Dear UBC colleagues,
Summer has finally arrived even in Turku, and everyone is busy to finalise tasks before the holidays start. We hope that you find a moment to read about what the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission has been up to in the past month and, more importantly, what is awaiting you and us after the summer break!
Right now, we are eagerly awaiting the results of the 2nd call for applications of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme to see if and when we can start exciting new projects on important topics supporting implementation of the UBC Sustainability Action Programme 2030. The results of the call will be announced by the end of June so stay tuned!
We are also in full speed preparing and planning for a very active autumn with several opportunities to meet and exchange and we really hope to see many of you during these events. We especially would like to warmly invite you to the joint meeting of the UBC Planning and Sustainable Cities Commissions “Revitalizing urban space connected to the Sea” on 13-15 September 2023 in Turku, Finland. The registration is open and in this file you find all relevant information.
Together with the UBC Planning Cities Commission, we plan for a very hands-on workshop inviting experts in urban planning, climate change, transport, water management and related sustainable urban development to join us to work on concrete task areas in Turku and develop proposals for the revitalisation of spaces.
October will start with us travelling to the EUSBSR Annual Forum in Riga to network and cooperate with our partners in the region and end with the XVII UBC General Conference in Palanga, Lithuania. UBC SCC will host an exciting workshop on the EU Mission for smart and climate-neutral cities (25.10.2023) as well as hold a "meet & greet" session on our Commission’s activities and new ideas for cooperation, where we hope to discuss and exchange with all of you on ongoing and new actions and get to know your expectations and wishes for the next years.
On a personal note: For me it’s time to say goodbye, as I will end my work at UBC Sustainable Cities Commission after the summer break and start a new job in mid-August. I want to thank you all wholeheartedly for 16 years of great cooperation, inspiring discussions, and wonderful encounters in numerous projects and UBC activities. It’s not easy to leave such a network after so many years, but I am excited about the new role and also confident that we might meet again.
We wish you a relaxing summer!
Esther Kreutz-Hassinen
Head of Secretariat
on behalf of the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission Secretariat