Networks

Cities are urged to set ambitious ecological goals for climate and biodiversity while managing social and economic sustainability. No European city has yet achieved the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), although they are a great fit for cities to develop their governance. There is an “action gap” between the ambitions set and what is being achieved. Cities for Sustainability Governance (CSG) will use the SDGs as a vehicle for implementing strategic urban governance and deliver on the promise of transforming our world, as set out in the UN 2030 Agenda.

In4Green is a collaborative network of industrial cities from across Europe with a shared commitment: to lead transformative change within European industry and drive the sector towards a greener, more sustainable future. Comprising cities from diverse backgrounds, In4Green aims to reshape and modernise industrial areas by improving local governance and policymaking while benefiting from the collective expertise and experience of the partner cities.

Residents of the future wants to address the issue of urban depopulation within small and medium-sized cities. By focusing on digital transformation, economic diversification and city branding, it will explore innovative approaches towards evolving trends in work, lifestyle and communication, to enhance the cities’ attractiveness for prospective investments and inhabitants. The network enables cities to redefine their advantages in comparison to larger metropolitan areas, and develop holistic, citizen-centric solutions that support demographic revitalisation and sustainable urban growth.

C4TALENT is about creating a business & startup friendly environment in cities to lessen the effects of brain drain, attracting and retaining talented young professionals. Offering funding, physical infrastructure like co working spaces and incubators, and the city itself as a testbed are all effective methods. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution: each city needs to design its own unique combination of key aspects for a local startup ecosystem.

In ten European cities URBACT Local Groups will work out community-based approaches to valorise, measure and account biodiversity and related ecosystem services. The BiodiverCity partners will support and enable communities to plan powerful nature-based solutions, foster pro-environmental citizen behaviours and draft Urban Greening Plans, contributing to the achievement of the EU Biodiversity Strategy as well.

The "Breaking Isolation" Network, composed with 10 European cities, aims to address the rising issue of social isolation.

The project seeks to strengthen social bonds across generations and promote diversity by focusing on citizen participation.

The City of Agen leads this project that aims to identify and support socially isolated individuals, increase awareness, and enhance social cohesion.

Thanks to the URBACT methodology, the partners will be able to produce their local strategies (Integrated Action Plans) by the end of 2025.

GenProcure will address the gender equality in public procurement, many times referred to as Gender-Responsive Public Procurement. It consists of promoting gender equality through working purchases, supplies and services by the public sector, meaning that both suppliers and buyers include, in the agreed contracts, a part that concerns the interests both of men and women, paying particular attention to its development in a way that leads to a reduction of gender inequalities.

SCHOOLHOODS puts children’s health and safety on the menu of how to get to school. The cities of this URBACT network work with pupils, parents and teachers to co-create solutions allowing pupils to actively go to school on their own. Parents can then choose sustainable modes for their trips as they no longer need to take their kids to school. The school neighbourhood should allow pupils to walk or ride alone safely. Ultimately, school neighbourhoods made for pupils moving around are the starting point for enabling short trips for daily needs for everyone.

Remote-IT network tackles the new challenges cities are experiencing connected to the future of work. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transformation around how work is organised, with hybrid and remote work models significantly impacting the lives of citizens, as well as the organisational culture of major employers (public/private). Remote-IT partnerships of cities is collaboratively exploring this emerging topic in order to implement proactive policy making.