Dear UBC colleagues,
It is a pleasure for me to introduce this autumn edition of the UBC Sustainable Cities Bulletin 2024! The articles featured in this issue are contributions from our active member cities exploring the power of cooperation in building sustainable cities – where citizens, governments, and business work together to create inclusive, but also resilient, smart and nature positive environments. From engaging stakeholders in climate action in Umeå and Liepaja to innovative solutions promoting biodiversity in Turku and Kemi, the ideas presented here reflect the potential of partnerships to drive a long-term systemic change in cities. Collaboration is essential element of this change. Only through shared knowledge, collective action, and political commitment to sustainability goals can we build cities that thrive for generations to come.
The power of cooperation was very vivid at this year’s Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region which was the main event for over 650 stakeholders from our region to meet and exchange on most pressing topics and where our Commission was actively involved in organizing several sessions bringing to discussion the role of local authorities in national decision-making process. We were extremely happy to see a big interest for UBC projects and initiatives!
We also have some exciting news to share with you! In addition to five ongoing projects that our Secretariat is implementing to drive the transition in areas of climate, water, mobility, circular economy, and biodiversity, we have received confirmation of Interreg BSR Programme funding for two new projects that will contribute significantly to the development of innovation solutions in the fields of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and green public procurement!
ClimaResponse project (Responsive Local Action for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction) will focus on building resilience in local communities through adaptive measures and effective disaster risk reduction strategies. We will be working together with twelve partners to identify and implement locally-driven solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change.
ChemClimCircle2 (Fostering Implementation of the ChemClimCircle Approach to Green Public Procurement in the Baltic Sea Region) aims to promote sustainable and climate-friendly procurement practices across the region. ChemClimCircle2 will focus on expanding the use of circular economy principles and non-toxic climate neutral solutions in public procurement.
These projects will provide valuable opportunities for innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration, and we are excited to work together with you on developing new solutions that address these critical issues. We will keep you updated on the projects' progress and hope to see you in the coming project events. Together, we can make meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and resilient future!
And as you read through the articles and insights in this Bulletin, I invite you to consider how your role – whether as a policymaker, urban planner, business leader, or citizen – can contribute to the collective effort and stronger collaboration within your city and beyond. Let's turn the vision of sustainable cities into a living reality, ensuring a greener, healthier, more prosperous future for all!
Yours,
Agnieszka Ilola,
Head of Secretariat of the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission
Cover photo: Nathalie Näslund, Umeå Municipality