Dear UBC colleagues,
As we enter the spring of 2025, our Commission activities are in full swing, and we are excited to share some fantastic news with you in this edition of the UBC Sustainable Cities Bulletin. We have a lot of exciting new openings and opportunities for increased collaboration that we can’t wait to explore with you!
In March, we were thrilled to learn that all three platform project proposals, BSR Urban Mobility, HAZGONE and EnTRA, were approved for funding by the Interreg BSR Programme. The platform concept has been recognised by Interreg BSR as Operations of Strategic Importance, and they play a crucial role in advancing long-term strategic goals of the Programme. This means that our network will have even more resources to share cutting-edge knowledge and insights on urban mobility, energy efficiency and the reduction of pollution from hazardous substances. Interreg BSR will officially launch these platforms at the Programme conference in Tampere this May, and we invite you to get involved in their activities and take advantage of exciting capacity-building opportunities!
In parallel, we also kick-started two promising new projects: ClimaResponse and ChemClimCircle-2. The ClimaResponse project will help municipalities strengthen climate resilience by providing practical tools and innovative solutions for local climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. ChemClimCircle-2 will focus on promoting sustainable and climate-friendly procurement practices across the region by expanding circular economy principles and advancing non-toxic, climate-neutral solutions in public procurement. You can find more information about both projects and their opening events in the following pages of this Bulletin.
Looking ahead, preparations are underway for our next Commission meeting, which will take place in Malmö on 1-3 October 2025. We're also gearing up for one of the sessions at the XVIII UBC General Conference in Słupsk (Dolina Charlotty) on 4 November 2025, and I warmly invite you to join us! During the Commission meeting, we will focus on how we can work together to create climate-proof and nature-positive cities. This inspiring, forward-thinking meeting will explore innovative solutions, foster collaboration, and drive actionable strategies for cities to address growing climate risks and challenges while enhancing biodiversity. We look forward to engaging discussions and to collectively shaping the cities of the future.
Last but certainly not least, I would like to cordially invite you to our upcoming UBC TALKS webinar on 27 May. This session will delve into one of our core topics in Vison 2030: urban biodiversity. You don't want to miss this opportunity to hear about the first Biodiversity Park in Europe where nature is not only protected but is actively increased. We invited three cities that will showcase their effective tools for bringing nature back to urban spaces. This webinar promises to be an inspiring and informative session on creating greener, more diverse cities.
We hope you enjoy this edition of the Bulletin, and we look forward to continuing our active exchange of ideas and experiences with you. Wishing you a pleasant read and a wonderful spring ahead!
Warm greetings from the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission,
Agnieszka Ilola, Head of Secretariat