Spring and summer expectations – focus on positive next steps
Dear UBC colleagues,
We are approaching summer again. More light, longer days and new projects describe the current atmosphere in the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission. During the last months, we started new projects with new and old partners. Our latest cross-border projects are focusing on integrated planning and partnership models, integrated storm water management and urban wastewaters. Recently, we also received information that our Horizon 2020 applications were successful. More about these projects later.
The last months have been inspiring when it comes to many UBC cities’ plans to reduce their carbon emissions. This fits in the global agenda, as the implementation of the Paris Declaration – taken at COP21 of the Paris Summit 2015 – puts a lot of pressure on our cities’ energy and mobility performance. Many UBC cities are already taking actions to become fossil-free or carbon-neutral in near future. We will do our best in supporting our member cities in this work. Our Commission had the first Advisory board meeting in Gdansk where much focus was put on Climate Smart Baltic Cities.
Important meetings will take place during upcoming months. The EU Commission will host the next European Maritime Days in Turku, 18–19 May. This is the main annual conference on Maritime policy in Europe.
UBC Sustainable Cities Commission will arrange a joint UBC Commission meeting together with two other UBC Commissions in Slupsk-Ustka, Poland, 15–17 June. The meeting will focus on Sustainable Safe Cultural Events (Festivals, Conferences). Expertise and experiences of member cities will be elaborated and hopefully lead to Good Practice Guidelines of Sustainable Cultural Events. We hope to see you in Slupsk-Ustka in June.
In between, we look forward to hear news from the member cities. We are interested in cities’ activities and achievements, political or practical, as well as in the possible challenges you hope to find solutions to. Take contact!
Björn Grönholm