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Smart cities
How many smart cities are there in Europe?
240 European cities with populations over 100,000 have some "smart city" features--meaning they use technology to improve their energy use, transport systems or other infrastructure, according to European Parliament research.
Smart cities and urban laboratories
Est. 5minThe Smart City World Congress provides a platform for innovators to meet with people who can implement their ideas. This year's edition is promoting projects that solve everyday problems. EURACTIV's partner El País - Planeta Futuro reports.
EU embraces green infrastructure package
Est. 4minThe European Union adopted a new strategy yesterday (6 May) aimed at promoting green infrastructure, and putting natural processes at the heart of its spatial planning.
Connected cities to cause data explosion, but standards still lacking
Est. 4minSPECIAL REPORT / By 2018, mobile operators will take more revenue globally from pure data than from their traditional voice services as the world moves towards hyper-connected cities, industry analysts predict. But technological standards remain scarce, EURACTIV reports from the the GSMA conference in Barcelona.
Most EU city dwellers suffer bad air days
Est. 6minMost residents of European cities breathe noxious pollutants that exceed international health standards, says a study released today (24 September) by the European Environment Agency, giving ammunition to health and environmental groups that demand far tougher EU standards.
Urban Europeans urged to leave their cars at home
Est. 4minEurope's cities are the main engines of economic growth, but personal vehicles continue to generate severe pollution and congestion despite efforts to reverse the trend, the European Commission warned as it launched its annual Mobility Week campaign and a new initiative on clean transport.
Brussels unveils ‘smart cities’ innovation scheme
Est. 3minThe European Commission has announced a new €365 million a year innovation partnership scheme aimed at boosting the development of ‘smart’ technologies in cities, EU officials told the press on Tuesday (10 July).
European cities seek to reduce risks of climate change
Est. 3minEuropean cities are planning to adapt to climate change as the risks become more severe, says a report released yesterday (28 June) by UK-based emissions measurement organisation the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and consultancy Accenture.
Regions commit to green policies ahead of Rio+20
Est. 4minEuropean regions are gearing up for the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June by drawing up a list of “key ingredients” in a bid to make sustainable urban development a focal point of the Brazil discussions.
Barroso sees ‘green’ Danish cities as an example for Europe
Est. 4minEuropean Commission President José Manuel Barroso has called for an end to “artificial” growth, fuelled by “irresponsible financial behaviour”, and asked for Europe's cities to follow the example of green capitals such as Copenhagen.
Cities ‘frustrated’ by EU innovation policy
Est. 3minEurope's biggest cities believe the European Commission's definition of innovation is too narrowly focused on the commercial and research sectors. In an interview with EURACTIV, Paul Bevan, secretary-general of Eurocities, said Europe's urban centres are teeming with examples of social, organisational and market-driven innovation.
European cities ‘take the lead’ in fighting global warming
Est. 4minEuropean cities are taking the lead in fighting climate change, according to a new report ranking the continent's financial capitals according to their green credentials.
Cities turn to high-tech for curbing traffic, crime
Est. 8minStockholm, New York and other cities across the globe are increasingly relying on information and communication technologies (ICT) to manage low-emissions traffic zones or improve their ability to fight crime. But privacy issues are never far away and will require political decisions, warns John Post, chief technology officer at IBM Benelux.
EU, US mayors stress cities’ role in global warming fight
Est. 3minMayors from both sides of the Atlantic have teamed up to ensure that international climate negotiators recognise the important role played by cities in adapting to climate change as they gather in Copenhagen to agree on a post-Kyoto treaty in December.
Cities puzzled by greenhouse gas measurements
Est. 4minMany regional initiatives are already taking place in the EU to tackle climate change, but the array of different tools for measuring global warming gases make the results difficult to compare, a recent study showed.
Mayors commit to exceeding EU climate goals
Est. 5minOver 350 cities united in a pledge to reduce their CO2 emissions by more than the EU's 20% target for 2020 at the launch ceremony of the Covenant of Mayors yesterday (10 February), with €15 million in financial support from the European Investment Bank in the pipeline.
EU ‘not listening’ to cities, says Commission
Est. 3minNational governments' privileged access to EU decision-makers in Brussels limits cities' access to funding instruments necessary for dealing with significant climate change-related challenges, according to a Commission official and urban policy experts.
Commission unveils urban-mobility strategy
Est. 3minPresenting a new Green Paper on Urban Transport, Commissioner Jacques Barrot outlined a large range of potential solutions and areas where the EU could take action in order to tackle the growing congestion, pollution and safety problems in Europe's cities.
Mobility Week: EU eyes less road-space for cars
Est. 2minMore than 1,500 cities will take part in the sixth edition of the annual European Mobility Week, which, under the theme 'Streets For People', aims to prove that reclaiming road space for pedestrians and cyclists can serve to cut congestion and pollution without reducing people's mobility.
Interview: ‘EU must give cities strong tools for sustainable mobility’
Est. 5minAs the Commission prepares to present proposals for a European strategy on urban transport, Klaus Bondam, chairman of Eurocities' Mobility Forum and vice-mayor of Copenhagen, stresses the need for a "push from above" that would allow EU cities to finance more sustainable transport infrastructure and implement greener urban policies such as congestion charges.
Cities ‘key’ to solving world’s environmental woes
Est. 2minWith 80% of Europeans living in urban areas, cities hold the key to sustainable development, said Commissioner Margot Wallström, outlining her "vision" for sustainable cities at the opening session of Brussels’ Green Week event.
EU ministers outline ‘European City’ ideal
Est. 3minThe Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities, signed by European ministers on 24 May, lays the foundation for a new integrated urban policy in Europe, focusing on helping cities tackle problems of social exclusion, structural change, ageing, climate change and mobility.
Big cities take lead on ‘greening’ car fleets
Est. 4minThe mayor of New York has ordered that the city's entire taxi fleet be converted to fuel-efficient hybrids by 2012 in a sign that energy ideology in the US is undergoing a climate-change shift.
EU ministers to meet in support of sustainable cities
Est. 2minOn 24 and 25 May, EU ministers responsible for urban and spatial development will meet in Leipzig to adopt the Leipzig Charter on Sustainabe European Cities. Apart from the adoption of the charter, a main purpose of the Leipzig meeting will be to "politically emphasise" the importance of cities in the formulation of future EU policies.