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Innovating cities across the world International Platform on Sustainable Urban Development GENEVA PALEXPO, Switzerland 11 - 13 October 2005 |
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DISCOVER PARTICIPATE COMING
Coordinated by:
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Projects Of 18 Juli 2005Benin : peri-urban zones are subject to heavy pollution from the pesticides used in the cultivation of vegetables, a major economic activity of West Africa. Solution : The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is developing ecologically friendly biopesticides, supporting research and training in these fields, and promoting autonomy of know-how. Bolivia : motor traffic makes a major contribution to the air pollution of cities and thus to environmental pollution, the deterioration of buildings and, most importantly, of public health. Solution : The Clean Air Project proposed by Swisscontact focuses on awareness-raising among the public, strengthening of institutions through training and technical assistance, and especially the implementation of concrete solutions: technical maintenance of vehicles, diversified energy sources, etc. Colombia : The 150,000 inhabitants of Tumaco, a coastal town, are supplied with water from a river contaminated by industrial waste, in particular that derived from processing of the African palm. Solution : construction of an aqueduct bringing clean water from the Andean Cordillera. Powered by gravity, the system requires no mechanical pumping. A further aspect of the project is its focus on transparent municipal management and anti-corruption. Croatia : efficient energy management and consumption in the industrial sector, a major consumer of resources, is a cornerstone of sustainable development. Solution : The Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe is promoting the establishment of a national industrial energy efficiency network in Croatia, helping SMEs to develop appropriate measures and technologies. Egypt : What opportunities are possible for small and medium enterprises wishing to contribute their know-how and creativity to the development of entrepreneurship ? Solution : Among the projects of the company 3T is an ingenious system for converting the potential and kinetic energy of moving motor vehicles into electric energy. Over a 100 km stretch of road for example, the system makes it possible to generate 50% of the energy necessary for the road lighting. India : Many of India's agglomerations are faced with a real need for support of sustainable development in urbanism, environment, agriculture, energy, etc. Solution : Since 1968, Auroville, located in southern India, has brought together 2,000 people from 40 different countries in an innovative move to try out alternative solutions in the fields of appropriate construction technologies, integrated planning, economy and education, and promotion of new governance. India : what operational models and services should a NGO of the South offer in response to the practical needs of sustainable development: urbanism, environment, agriculture, energy, etc ? Solution : an example such as TERI, an NGO active in the field of energy and the environment, oversees the realization of numerous projects, provides advice to authorities and develops partnerships in the private sector. Nepal : Kathmandu is the world's second most polluted city, giving rise to a number of severe respiratory diseases and seriously hampering tourism, an important economic resource of the country. Solution : With its fleet of 650 clean 3-wheelers, the city already possesses the highest number of electric vehicles per capita in the world. The Himalayan Light Foundation is now developing three electric buses as a start to the replacement of the 20,000 heavily polluting buses that at present ply the Kathmandu valley. As a bonus, the project makes use of the country's off-peak hydro-electric resources. Romania : population growth inevitably has an impact on the urbanization of society, and thus on the environment: the ecological footprint of the cities is getting larger. Solution : DISCUS is a research project co-funded by the European Commission to analyse how to improve and develop the institutional capacity of local action in favour of sustainable development along participatory lines. Senegal : Many countries of the South such as Senegal have to operate on a variety of fronts at the same time: fight poverty, promote citizenship and implement sustainable practices (rather than apply levelling, imported ideas). Solution : The organization Enda Tiers Monde showcases its innovative participatory programmes intended for local communities, based on three themes: right to the city, urban agriculture and sustainable development, social economy and solidarity.
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