First launch Hungarian EU presidency handbook on climate-friendly cities
In an age where global challenges will significantly influence the life of each city, the Hungarian EU Presidency pays special attention to sustainable development of cities and towns. The Presidency aims to contribute to European urban policy thinking by focusing on climate change, a major challenge that our cities face. The ‘CLIMATE-FRIENDLY CITIES, A Handbook on the Tasks and Possibilities of European Cities in Relation to Climate Change’ supports European cities and towns in their combat against climate change by widening the European knowledge base.
Introduction
This publication has been developed for city management teams, decision makers, public officials in charge of managing processes and their supporting expert staff. Adopting an integrated approach, the handbook covers nearly all areas of city development and management. The comprehensive nature of this approach only allows a limited amount of in-depth technical knowledge for specialists.
Summary
Global changes may influence our every-day life. Therefore, mitigating the impacts of adverse processes and adapting to the results of changes are our common responsibility. This is especially true in the context of climate change, which may bring about dangers to the most parts of the world, albeit geographical characteristics vary in patterns. To a significant degree, both the fundamental causes and especially the consequences of climate change are concentrated in urban areas. Even without the impacts of global change, the micro- and mesoclimates of towns and cities are significantly different from those of less urbanised areas and these differences may be further reinforced by climate change. Thus, urban policy responses to climate change are nowadays part of European thinking along with other issues of integrated urban development.
‘CLIMATE-FRIENDLY CITIES, the Handbook on the Tasks and Possibilities of European Cities in Relation to Climate Change’ has been prepared upon the initiative of the Hungarian EU Presidency and includes participation of several European countries and cities. Its initial assumption is that city-level response and local action fulfil important roles when it comes to climate protection and sustainability. In turn, both city-level response and local action require an integrated strategic approach. In co-operation with relevant national and EU policies, the economic players and social partners, city-leaders and urban regions are indeed capable of taking action at city-level to mitigate climate change.
This handbook summarises the results achieved so far, but also arranges them into an entirely new structure: methods and instruments available to European towns and cities are discussed from a city government perspective. The aim of the handbook is to encourage cities to align recommendations on climate change to their specific conditions or circumstances and as a result it extends the urban climate knowledge base.
Publication date
April 2011
Organisation
- Dr. Péter Szaló, State Secretary for Spatial Planning and Construction, Ministry of Interior;
- Dr. Andrea Iván, State Secretary for Spatial Planning and Construction, Ministry of Interior, Hungary;
- Dr. Márton Péti, Planning and Evaluation Directorate (TTÉI) of VÁTI Hungarian Non-profit Ltd. for Regional Development and Town Planning (VÁTI).
Main partner institute: Metropolitan Research Institute Ltd. Budapest
EU involvement
This report feeds into the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Contributing country
Hungary
Contact person
dr. Andrea Iván
Function:
Senior Expert Adviser
Phone: +36-1-441 1684
Email: andrea.ivan@bm.gov.hu
Dr. Márton
Péti, PhD
Function: Head of Department
Phone: +36 (1) 224-3271
Email: mpeti@vati.hu
Document type
Policy
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