Climate- friendly cities
The Hungarian EU Presidency launches a handbook
Brussels, 3 August 2011 | Published in Research
In an age where global challenges will significantly influence the life of each city, the Hungarian EU Presidency pays special attention to sustainable development of cities and towns. The Presidency aims to contribute to European urban policy thinking by focusing on climate change, a major challenge that our cities face. The "CLIMATE-FRIENDLY CITIES, A Handbook on the Tasks and Possibilities of European Cities in Relation to Climate Change" supports European cities and towns in their combat against climate change by widening the European knowledge base.
This publication has been developed for city management teams, decision makers, public officials in charge of managing processes and their supporting expert staff. Adopting an integrated approach, the handbook covers nearly all areas of city development and management. The comprehensive nature of this approach only allows a limited amount of in-depth technical knowledge for specialists.
Even without the impacts of global change, the micro- and mesoclimates of towns and cities are significantly different from those of less urbanised areas and these differences may be further reinforced by climate change. Thus, urban policy responses to climate change are nowadays part of European thinking along with other issues of integrated urban development.
Read More"CLIMATE-FRIENDLY CITIES, the Handbook on the Tasks and Possibilities of European Cities in Relation to Climate Change" has been prepared upon the initiative of the Hungarian EU Presidency and includes participation of several European countries and cities. Its initial assumption is that city-level response and local action fulfil important roles when it comes to climate protection and sustainability. In turn, both city-level response and local action require an integrated strategic approach. In co-operation with relevant national and EU policies, the economic players and social partners, city leaders and urban regions are indeed capable of taking action at city-level to mitigate climate change.