JPI Urban Europe has joined the group of official partners for Mannheim2020, the upcoming ninth edition of the European Conference for Sustainable Cities & Towns, taking place in ICLEI Member Mannheim (Germany) from 30 September to 2 October 2020.

The conference will look at the substantial transformations needed across all aspects of society to overcome the world’s major environmental, economic and social challenges. JPI Urban Europe is key player in this mission, with a demonstrated commitment to, and vast experience in, sustainable urban transformation.

JPI Urban Europe is a European research and innovation initiative that facilitates transnational and interdisciplinary urban transformation research on a large scale. Financed by 20 European countries and supported by the European Commission, JPI Urban Europe aims to create evidence and build capacities for sustainable urban development. This cooperation goes beyond academic researchers to also bring in public authorities, civil society, industry and more.

The organisation understands the critical need for cities to be transformed to be more sustainable, resilient and liveable. Both ICLEI and JPI Urban Europe know that such a vast undertaking can only be achieved by pooling knowledge and expertise from across the world.

“This is a key moment for urban transformation in Europe,” said Margit Noll, Chair of the Management Board of JPI Urban Europe. “With increasing public calls for action on the climate emergency, and a supportive framework emerging at the European level with the Green Deal, we are proud to partner with ICLEI on Mannheim2020. The 9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns is an important opportunity to catalyse real action and to connect cities with research and innovation actors.”

Mayors, local government practitioners, civil society and all other urban stakeholders, business, national governments and European institutions will gather in Mannheim to help transform Europe for a secure and sustainable future.

Over the last 25 years, the conference series has offered cities and urban stakeholders a platform for inspiration, to take action and to commit to taking sustainability to the next level. Past editions have led to landmark documents, such as the Aalborg Charter (1994), Aalborg Commitments (2004), and Basque Declaration (2016). This year’s conference is building on the work achieved through the Basque Declaration, and putting a spotlight on taking transformation forward.

For more information on the upcoming event, click here.