From 17-24 June, ICLEI Members Helsinki (Finland), Bolgona (Italy) and Warsaw (Poland) will host a study trip on accelerating urban low-emission development strategies.

The study trip will kick off in Helsinki, an ambitious capital city aiming to become carbon neutral by 2035 by bringing emissions down across sectors through sustainable procurement, as well as integrated cycling solutions. Through a visit to the Kalasatama area, participants will explore an experimental innovation platform for the co-creation of smart urban infrastructure and services.

After that, participants will travel to Bologna, the former European Mobility Week award winner, to learn about its active citizen participation and engagement approach to sustainable urban development. Public planners will be introduced to the city’s efforts to transform its historic center into a creative and sustainable district.

A final stop in Warsaw will offer the possibility to explore the Polish metropolis’ energy efficiency and low-emission supply solutions, including a visit to explore the city’s extensive district heating system and learn about its potential for lowering emissions.

The European sustainability tour will wrap up at the renown Resilient Cities Congress, taking place in Bonn (Germany) from 26-28 June, where participants will exchange about European and international state-of-the-art climate adaptation practices and connect with 500 local government leaders and climate adaptation experts.

The study trip and urban low-emission development strategies explored are part of the Urban-LEDS project. Urban-LEDS seeks to facilitate South-South-North exchange among over sixty cities from Europe, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Rwanda and South Africa.

Funded by the European Union and implemented by UN-HABITAT and ICLEI, the Urban-LEDS project aims to support integrated and ambitious climate action, encourage low-carbon actions in emerging economies and least developed countries by bringing together cities to learn from one another and jointly explore how to plan and accelerate local low-emission development.

For more information on Urban-LEDS, click here.