Urban_WINS, a new European project funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and in which ICLEI is involved, will study how cities consume resources and products, and how they eliminate the waste produced. At the core of the work is developing and testing innovative plans and solutions aimed at improving waste prevention and management. These strategic plans will be tested in eight pilot cities in six European countries

The City of Cremona (Italy), a municipality which has been active in ICLEI's Procura+ European Sustainable Procurement Network for over seven years, is coordinating the project and hosted the recent kick-off meeting. In his welcome speech, Cremona's mayor Gianluca Galimberti highlighted the approach that Urban_WINS will use to develop its research: understanding cities as living organisms. Mr Galimberti also remarked the impact this project can have by turning problems into opportunities and by raising awareness on the fact that choices we make today when consuming resources can be crucial for our future.

Active participation from citizens, governments, organisations, research institutes and education centres is foreseen through physical meetings and agoras in the eight pilot cities. A total of 27 partners are part of an interdisciplinary consortium that will work on Urban_WINS for the next three years.

For more information and updates, contact philipp.tepper@iclei.org or follow the project on Twitter. more   20 July 2016 ICLEI Member Rotterdam joins sustainable tropical timber initiativeThe European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition (STTC) saw its membership increase during its recent conference in ICLEI Member Rotterdam (The Netherlands), with the host city ending the conference by joining. "˜We aim to be the world's most sustainable port city and we see joining the STTC as integral to that,' said Leon Dijk, Sustainable Procurement specialist with Rotterdam City Council. Almost 100 people from across the STTC membership took part in the conference. European Timber Trade Federation Secretary General Andre de Boer told participants that there are early signs that efforts to strengthen the sustainable tropical timber market are paying off, but warned that more needs to be done to make the concept mainstream. He finished by urging companies and organisations to join the STTC.

The STTC recently launched a €2 million funding campaign to help local authorities and businesses to implement sustainable timber procurement policies. The Netherlands has been particularly active in promoting sustainable tropical timber, backing the STTC and implementing a procurement system that has seen a rise in sustainable timber market share from 13.4 percent to 74 percent. The so-called "˜Green Deal' between the public and private sectors aims to boost sustainable timber's market share further.

In addition to plenary sessions, the conference featured lively workshops that looked at designing sustainable procurement policies and financial instruments for driving sustainable timber markets. By stimulating demand for sustainable tropical timber, European authorities can prevent deforestation and provide a livelihood for millions of people in developing countries.

For more information on joining the STTC, contact mark.vanbenthem@probos.nlImage copyright: Image (Pixabay) more

» Publication Date: 21/07/2016

» Source: Iclei Europe

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