The City of Freiburg (Germany) and ICLEI, in cooperation with the City of Basel (Switzerland), will gather once more an experienced and knowledgeable group of policy-makers, energy experts, researchers and business representatives during the 7th Local Renewables Conference "“ Energising the Smart City and Region, which takes place from 26 "“ 28 October 2016.

Following the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21), there has been a clear consensus to move towards a lower-carbon and more efficient energy system. This consensus comes aimd a backdrop of rising global energy needs, with energy demand set to increase by 40 percent by 2030. Cities and regions must find innovative ways to meet the energy demand whilst responding to citizens"˜ needs. Cities and regions also play a key role in meeting the EU Energy Union goals. Smart technologies could play a significant part in meeting such demands, but will smart cities also drive sustainable cities?

Experts such as Claude Turmes, Member of the European Parliament as part of the European Greens and Rapporteur on the 2008 Draft EU Renewables Directive, and Professor Dirk Helbing, one of the authors of the Digital Manifesto, have been invited to join the three-day conference programme. To join the discussion, register online. The latest news is available on Twitter: @LR_Series

For more information, visit the conference website or contact lr2016@iclei.org. more   23 August 2016 Car drivers are 4kg heavier than cyclists finds PASTA studyPeople who drive cars as their main form of transport are on average heavier than those who cycle, a new study conducted by the PASTA project says. The EU-funded PASTA project "“led by an international group of experts, including the World Health Organization - is studying how different forms of transport relate to levels of physical activity, and consequently people's health.

PASTA researchers monitored 11,000 volunteers in seven European cities and asked how they move around the city, which mode of transport they use and how much time they spend travelling. The project also asked volunteers to record their height, weight, and to provide information about their attitudes towards walking and bicycling. An analysis of the data shows that those people who drove cars were on average 4 kilograms heavier than those who cycled. Dr Adrian Davis, a UK transport and health expert and member of PASTA's advisory board, said: "People who are physically inactive are at higher risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cancer, stroke, heart attacks, as well as becoming overweight.

"Our research shows that factors like urban design, how we move in cities, the use of cars, bikes or walking could play an important role in determining the level of people's daily physical activity. Being more active can make you healthier, save you money and improve your life. Getting your recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day by simply integrating it into your travel routine is time efficient in increasingly busy lives. Instead of going to the gym, for example, think about cycling to work."

For more information, read the press release.Image copyright: Image (Flickr) by "Colville-Andersen", licensed under CC BY 2.0 more

» Publication Date: 25/08/2016

» Source: Iclei Europe

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