general socio-economic profiles, good practices and preferred areas of cooperation.

The role of development banks and private financing

Manaus (Brazil) and Naples (Italy) share common challenges for improving their historic centres but focus on different approaches for citizens participation, financing, and implementation. Discover their recommendations!

China’s Regional Development Strategies and Regional Policies (2021-11)

Review and Prospect of Smart Cities in China (2021-11)

China’s Regional Innovation and China-EU Cooperation (2021-11)

Sustainable Urban Renewal in China (2021-11)

Is Chinese Urbanisation Unique? (2021-11)

China – Tourism Trends, Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities (2022-03)

Boost Culture’s All-round Presence in Rural Revitalisation (2022-03)

Development Strategies for Culture and Tourism Industry in China (2022-03)

Green Infrastructure Manual – Hermosillo, Mexico (2022)

Visual Takeaways of the Innovative sustainable & carbon neutral ecosystems and strategic sectors parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (24 November).

Visual Takeaways of the Innovative sustainable & carbon neutral ecosystems and strategic sectors parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (23 November).

Visual Takeaways of the Urban Renewal and Regional Competitiveness parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (24 November).

Visual Takeaways of the Urban & Regional Renewal and Social Cohesion parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (23 November).

Visual Takeaways of the Ecological Transition and Green Deal parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (24 November).

Visual Takeaways of the Ecological Transition and Green Deal parallel session at the IURC Annual Event 2021 (23 November).

Publication by EU Commission, DG Environment