07 Sep 2021 — The projects POCITYF, SPARCS, RESPONSE present the online workshop to be held on the 13th of October, 11:30-13:00, as a partner event of the European Week of Region and Cities
What is the event about?
Based on the outcomes of several European and national projects involving more than 23 cities, we will share insights, tools, methods for citizen engagement and participation in building resilient and sustainable cities, ensuring a fair and inclusive change. Hands-on experience with citizen engagement practices and strategic positioning will be presented by two cities, Espoo (Finland) and Alkmaar (The Netherlands).
What is the goal of the event?
During the interactive session participants will be engaged in a discussion to formulate and discuss future challenges instigated by some testimonial videos of different city actors. Participants will come out from this event with a set of useful take-aways for immediate implementation and replication.
How can you participate?
The event will be fully online. You can register via the Swapcard platform at the following link: https://eu.app.swapcard.com/event/eu-regions-week/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfNjMxMjA2
Context:
Smart cities have been criticized in the past couple of years for prioritizing technologies over the needs of the city and its citizens. Progressively, several cities have shown the lead on how to involve citizens in the design, conceptualization, testing, and implementation of smart solutions. However, solving complex urban problems and involving citizens in the process is not a simple task for local and regional authorities since it requires a high commitment, resources, and time. Furthermore, the current pandemic is adding another level of complexity to the mix.
The pandemic can also be understood as an opportunity to think and do things differently, which in this case could be used to improve and increase the role of citizens in designing and planning the recovery of cities and regions across Europe. Now more than ever a social change is necessary to co-design a new city vision with the involvement of our citizens. This is happening in many different ways, not only in relation with the adoption of technologies, but absolutely in the sense of how much changes needed are aligned with the values and well-being of citizens (core psychological human needs), the importance of social cohesion in transitions and the many ways in which additional value can be created (e.g. social/economic impacts) as a result of a transition.
To make our cities more sustainable and resilient, time is short and we need to take action, now! How? Strategic planning is an essential requirement for cities to effectively reach this goal, without losing time and resources.
Take part in our workshop and bring your city to the next step of the energy transition!
For any feedback or enquiries, please contact Charlotte Michi charlotte.michi@icons.it
The event is organized in cooperation with the Smart Cities and Communities EU-funded projects POCITYF, SPARCS, RESPONSE.
