2016 has seen the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK campaign shatter its previous participation record, with an astounding 2424 cities from 51 countries celebrating the week. The previous record was set in 2011 when 2264 cities from 43 countries participated.

Cities and towns around the world held activities under this year's theme of 'Smart and sustainable mobility - an investment for Europe', referring to the close ties between transport and economics. Many cities held a "Car Free Day", in which areas of the city were closed off to motorised vehicles and opened to citizens, while others held activities that showcased the benefits of opting for sustainable modes of travel. A sizeable portion of those participating also enacted permanent measures that encourage a shift to low-carbon forms of mobility.

Cities that carried out all three of the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK criteria are eligible to apply for the WEEK Award. Winners of the award receive a three-minute video in both English and their native language highlighting their achievements. The call for applications for the fifth edition of the SUMP Award is also open. This year's award will recognise the local or regional government that has done most to integrate urban freight with their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, or SUMP.

For more information, visit the WEEK website. more   28 September 2016 Final weeks to register for Local Renewables conferenceRenewables have played a crucial role in cutting Europe's energy consumption, powering almost 15.5 percent of the EU energy sector in 2014. Following one of the EU Energy Union's core pillars, citizen empowerment, city leaders have contributed to this success by enabling citizens to participate in the renewable local energy markets. When designing the urban energy transformation, local authorities are also exploring the opportunities and challenges of smart technologies and innovation. But do these guarantee a sustainable city?

Local Renewables 2016, taking place from 26 "“ 28 October, will discuss this and many more topics throughout a three-day conference programme to be held in two cities working towards an energy transition: Freiburg (Germany) and Basel (Switzerland). It will offer participants the opportunity to visit one of the world's best examples of sustainable urban living, the Vauban neighbourhood, as well as the Gundeldingerfeld district, an example of transformation from a former industrial site into a fashionable commercial and cultural district, designed in line with the principles outlined for the 2000 Watt Society.

Space for the conference is limited so registration as soon as possible is advised. For updates on Local Renewables 2016 and the event series, visit the conference website or contact the conference secretariat: lr2016@iclei.org. Follow updates as they happen: @LR_Series #LocalRenewables

For more information and to register, click here.Image copyright: Image (ICLEI Europe) more

» Publication Date: 29/09/2016

» Source: Iclei Europe

« Go to Technological Watch