The “Urban Investment Support” was recently launched by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank with the aim of helping cities plan investments. Consequently, their urban development strategies would be supported and there would be easier access to financing. Precisely this access to financing remains one of the biggest issues that cities have to …
We are all familiar with the catch-phrase “Think global, act local”. This remarkable TED Talk (found below) is the perfect representation of that, placed in a larger frame that Majora Carter calls “local eco-entrepreneurship”. She argues for smart infrastructure, for healthy local economic systems and for “hometown security”, using the example of three practical visionaries across …
As almost half of the country’s population will be living in urban areas by the middle of the century, the volume of waste specifically around cities will grow by 5% every year. This might not sound that bad, but the reality is actually bleak – India in drowning in waste and its cities are surrounded …
Airbnb has opened up opportunities for tourists to break away from the norm and enjoy the city as locals do. With millions of people worldwide renting their homes for short stays and shaking up the tourism industry, how did cities adjust to the so-called ‘Airbnb effect’? Melbourne, Berlin and Amsterdam showcase different reactions to the …
Governments are not set up for rapid change. By implementing collaborative planning strategies or collaborative rationality, there is an opportunity for sustainable governance. Utilizing collaborative planning strategies, decisions are made through the interaction of various stakeholders to reach a decision regarding the problems that exist within a system. In order to reach a consensus, cohesive …
UHub was present yesterday at the high level conference Investing in Europe: building a coalition of smart cities & regions towards a Third Industrial Revolution, hosted by the European Committee of the Regions. The seminar was co-hosted by Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission and Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions …
Although there’s a lot of talk about cities that are sustainable, green and built for people, you’ve probably never heard much about the city of Curitiba, the capital of the Parana province in Brazil and the eighth most populous city in the country. Curitiba may not be in the news as much as other cities …
Renown economist and long-time advisor to the EU Commission, Jeremy Rifkin, is the principal architect of the Third Industrial Revolution long-term economic sustainability plan to address the triple challenge of the global economic crisis, energy security, and climate change. He argues that the Emission Trading System set up by the EU in 2005 is a …
As a result of intense urban migration and the “unplanned” development of our cities, several solutions have been developed and tested in different fields since the 80s. A consequence of these attempts to solve urban problems is the rise of the “Smart City” concept. Around the world, old cities have been retrofitted and some brand …
In developed countries, after decades of high-pollution landfill practices, waste collection and waste treatment systems have moved toward the recovery of materials (recycling and re-use) and of energy (incineration). These less polluting activities have made our trash a profitable industry with excellent market expectations, consequently attracting energy multinationals and recycling companies, as well as mafia groups. …