Cities Programme News

RMIT planning expert comments on Melbourne’s future

18 March 2010

RMIT’s Assoc Professor Michael Buxton is one of the experts commenting on the state of Melbourne’s civic planning in the multimedia special, Project Melbourne by The Age.

Launch of ‘Sustainable Cities UN Global Compact Cities Programme, Volume 1’

09 March 2010

Professor Paul James presented Sustainable Cities UN Global Compact Cities Programme, Volume 1 (PDF 3.37Mb 136p)  to the City of Melbourne on the 1st of March, 2010.

The Sustainable Cities: Global Compact Cities Programme blueprint is published by the International Secretariat of the UN Global Compact Cities Programme (Cities Programme), based at RMIT University.

Professor James presented the publication to the City of Melbourne on Monday 1st of March, 2010. The City of Melbourne has been supporter of the Cities Programme since its initiation at the Committee for Melbourne in 2002.

Professor Paul James, Director of the Cities Programme, said that at a time of concern around civic culture and sustainability we need practical tools for re-thinking problems confronting world cities.

“The central tool within the Cities Programme is being utilized by 13 cities who have taken on major projects which demonstrate leadership and innovation at an international scale.

“Current projects span all continents and show improvements to topical urban issues including the role of business in climate change, slum rehabilitation, water management and the prevention of unethical behaviour,” Professor James said.

The City of Melbourne is currently piloting research methodologies with Global Cities Institute at RMIT University, which are focussed toward the residents within the central business district and their awareness and understanding of the responsibilities and governance of climate change adaptation.

The international launch of the publication will be held in Rio de Janeiro on the 23rd of March at the UN Habitat World Urban Forum, which is the world’s premier conference on cities. Members of the International Secretariat from RMIT University were selected to provide a technical training session to the forum delegates. 

Training Opportunity at World Urban Forum, Rio de Janeiro, March 2010

21 December 2009

On 30 November, UN Habitat notified the International Secretariat of the acceptance of their training application for the fifth session of the World Urban Forum to be held 22-26 March 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This is wonderful news and the training session titled, “How to Effectively Incorporate Sustainability into Urban Governance” will be available for government, business and civil leaders to attend.

The World Urban Forum is one of the most open and inclusive gatherings of its kind on the international stage. It brings together government leaders, ministers, mayors, diplomats, members of national, regional and international associations of local governments, non-governmental and community organizations, professionals, academics, grassroots women’s organizations, youth and slum dwellers groups as partners working for better cities.

For further details and to register your interest online, visit the WUF5 website.

Cities Programme presenting in all corners of the globe

21 December 2009

During the final quarter of 2009, the Cities Programme has enjoyed great exposure from the International Secretariat, government officials, Advisory Council members and member city representatives to international audiences across the globe. Whilst each presentation is of equal importance, some notable presentations were from Mr Victor Perton, Commissioner to the Americas (State Government of Victoria) at the Democratic Governance in Cities Symposium in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Mr David Wilmoth, Learning Cities and Advisory Council member at the Metropolis Commission 2 ‘Urban Growth Management’ Technical Meeting in New Delhi, India.

There is a countless number of iindividuals who are part of a Local Secretariat and continue to promote the 10 Principles of the Global Compact and the Cities Programme within their spheres of influence.

The International Secreatariat extends their appreciation to these people who so generously give their time to educate others about the benefits of engaging in the Cities Programme. We look forward to our continued work in 2010.

Democratic Governance in Porto Alegre, BRAZIL

12 November 2009

The Democratic Governance in Cities International Symposium will be held in the Central Auditorium of PUCRS, 24-25 November.

Democratic Governance in Cities Symposium website How the cities can share democratic governance, innovation, social inclusion, economic development, equity and environmental support? How to conciliate strategic planning, efficiency and democratization of decisions regarding the application of public resources? How sectors of the population in risky situation can be included by the local economic development? How to share technologic innovation and democratic innovation? How to identify human, social and intellectual assets and construct them in order to support the development in cities?

How to articulate the knowledge production strategic communities in urban areas? How to stimulate collective innovation, the transactional behavior and use of cyberspace for the largest share of citizens?