THE ABC/ Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

Intelligent transportation systems are advanced applications which, without embodying intelligence as such, aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable various users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and ‘smarter’ use of transport networks. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can significantly contribute to a cleaner, safer and more efficient transport system.

THE ABC FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES

UNEP / UN HABITAT / FIDIC / GI-REC

Based on

EU Directive 2010/40/EU

SUSTAINABLE CITIES/ Toronto – TransformTO

Climate Action for a Healthy, Equitable & Prosperous 

TorontoTransformTO is Toronto’s ambitious climate action strategy. TransformTO will reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, and improve its health, grow the economy, and improve social equity. Everyone will have a part to play in transforming Toronto into a low-carbon city.

After two years of active resident engagement, detailed analysis and scenario modeling, City Council in July 2017 unanimously adopted the first set of TransformTO 2017-2020 short-term strategies and a set of transformational goals identifying how Toronto will change as we collectively work towards the goal of becoming a low-carbon city. The TransformTO vision for a low-carbon future is one that not only reduces our emissions, but one that achieves multiple community-wide priorities including poverty reduction, good quality jobs, healthy communities, and increased resilience to extreme weather.

To read click here: 

Toronto - TransformTO 

SUSTAINABLE CITIES/ Tokyo – New Tokyo

The Action Plan charts the course to the future to create the "New Tokyo" by realizing the three cities of Tokyo from the perspective of placing the Tokyo citizens first.

•  A Tokyo where all can live with peace of mind, hold hopes and lead active lives.
•  A sustainable Tokyo that continues to generate growth.
•  A Tokyo that shines throughout the world as the engine driving Japan's growth.

The Three Faces ("Cities") of Tokyo :

Safe City

We will protect the lives and assets of the Tokyo residents from all kinds of disasters, and build a dynamic and bustling Tokyo.

Diverse City

We will create a Tokyo that embraces diversity and is full of kindness and warmth, where everyone can lead vibrant lives and be active in society.

Smart City

As a global megacity and Japan's capital and engine driving the economy, we will create a sustainable Tokyo that can solve the challenges facing the megalopolis and continue growing to emerge victorious in the international competition among cities.

To read click here: 

Tokio - Sustainability Official Site

SUSTAINABLE CITIES/ Tianjin - Eco-city

The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city's vision is to be a thriving city which is socially harmonious, environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient.It is a flagship cooperation project between the governments of Singapore and China.

The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is the second flagship Government-to-Government project between Singapore and China after the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park. The project was mooted by then-Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in April 2007, against the backdrop of rapid urbanisation and increasing global attention on the importance of sustainable development. On 18 November 2007, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed a Framework Agreement for Singapore and China to jointly develop the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.

"Three Harmonies" refers to:

    People living in harmony with other people, i.e. social harmony

    People living in harmony with economic activities, i.e. economic vibrancy

    People living in harmony with the environment, i.e. environmental sustainability

"Three Abilities" refers to the Eco-city being:

    Practicable - the technologies adopted in the Eco-city must be affordable and commercially viable

    Replicable - the principles and models of the Eco-city could be applied to other cities in China and even in other countries

    Scalable - the principles and models could be adapted for another project or development of a different scale

To read click here: 

Tianjin - Sustainability Official Site

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/ We Love Cities

We Love Cities is a social media campaign that allows people across the world to express support for sustainable urban development by voting on their favorite finalist from WWFs One Planet City Challenge and posting improvement suggestions for these cities. The One Planet City Challenge is the world’s largest and longest running city challenge. You can read more about it here. With the We love cities campaign they aim to:

- Inspire and raise awareness for the sustainability progress being made in cities.

- Give the general public an opportunity to celebrate, vote and upgrade their city through making suggestions to decision makers.

- Reward communities and strengthen the bond between the public and decision makers.

To read click here: We Love Cities

THE ABC/ Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

Intelligent transportation systems are advanced applications which, without embodying intelligence as such, aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable various users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and ‘smarter’ use of transport networks. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can significantly contribute to a cleaner, safer and more efficient transport system. 

THE ABC FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES

UNEP / UN HABITAT / FIDIC / GI-REC

Based on

Based on EU Directive 2010/40/EU (7 July 2010)

Graphic: ETSI

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS/ Delivering on Sustainable Infrastructure for Better Development and Better Climate 2016

This report assesses the constraints that are holding back the scaling of sustainable infrastructure and how to vastly expand infrastructure while avoiding the mistakes of the past. It proposes how to revamp policy and financing frameworks so as to give traction to the implementation of the SDG agenda and to meet the ambitions of the Paris agreement to sharply curb carbon emissions.

To read click here: 

Delivering on Sustainable Infrastructure for Better Development and Better Climate

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS/ Reinventing the wheel - A Circular Economy for Resource Security

This report promotes the concept of the circular economy as a new approach to the use of resources. We use examples based on current resource issues by examining three crucial inputs to our economy: metals, phosphorus and water. The way we use them demonstrates the overwhelmingly ‘linear’ nature of our current economy, with its problems and future risks.

We make the case for a more circular economy, as a way of avoiding at least some of the impacts of ever more extraction of natural resources, and to avoid the worst impacts of generating waste. This concept has influenced economic policy in both China and Japan and is gaining traction in many other countries.

We concentrate on the role of economic instruments. Although adjusting prices and adding economic incentives is just part of the package of measures, both regulatory and voluntary, that we need to achieve better resource stewardship. We highlight that a large part of the shift to a more circular economy may need to come from our values and behavior, which might be independent from, or else reinforced by, an economic motive.

With this work Green Alliance aims to set an agenda for further debate and analysis in this area.

To read click here: 

Reinventing the wheel - a circular economy for resource security

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/Step Up Smart Cities

STEP UP draws on the partner cities’ existing experience of integrated energy planning, building on this through learning and adapting experience from other cities and partners to create a coherent and easy-to-use model for energy planning. This model will be adopted in multiple cities to deliver faster and greater impacts for Europe's 2020 energy targets. It will also help deliver wider policy objectives such as improving security of energy supplies, achieving urban regeneration, economic growth, and tackling fuel poverty – making these cities better places to live, work, learn and do business.

STEP UP will take an integrated approach to energy planning, integrated project design and implementation by addressing three themes together:

• Energy and technology 
• Economics 
• Organisation and stakeholders

To read click here: 

STEP US Smart Cities

THE ABC/ Information and communications technology (ICT)

Information and communications technology (ICT) is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.  

THE ABC FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES

UNEP / UN HABITAT / FIDIC / GI-REC

Based on

Strategies Towards Energy Performance and Urban Planning (STEP UP) Gothenburg/Anna Svensson, 2015

SUSTAINABLE CITIES/ Taipei - Clean Air - It's Your Move

In order to reduce air pollution and create a low-carbon city, Taipei set up public dynamometers to measure the emissions from diesel vehicles and control PM2.5 emissions from diesel buses and trucks in the city. By awarding “low-pollution identification symbols” to diesel vehicles, Taipei reduced the pollution emissions from diesel vehicles, thereby improving air quality and public health. By the end of 2013, there were 4436 diesel buses and 936 diesel trucks with the low-pollution symbol. It is anticipated that with this program, up to 104.7 tons PM2.5 emissions can be reduced per year.

The “YouBike” project began in 2009 to further combat the effects that motor vehicles have on the city’s air quality by introducing a bike sharing option for commuters. The YouBike service is available throughout the city and provides a convenient option for users to avoid driving and public transport. In 2009, 500 bicycles were made available at 11 rental stations. Today, there are 160 rental stations and 5265 bicycles. The number of YouBike users has already reached 1.9 million, while the total number of usage is over 20 million, and has gained popularity as the first 30 minutes of use is free.

To read click here: 

Taipei - Sustainability Official Site  -  C40 Cities Awards

NGOs/ C40 Cities

Acting both locally and collaboratively, C40 cities are having a meaningful global impact in reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. C40 brings together a unique set of assets and creates a shared sense of purpose. C40 offers cities an effective forum where they can collaborate, share knowledge and drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action on climate change.

C40 networks facilitate dialogue amongst city officials. This builds trusted relationships, which in turn ensures that ideas, solutions, lessons, questions, and even friendly competition can flow freely and responsively to cities' needs. Rather than end at a case study or report, C40 Networks create conversations, which enable cities to tailor their own actions to their unique situations, and band together to use their collective power to access partnership resources, including technical and financial support. The result is that cities' climate actions to reduce GHGs and climate risks are bolder, more impactful, implemented faster, at a lower cost and with less resources than if they were to go it alone. No other organisation facilitates such deep connections amongst city staff across 50+ countries, 20 time zones and 26 languages to accelerate local action with major global impact.

To read click here: 

C40 Cities