Opinions, ideas and knowledge you can apply to local and regional sustainable development.

Explore this blog to learn from local leaders, municipal staff and experts from around the world.

Postcards from the World Cities Project: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

A common thread among local governments that are globally recognized as urban sustainability leaders – a category which includes the eight cities taking part in the EU-Canada Urban Policy Cooperation – is that they actively work to protect, restore, and grow biodiverse urban green spaces. Vitoria-Gasteiz is at the forefront of this trend: in the 

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100%RE: Sumba, Indonesia (Sulis Setiawati)

Profile: Islander who has helped bring a diverse range of local, national and international stakeholders to agreement over the 100% renewable vision for Sumba Introduction In the past Sumba Island was renowned for being one of the poorest areas of Indonesia where very few people had access to electricity, now thanks to the efforts of 

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ICLEI Links: 16 October 2015

Welcome to the latest edition of ICLEI Links, our roundup of sustainability-related news and commentary from around the web! City Stories The SDGs don’t adequately spell out cities’ role in implementation – the International Institute for Environmental Development argues that there is no clear indication of how the SDGs will be achieved, by whom or with 

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ICLEI & the World Cities Project at Open Days in Brussels

In stark contrast to the grey skies and scattered showers that had been (correctly) forecast for Brussels on 13 October, representatives from the ICLEI facilitated EU-Japan Urban Policy Dialogue and EU-Canada Urban Policy Cooperation enjoyed a moment in the sun: at the invitation of the Directorate General of Regional and Urban Policy of the European 

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EcoMobility World Festival 2015: The First 10 Days

The EcoMobility World Festival 2015 is ongoing in Johannesburg, South Africa, but the first week has already brought plenty of excitement and news. Here are some of our highlights! Festival Voices Our team on the ground has been interviewing residents and visitors to Sandton to find out what they think of the Festival. Follow the 

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100%RE: East Hampton, USA (Larry Cantwell)

Profile: Town Supervisor who rallied a town to secure its energy future and economy by setting out to go 100% renewable. Introduction Larry Cantwell is the Town Supervisor of East Hampton, a mixed community of baymen and billionaires on Long Island, New York. Cantwell is at the helm as the town embarks on its journey 

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ICLEI Links: 9 October 2015

Welcome to the latest edition of ICLEI Links, our roundup of sustainability-related news and commentary from around the web! City Stories Paris’ day sans car shows us what our cities can be – on 27 September, at the instigation of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris closed some of its most famous streets (including the Champs Elysees) to 

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TAPplications: Thermal Rehabilitation of Buildings in Seine-Saint-Denis

In Seine-Saint-Denis, the residential sector is the most energy-intensive sector after transport. To meet its objectives to halve energy consumption and to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a factor of four by 2050, the department is looking to implement a massive thermal renovation project for existing buildings. However, households who would like to invest 

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ICLEI Links: 2 October 2015

Welcome to the latest edition of ICLEI Links, our roundup of sustainability-related news and commentary from around the web! City Stories 8 cities that show you what the future will look like – historically, cities have grown by accident. Now, we are starting to think holistically and plan for the long term. This stylish feature 

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TAPplications: DO YOU KYOTO?

Since the introduction of the slogan “DO YOU KYOTO?” meaning “Are you doing something good for the environment?”, Kyoto City has devised the “DO YOU KYOTO?” Project, a flagship environmental education initiative targeting not only citizens, but also businesses and tourists in order to popularize eco-friendly lifestyles. This project – the first of its kind 

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