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The added value of European initiatives Lessons from Urban Green Days (UGD) Stefanie Lay ICLEI

The added value of European initiatives Lessons from Urban Green Days (UGD) Stefanie Lay ICLEI Catarina Freitas City Council of Almada, Portugal. The added value of European initiatives Lessons from Urban Green Days (UGD) What was Urban Green Days?

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The added value of European initiatives Lessons from Urban Green Days (UGD) Stefanie Lay ICLEI

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  1. The added value of European initiatives Lessons from Urban Green Days (UGD) Stefanie Lay ICLEI Catarina FreitasCity Council of Almada, Portugal

  2. The added value of European initiatives Lessons from Urban Green Days (UGD) What was Urban Green Days? What is an UGD? The example of Almada promoting UGD Success factors and achievements Limiting factors Conclusions: Conditions and potential

  3. What was Urban Green Days? • European Commission Initiative 2004, 2005 • ICLEI coordinator on behalf of EC • Umbrella for local awareness raising on World Environment Day • Link local action to Green Week • Aim: more, effective, focussed local awareness raising • 400 events, 280 municipalities participated – Almada one of them

  4. What is an UGD ? • The example of Almada promoting UGD • A glimpse of Almada … • Main objectives … • Why Participate ? • What was the approach in Almada ? • How doing it ? • Some examples and results …

  5. Tagus River Atlantic Ocean

  6. South bank of Tagus river across Lisbon urban pressure • 160 825 inhabitants in 72 km2 (high densitypop. > 2 000 people/sq.km) • Fluctuating population of 70 000 inhabitants • Almost 8 000 000 visitors per year ! • 13 km of Atlantic beachfront attracts great part of the annual visitors during the summer

  7. The bridge crossing serves to funnel nearly 160,000 vehicles a day to and from Lisbon (along a highway that bisects the municipality) • Increase of 6% in traffic volume (observed in the last 5 years) • In 1998, there were 57 000 private cars in Almada (0.35 cars/inhab.) + 25% In 2006, this number reached 71 182 cars (0.443 cars/inhab.)

  8. 13 km of beachfront Popular summertime destination

  9. Modal Split in Almada 2006 Modal Split in Almada 1991 In 15 years, the share of the Car increased 23% !

  10. 50,2% Air Polution 47,3% Noise 47,2% Traffic Congestion 43,4% Loss of natural spaces ? In your opinion what were the areas that had negative evolution in Almada the last 5 years 2006 Waste 40,9% 25,1% Urban Planning Street and beach front cleaning 19,9% 14,8% Water Quality People’s perception …

  11. Urban Green Days • The main objectives … • inform and raise awarenessabout local and global problems and how can each one of us help to solve them … • communicate and provide information to the public in a complete and meaningful manner… • involve and engage the population in planning and decision-making process…

  12. \ • Urban Green Days • The main objectives ? • promote public participation • inspire citizens, businesses, and other urban actors towards a more sustainable behavior • …

  13. Urban Green Days • Why participate ? • Profit the momentum and visibility of a wide event European initiatives … Urban Green Days and … European Mobility Week and • Share resources and knowledge from other participants (we are nor alone …)

  14. Urban Green Days • What was the approach in Almada ? • Actively involve both the local community and stakeholders(schools, professional associations, public transport companies, energy agency, amongst others); • Developing strong partnerships; • Reaching local communities by moving the event annually to a new borough; • Linking the event to other initiatives and celebrations (International Children's Day, National Day of Energy, Children's Parliament, World Environment Day …)

  15. Urban Green Days • How doing it ? • Political Commitment: UGD Campaign is part of Almada City Council Strategy to promote environmental Awareness (Annual Corporate Plan) • Coordination: Sustainable Environmental Management and Planning Department of the Municipality of Almada (Local Agenda 21 Team) • Department with an horizontal action within municipal organization and depends directly on the Mayor

  16. Urban Green Days • How doing it ? • Set up a Communication Plan: a whole range of communication tools are produced and used to improve the effectiveness of the campaign • … Outdoors … Leaflets … Thematic leaflets … Internet … • … Public Participation Forums … Green Kiosk… Opinion Surveys… … Posters and Outdoors … Street expositions … Diplomas … • … Municipal Bulletin … Press Releases… Merchandising gifts …

  17. Urban Green Days • Some examples and results … • GREEN PARTY: ~3,500 children from all boroughs get together in the main city square to display, exchange and sell organic vegetables, fruit and farm products they had produced during the year in their school gardens and plots • … workshops … scarecrow contests … crafts … • … recycled-fashion shows …dancing … storytellers … • … street animation …mark the beginning of the UGD !

  18. Urban Green Days • Some examples and results … • GREEN PARTY:

  19. Urban Green Days • Some examples and results … • NATIONAL ENERGY DAY: 29th of May Different activities focused on urban energy consumptions and rational use: Transport and Housing … workshops … renewable energy use demonstrations … exhibitions … soft transport modes demonstrations … eco-driving sessions … participation forums …

  20. Urban Green Days • Some examples and results … • ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR KIOSK • CILDREN’S PARLIAMENT Participation forum where children present to City Council Administration their ideas and proposals to a more sustainable city and Planet

  21. Urban Green Days • Some examples and results … • BEACH ACTIVITIES • STREET MARKETS • ECO-RIDES • INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY, 1st June

  22. UGD (as a wide, big, multiple, visible and “noticed” event)… … is an excellent opportunity to inform local community … is an effective way to involve citizens on local and global environmental problems and their solutions … can give an important contribution to promote changes in daily habits and behaviour of citizens and local entities.

  23. Success factors and successes Successes and added value • 300 participants in two months, many dedicated • Additional promotion opportunities • Exchange, more and easier activities • Additional cities reached • More attention, bigger impact, more credibility Success factors • Low threshold for participation, options for the ambitious • Show-case at European level • Share & supply resources • Multiplier strategy, easy access • European identity

  24. Limits Result • Focus on existing initiatives • Topics diverse • Less opportunity to use support, material, cooperate • Not anchored in agendas Limiting Factors • Only 2,5 months preparation • Language hurdles • No permanent “institution”

  25. Conclusions: Conditions and potential of European communication initiatives for local sustainabilty Conditions • Institutionalise • Let time work for you • Respect agenda of stakeholders • Supply a low threshold approach and user-friendly tools • Many languages, intensive reach out • Use a multiplier strategy Potential • 300 participants in two months, many dedicated • Extra promotion and credibility for cities and sustainability • More impact by concentrating on key topic • More cities • Save time and money through shared resources

  26. Thanks!

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