Local Voices for Sustainability: Recent Episodes
ICLEI Europe
How are cities creating more sustainable urban environments? In Local Voices for Sustainability, we sit down with advocates and officials from ICLEI Europe member cities to discuss their sometimes rocky, but always interesting, journey towards a more sustainable future. Learn more at www.iclei-europe.org
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our July 2024 feature article is read aloud by Arthur Hinsch, of ICLEI Europe's Sustainable Energy Systems team. The article explores Europe's transition away from fossil fuels and the important considerations needed to make this transition fair and just. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Last week, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as European Commission President, kicking off a mandate that will run until 2029. But what does this new term mean for urban sustainability? And is the European Green Deal safe? ICLEI Europe Senior Advocacy Expert, Goksen Sahin, joins us on the show to break down the new mandate, and explains how it will impact urban sustainability in cities and regions across Europe.
Learn more and register for the European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns, also known as #Aalborg2024, by visiting the conference website.
Image: Vadym Sarakhan | Dreamstime.com
Hey there! We're Jacob Broehm and Laura Schubert, the hosts of Local Voices for Sustainability, the ICLEI Europe podcast. We want to know, what kinds of challenges are cities facing in their efforts to becoming more sustainable? What solutions are working? What aren't? But also, how are cities making sure that everyone is coming along for the ride? Join us as we sit down with city leaders from across Europe to tackle these questions. So subscribe now. Get Local Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our June 2024 feature article is read aloud by Stefan Kuhn, Deputy Regional Director at ICLEI Europe. The article explores the impact of elections on the future of the EU Green Deal and on local sustainability agendas. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Register for the #Aalborg2024 conference, here.
The climate emergency has brought a whole host of challenges to waterfront cities worldwide. Danish city, Aalborg, is no exception to this reality. In this conversation with Steffen Lervad Thomsen, from the Center for Green Transition at the City of Aalborg, we discuss how the city is prioritising an adaptive approach. We also explore the idea of a "thriving" city - what does it look like, and what are the benefits?
Aalborg is the host city of the European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns - also known as #Aalborg2024. To learn more about the conference and to register as an attendee or exhibitor, please visit: https://conferences.sustainablecities.eu/
Photo credit: Lars Horn / Baghuset
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our May 2024 feature article is read aloud by Philipp LaHaela Walter, Head of Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions at ICLEI Europe. Celebrating Biodiversity Day, it acknowledges the important policy frameworks and concrete solutions to help boost Europe’s local biodiversity and resilience. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
What value does the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) bring to European cities looking to be more sustainable? In this episode we sit down with the host cities of EURESFO 2023 and EURESFO 2024, Cascais, Portugal and Valencia, Spain. We discuss the unique opportunity of bringing together representatives of European cities and regions to explore challenges and opportunities to strengthen resilience in the context of sustainable urban development.
João Dinis, Head of the Accelerating Urban Transition Office at Cascais Ambiente, reflects on the takeaways and surprises from last year’s event; while Emilio Servera, European Projects Officer at Valencia’s Climate and Energy agency, illuminates how the event has changed this year, as well as some tips for visitors.
To learn more about EURESFO, please visit: https://urbanresilienceforum.eu/.
To register for this year’s event from 26-28 June, please visit: https://urbanresilienceforum.eu/registration/.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature aloud. Our April 2024 feature is read aloud by Alessandra Barbieri, of ICLEI Europe's Circular Economy team. It highlights the new report issued by the Circular Cities Declaration, which provides analyses and inspiring local examples that can support European cities as they unlock the potential of the circular economy. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff the feature aloud. Our March 2024 feature article is read aloud by Laura Schubert, of ICLEI Europe's Events and Project Communications team. It discusses the importance of water resilience in building sustainable cities and dives into inspiring action by ICLEI Members Izmir (Türkiye) and Burgas (Bulgaria). To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
What happens when you involve communities in the creation of new green space? In this conversation with Sarah O’Malley, EU Project Officer at Limerick City and County Council, we discuss the creative outcomes that have resulted from Limerick’s creation of a spot along its naturewalk, the Castletroy Greenway. Biodiversity, nature-based solutions and community engagement are at the heart of Limerick’s work via the GoGreenRoutes project.
To learn more about the GoGreenRoutes project, please visit: https://gogreenroutes.eu/
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature article aloud. Our February 2024 feature article is read aloud by Lucy Mears, working on ICLEI Europe's Events and Project Communications team. It discusses how the Belgian Presidency of the European Council is establishing a strong role for local leaders in the next European mandate – with ICLEI's support! To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature article aloud. This month, Wolfgang Teubner 🇩🇪, Regional Director Europe, looks to the year ahead, and the doors that are open to strengthen multilevel governance. To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
What happens when cities give sustainable food a starring role on the political agenda? In this conversation with Hannelore Herreman, Policy Officer for the city of Ghent, we discuss the impactful initiatives that have resulted from Ghent's financial and systemic support of sustainable food. Topics on the menu include double-pricing systems, food swamps and making healthy food widely accessible via the FEAST project.
To learn more about the FEAST project, please visit: https://feast2030.eu/
Sometimes nature provides the perfect solution to our environmental challenges - all we have to do is lend a helping hand. In this episode, we head to the beach with Biologist, Patrícia Pinto da Silva, who works for the City of Almada (Portugal). We discuss healthy sand dunes, urban wilderness and how projects like NBS EduWORLD are vital for involving and educating the public on nature-based solutions.
If you would like to learn more about the NBS EduWORLD project, please visit: https://nbseduworld.eu/
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via itsnewsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our November 2023 feature article is read aloud by Alan MacKenzie, Communications Expert working on ICLEI's Climate Neutral Cities Mission Task Group. It reflects on COP28 as a unique opportunity to demonstrate that the EU is ready to willing and capable to lead on climate action, working together with local governments to ensure success. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
"Photo © Rafael Henrique | Dreamstime.com"
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our October 2023 feature article is read aloud by Julia Kittel, Head of ICLEI Europe's Events & Project Communications team, who reflects on the need for truly integrated action to build resilience in the wake of climate crisis. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
This is the final episode of a three-part miniseries on the ICLEI Action Fund 1.0. During this miniseries, we have spoken to each of the six Action Fund Projects about the innovative, data-driven solutions they are using to foster environmental and climate action at the local level.
Join us today as we sit down with Hanna Rhein, Project Manager for the project Pop-up Republic located in Berlin, Germany. We’re also joined by Kay Hartkopf, Technical Lead for the project ANN RADAR based in Hamburg, Germany. During this final episode, Hanna and Kay share with us the experiences that defined their involvement with the ICLEI Action Fund, relating specifically to sustainable mobility and the energy transition.
To learn more about the ICLEI Action Fund, please visit: http://bit.ly/45n5YQ1
This is the second episode of a three-part miniseries on the ICLEI Action Fund 1.0. During this miniseries, we speak to each of the six Action Fund Projects about their innovative solutions fostering data-driven environmental and climate action at the local level.
Join us today as we sit down with Rasmus Reeh, Project Lead and Advisor for the project Thrive Zone Amager located in Copenhagen, Denmark. We’re also joined by David Brenon, Air Pays de La Loire’s Director and Lead for the project AIREAL based in Nantes, France. Rasmus and David share their experiences with data enhancements on air quality. In this episode, they discuss the changes they are pursuing locally in Denmark and France.
To learn more about the ICLEI Action Fund, please visit: http://bit.ly/45n5YQ1
This is the first episode of a three-part miniseries on the ICLEI Action Fund 1.0. During this miniseries, we speak to each of the six Action Fund Projects about their innovative solutions fostering data-driven environmental and climate action at the local level.
Join us today as we sit down with Bridget Newbery, Project Manager for Project 3D - Data to Decarbonise in a Decade based in Birmingham as well as Aneaka Kellay, Sholver Facilitator and Pilot Projects Lead for the project Oldham Energy Futures based in Oldham. Bridget and Aneaka share their experiences with data-driven sustainable energy development and describe the changes they’re pursuing locally in the United Kingdom.
If you would like to learn more about the ICLEI Action Fund, please visit: http://bit.ly/45n5YQ1
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our September 2023 feature article is read aloud by Jennifer Cote, Communications and Member Relations Officer, who explains how we can rethink governance structures in the digital age to strengthen connections between people and decision-makers. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
A problem shared is a problem solved - at least this is the case in Dijon, a pilot city in the NetZeroCities project. Join us as we sit down with Jean-Patrick Masson, Vice-President of Dijon Metropole, responsible for the Ecological Transition. Jean-Patrick describes a city that is on the cusp of major structural change, where a highly collaborative, cross-sectoral approach is being used to address the climate emergency.
If you would like to learn about the EU Mission: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, please visit: bit.ly/3P7JKgi
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our August 2023 article is read aloud by Sophie Callahan, Governance Innovation Officer, who explains the immense potential impact of fostering partnerships between local governments and community-led initiatives. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our July 2023 feature article is read aloud by ICLEI podcast host and Communications Officer, Laura Schubert, who draws on polling data to show what people across Europe want from upcoming EU food system legislation. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our June 2023 feature is read by Communications Officer, Kassia Rudd, who describes how an affirmative vote on the EU Nature Restoration Law is key to securing a green future for all. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our May 2023 feature is read by Communications Officer, Anna Westervelt, who describes how, through peer exchange, cities can apply, renew, and draw inspiration from tried-and-true solutions to shape new sustainable urban mobility systems of the future. To read the article for yourself, subscribe to the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our April 2023 feature is read by Junior Communications Officer, Jacob Broehm, who outlines an exciting funding programme spearheaded by ICLEI Europe, and funded by Google.org. The programme awards €7 million to six European cities that are using data to implement inclusive climate action projects. To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
What is urban greening? In a nutshell, some may say, it's "nice to look at, and nice for our environment". It's so much more than that though, as we learn from our guest Ana Mitic-Radulovic from the Centre for Experiments in Urban Studies (CEUS), based in Belgrade, Serbia. In this episode, we hear how projects like CleverCities are fueling Belgrade's green space advocates with insight from other European cities, and how the planning of a major park is shaking things up locally.
If you would like to learn more about the CleverCities project, please visit: https://clevercities.eu/
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter, which is read aloud by a member of our staff in this podcast segment titled, 'Features'. Our March 2023 feature is read by Senior Coordinator Simon Clement, who previews a new report on the key trends and challenges of circularity implementation in Europe’s urban areas. He also describes what ICLEI Europe is doing to help leverage cities’ potential to help Europe move from linear to circular. To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
If a city prioritises having a rich cultural scene is it also more sustainable? Are nature and culture a match made in heaven? We sit down with Katarzyna Roj, a curator at a city-supported gallery in Wrocław, Poland to find our answer. We discuss, among many things, the game-changing transformation of a local waste treatment centre into an urban nature escape and space for social gatherings. This podcast is produced by ICLEI Europe.
If you would like to learn more about ICLEI Europe's culture and cultural heritage work, please visit: https://iclei-europe.org/topics/culture-cultural-heritage/
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In a new mini podcast segment called 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature article aloud. Our February 2023 feature article is read aloud by Communications Officer, Katherine Peinhardt, who outlines the potential that culture and cultural heritage can have when intertwined in the transition to a sustainable future. To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In our mini segment, 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature article aloud. This month, Wolfgang Teubner, Regional Director Europe, looks to the year ahead, mapping out why stronger local and regional governments are needed to build resilience in times of crisis. To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In a new mini podcast segment called 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature article aloud. This month, Communications Officer, Jon Jonoski, tells us about ICLEI Europe's involvement in the United Nation's Biodiversity Conference, known as CBD COP15, held this month in Montreal, Canada. To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter.
This episode mentions the Edinburgh Declaration, the Montreal Pledge and the Berlin Urban Nature Pact.
The United Nations Biodiversity Summit, COP15, is now taking place in Montreal - with an entire session dedicated to women. That got us thinking, "what role does gender play in the creation of sustainable cities?" To find an answer, we sit down with Linda Gustafsson, Gender Equality Officer at the City of Umeå (Sweden). We discuss privilege, men riding the bus, the GoGreenRoutes project and more. This podcast is produced by ICLEI Europe.
Photo by Gemenacom, Dreamstime.
Each month, ICLEI Europe publishes a feature article via its newsletter. In a new mini podcast segment called 'Features', a member of the ICLEI Europe staff reads the feature article aloud. This month, Communications Officer, Adrienne Kotler, tells us about ICLEI Europe's involvement in the United Nation's annual climate conference, COP 27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh.
To read the article for yourself, register for the ICLEI Europe newsletter at https://iclei-europe.org/newsletter/
Acronyms used in this episode include:
LGMA - Local Governments and Municipal Authorities
COP - Conference of the Parties
ENVE - European Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy
In the lead up to COP26 last year, the city of Glasgow firmly set itself on the path towards a more sustainable and just transition. In our inaugural episode, we sit down with Gavin Slater, Head of Sustainability at Glasgow City Council, to discuss the city's sustainability successes, shortcomings and its role in the RUGGEDISED smart city project. This podcast is produced by ICLEI Europe. Note: this conversation was recorded in April 2022.