On 1 October, Kaohsiung will welcome visitors from around the world to the EcoMobility World Festival 2017. They are coming to witness a bold experiment: Kaohsiung is transforming the streets of the historic Hamasen neighborhood into a space dedicated to ecomobile vehicles such as bikes, public transport and light electric vehicles. The city has long been preparing
An increasing number of cities across the world are getting on board and reaping the benefits of district energy. According to the report District Energy in Cities published by UN Environment in partnership with ICLEI, UN-Habitat and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency, cities around the world are adopting district energy systems. So why is
As the host of the third EcoMobility World Festival, Kaohsiung is seeking to become a pioneer in ecomobility, leading by example and providing a platform through the Festival for sharing innovative and intelligent ecomobile strategies and solutions. As part of the Festival, city mayors and leaders, high-level government representatives and various international stakeholders from the
A Member of ICLEI and the Global 100% Renewable Energy Cities & Regions Network, Växjö, Sweden is leading the way in urban renewable energy strategies, and is on track to become a fossil fuel-free city by 2030. We got in touch with the mayor to find out more about the key to success in the
Nature-based solutions can address urban challenges exacerbated by growing urban populations and the impacts of climate change. They are multi-functional, cost-effective and provide a wide range of benefits, from improving public health to reducing energy costs and pollution to regenerating urban spaces. Local governments can use green roofs and green infrastructure to help cities become
Cities in China face significant water-related challenges, including flood, reduced water quality and severe water scarcity – exacerbated by rapid urbanization and more frequent extreme weather events. Nearly half of cities in China do not meet national flood prevention standards and over half are considered water scarce. To address these challenges, China is implementing the
Land degradation is a growing barrier to sustainable development. It directly affects an estimated 1.5 billion people globally, impacting food and water security, increasing poverty and exacerbating vulnerability to climate change. The global response must acknowledge urban activities as a key underlying driver, drawing on local and regional governments as allies. Systematic public sector approaches
The world is at a tipping point. Whether it is a tipping point that promises a bright, sustainable future or one in which we’ll have to face growing challenges from climate change and unsustainable urbanization, is up to us. This message by David Stevens, Head of the UNISDR Bonn Office, sums up what the 2017
It is clear that the food, urban, resilience and sustainability agendas must come together. At the Urban Food Forum at Resilient Cities 2017, Monika Zimmermann, Deputy Secretary General of ICLEI and Thierry Giordano, Decentralized Cooperation Advisor at FAO, drew an analogy between the way cities are seizing the food agenda and how they got a jump start on the
Resilience is a tricky topic when it comes to urban transport. The Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals signal a sustainable, resilient path forward for urban transport. But is this translating into resilient transport systems in cities? Not exactly. At least not on a consistent basis. Transport resilience is way down on the priority list for