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Urban equity in development: Cities for life. Medellin, Colombia, 5-11 April 2014
Posted on: 8 May 2014
By: mackene
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The Seventh Session of the World Urban Forum provided a platform to create new networks and partnerships and strengthen existing ones, with a meaningful impact on equity and development. Participants gained new awareness about the role that cities, countries, international agencies and development partners can play in advancing an equity agenda, sharing knowledge and best practices. Discussions took place on how to implement the “Cities for Life” concept that is both normatively and operationally linked to the notion of equity. The concrete objectives of WUF7 are to take stock of where the world stands with respect to the equity concept, analysing how this concept is perceived and utilised. Conclusions of the plenary sessions are available online. This blog provides a response to the Medellin Declaration.
Assessing polycentric urban systems in the OECD: Country, regional and metropolitan
Posted on: 1 May 2014
By: mackene
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Contemporary urban systems in OECD countries are structured around functional regions, which often overcome established city boundaries. By using a harmonised definition of functional urban areas in OECD countries, this paper first provides a sound definition of polycentricity at each spatial scale, highlighting for each of them the different links with policy. Second, it provides measures of polycentricity and explores the economic implications of different spatial structures. Results show that relatively more monocentric regions have higher GDP per capita than their more polycentric counterparts. At country level, on the other hand, polycentricity is associated with higher GDP per capita.
Delivering change: Supporting links between universities and high-growth firms in cities
Posted on: 30 April 2014
By: mackene
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This ‘delivering change’ paper, supported by Santander, offers a series of case studies in the UK and abroad showing different ways universities, high-growth firms and cities collaborate. Some take advantage of history and brand such as Cambridge, while others build cross-border networks in order to build scale and make greater investments than they could on their own.
Urban China: Toward efficient, inclusive and sustainable urbanization
Posted on: 28 April 2014
By: mackene
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This joint report by the World Bank and the Development Research Center of China’s State Council argues that China needs to build cities that are more dense to cut down on infrastructure costs. The report includes six priority areas for a new model of urbanization.
Bayonne: Restoring buildings and citizen participation with URBACT
Posted on: 24 April 2014
By: mackene
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Europe’s old towns reflect the continent’s long and articulated history. Their beauty attracts visitors from all over the world, making their dwellers proud of their cultural heritage. However, living in a historical centre is often challenging: poor living conditions inherited from past concepts of urban space and architecture clash with the need for comfort of its inhabitants. The need for sustainability and energetic performance in renovation represents an additional challenge that needs to be coped with. To tackle this challenge, the city of Bayonne (France) decided to embark on an URBACT journey with partners from all over Europe. As part of this experience, the municipality had to gather relevant stakeholders and work with them to draft a local action plan. The Local Support Group set up in this perspective quickly became a driver in mobilizing citizens and local organizations around the “eco-restoration” agenda.
Integrating the environment in urban planning and management: Key principles and approaches for cities in the 21st Century
Posted on: 9 April 2014
By: mackene
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With over half of the global population now living in urban areas, cities are increasingly facing the challenge of ensuring decent standards of living for their inhabitants. Demand for a higher quality of life is increasing despite growing pressures on natural resources and ecosystems. In this context, a new report launched jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Cities Alliance finds that the rapid pace of urbanization represents an opportunity to build more sustainable, innovative and equitable towns and cities, and to use the world’s natural resources more efficiently.
China: A new approach to efficient, inclusive, sustainable urbanization
Posted on: 25 March 2014
By: mackene
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In a joint report with the Development Research Centre of China’s State Council, the World Bank has published a report which highlights the scale of urbanization that has taken place in China. The report makes a series of recommendations designed to ensure urbanization is efficient, inclusive and sustainable. These would encourage China’s cities to generate more revenue and to help the nation deal with environmental degradation.
UK-India workshop on the Future Cities. New Delhi, 24-25 February 2014
Posted on: 17 March 2014
By: mackene
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The workshop consisted of presentations by both Indian and UK-based academics, funders, policymakers and industry stakeholders, providing an overview of the issues and research around ‘Urbanisation’ in both countries, followed by discussions on potential future collaborations and funding mechanisms. The aim of the event was to bring together UK stakeholders in future cities research and innovation, to create a network with the Indian side.
Nations and the wealth of cities: A new phase in public policy
Posted on: 6 March 2014
By: mackene
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This report from the Centre for London aims to address the challenges for national governments that result from globalising cities. It uses the example of the UK as a locus for a new suite of city oriented national policies and initiatives that seek to marry local leadership with national frameworks in a global system.
Transport Works
Posted on: 4 March 2014
By: mackene
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This aims to be the number one website for the evidence and the arguments for investing in urban transport. It also aims to provide this information in a way that meets the needs of different audiences from the general public and journalists through to academics and economists. It does this through quick pdf and web-based briefings, as well as through a comprehensive capsule thematic ‘evidence base’ library.
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