Networks and cities' news

Empowering Cities for Climate Resilience: The Mission Implementation Platform (MIP4Adapt)

In a world increasingly grappling with the challenges of climate change, European cities are turning to innovative solutions to adapt and thrive. The Mission Implementation Platform (MIP4Adapt) is at the forefront of these efforts, providing robust support for urban areas to achieve climate resilience.

Launched under the EU’s Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, MIP4Adapt is a comprehensive initiative designed to assist cities and regions in becoming climate-resilient by 2030. This platform offers tailored guidance, tools, and resources, enabling municipalities to effectively address climate-related risks such as heatwaves, floods, and water scarcity.

Rethinking housing policies in order to fight depopulation: Saint-Quentin’s Approach

One of the key strategies to address depopulation lies in rethinking housing policies. Ensuring high-quality, affordable housing that meets the needs of diverse population groups—especially young people—is essential to reversing the trend of outmigration. By fostering vibrant neighborhoods and improving living conditions, housing policies play a pivotal role in halting the exodus of residents and revitalizing the urban fabric.

Shaping Circular Cities: Insights from the Let’s Go Circular! Mid Term Reflection process and open call for action

In a world where linear consumption drives resource depletion and waste, the ‘’Let’s Go Circular! Paving the way for circular cities’’ (LGC!) network is showing the way forward. This URBACT Action Planning Network, comprising ten diverse cities, is championing circular economy principles to create resilient, resource-efficient urban environments. From Munich to Tirana, these cities are transforming the way they approach consumption, governance, and sustainability.

The Mid Term Reflection session of the LGC! network, held in October 2024 in Malmo, Sweden, provided a comprehensive overview of efforts to promote circular economy principles across participating cities and beyond. With representatives from ten cities, including Munich, Cluj-Napoca, Malmö, Oulu, Riga, Corfu, Guimaraes, Lisbon, Tirana and Oulu, this initiative aims to embed sustainable circular economy practices into local policies and actions. This article summarizes progress, challenges, and future steps, reflecting the collective ambition to shape greener urban environments.

Dobrich Hosted the Third Main Meeting of Re-Gen Project

In October 15-16, 2024, the Municipality of Dobrich, in partnership with the Association of Bulgarian Black Sea Municipalities, hosted the third main meeting of the Re-Gen project. The Municipality of Verona - leading partner and all partner municipalities in the project, the leading expert of URBACT and a representative of the Secretariat of URBACT took part in the event, where they were welcomed by Mr. P. Pavlov, Deputy Mayor "Strategic Development and Economy" and Mr. Mrs. N. Ivanova, chairperson of the permanent committee "Sports, education and youth activities".

Portrait Series #7 : Amidst War and Displacement: Mykola's Story and the Vision for Mariupol's Future

Mykola, who lived in Mariupol (Ukraine) his entire life, was the Head of the Investment and Project Management Department for the municipality. His life changed dramatically on 24 February 2022, when Russia invaded the country. Mariupol was a key target due to its strategic location, controlling 80% of Ukraine's coastline on the Sea of Azov and linking occupied territories in Donbas and Crimea.

10 Key Lessons from the GenProcure Network so far

The GenProcure Action Planning Network (APN) is one of 30 such APN’s resourced through the URBACT Programme. Commencing in June 2023, and composing of 9 Partners, GenProcure is focused upon the topic of Gender Responsive Public Procurement. GenProcure is particularly seeking to ensure that as part of the design, tendering, decision-making and delivery of Procurement exercises, that our Partners consider the implications for Gender Equality and how Procurement can be utilised to address wider inequality.

At the mid-point of the Network in December 2024, we have met collaboratively 8 times to discuss themes associated with Gender Responsive Public Procurement; our Partners have tested ideas such as Spend Analysis and inserting Gender Criteria in specific Procurement’s; and our Partners have started to draft Integrated Action Plans that will shape their practice around Gender Responsive Public Procurement into the future.

Collectively, we have learnt a lot so far, and in this article, we outline 10 key lessons so far!