Strategy for the sustainable competitiveness of the construction sector and its enterprises

Posted on: 21 August 2012
By: mackene
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An action plan has been proposed by the European Commission to promote the construction sector as a driving force in the creation of jobs and for sustained growth for the economy in general.

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International Place Branding Conference. Utrecht, 20-21 January 2012

Posted on: 21 August 2012
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This event adopted an interdisciplinary and international perspective aiming to approach the theme of place branding from an analytical point of view that also includes the discussion about appropriate methodologies to analyze and measure effects and success of place branding. A volume of proceedings is available online.

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Ending expensive social tenancies: Fairness, higher growth and more homes

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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This report from the Policy Exchange argues expensive social housing should be sold off once it becomes vacant and the proceeds used to finance the construction of multiple new and quality social homes. It shows this policy is both fair and popular with the public; that the value of housing involved and the associated economic impacts are significant; and that arguments against this policy are misplaced.

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House prices

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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The cost of buying your own home in England increased by more than three times the rate of an average salary over the past ten years – leaving millions of people out of reach of ever getting on the housing ladder. A full breakdown of regional figures is available online.

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European Institute of Innovation and Technology: Good practices and learning. Copenhagen, 25-26 June 2012

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is the first initiative of its kind set up by the European Union with the mission to increase European sustainable growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the EU. It is doing so by focusing on bringing together actors from within the ’Knowledge Triangle’ (business, research and higher education) to work together in novel ways. It builds primarily on its ’Knowledge and Innovation Communities’, with the main aim of building strong communities around physical spaces in which networking, collaboration, incubation, education and wider entrepreneurship support work hand in hand to create the next generation of innovators. This event provided an opportunity for the  EIT tol illustrate how it implements its model and mission in practice and showcase its activities, achievements and developments to date at all levels. Video streams and presentations are available online.

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Climate change and Singapore: Challenges, opportunities, partnerships

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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Singapore has recently published its national climate change strategy. The document reflects the key elements of Singapore’s efforts on this issue, preparing for the uncertainties and impact of climate change, seizing opportunities for green growth, and supporting the transition to a lower emission economy.

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Building resilience: the importance of prioritising disaster risk reduction

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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A lecture delivered by Helen Clark, a UNDP Administrator, in Christchurch, New Zealand on 15 August 2012. It provides a United Nations Development Programme perspective on building resilience and disaster risk reduction.

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Disaster risk reduction in school curricula: case studies from thirty countries

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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This publication captures key national experiences in the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the curriculum, identifying good practice, noting issues addressed or still lacking, and reviewing learning outcomes. The study researched DRR related curriculum development and integration, pedagogy, student assessment, teacher professional development and guidance, learning outcomes and policy development, planning and implementation aspects covering thirty countries. It asserts that while education systems are greatly affected by disaster, they are also key to reducing risk and strengthening disaster resilience. Quality education can deliver life-saving and life sustaining knowledge, skills, and attitudes that protect children and young people during and after emergencies.

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Reducing carbon emissions through TDM strategies: A review of international examples

Posted on: 20 August 2012
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Conventional transport planning solutions often have effects contradicting transport system efficiency and emission reduction targets. Innovative and effective transport demand management (TDM) solutions, however, help to achieve multiple planning objectives. Based on the existing knowledge in China about TDM strategies, the aim of this report is to discuss the potential of TDM strategies to contribute to climate change mitigation and identify the most promising options for Chinese cities. To attain that, the report focuses on success factors of international examples of effective policy formulation and implementation (including London, Singapore, New York, Berlin, Seoul and San Francisco among others).

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Engineering the Olympic Park

Posted on: 17 August 2012
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The Institution of Civil Engineers has launched a video which explains how the Olympic Park project was delivered on time, safely and within budget. It celebrates the ability of the engineer to make a real difference to the urban landscape of East London by sharing the knowledge of those directly involved. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has worked closely with contractors, industry partners, government bodies and academia to document these lessons and best-practice. With the support of the ICE, the ODA is now launching a programme to share the knowledge from the London 2012 construction project and raise the bar within the sector. Resources available include CPD lectures and journals.

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