Index
03 March 2010
Melbourne sustainability blueprint: 13 cities show gains
Melbourne is the home of the UN Global Compact Cities Programme. Image © istockphoto.
Director of the Cities Programme, Professor Paul James.
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Melbourne is leading cities around the world and advising business, government and civil sectors on how they can plan and build sustainable cities, courtesy of a blueprint developed by the UN Global Compact Cities Programme.
RMIT University’s Professor Paul James, Director of the Cities Programme, said that at a time of concern around civic culture and sustainability, we need practical tools for re-thinking problems confronting world cities.
“The central tool within the Cities Programme is being utilized by 13 cities who have taken on major projects which demonstrate leadership and innovation at an international scale,” Professor James said.
“Current projects span all continents and show improvements to topical urban issues including the role of business in climate change, slum rehabilitation, water management and the prevention of unethical behaviour.”
The Sustainable Cities: Global Compact Cities Programme blueprint is published by the International Secretariat of the UN Global Compact Cities Programme, based at RMIT.
Professor James this week presented the publication to the City of Melbourne, which has been a supporter of the Cities Programme since its initiation at the Committee for Melbourne in 2002.
The City of Melbourne is currently piloting research methodologies with the RMIT Global Cities Research Institute, which are focused towards the residents within the central business district and their awareness and understanding of the responsibilities and governance of climate change adaptation.
The international launch of the publication will be held in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, 23 March at the UN Habitat World Urban Forum, the world's premier conference on cities.
Members of the International Secretariat from RMIT have been selected to provide a technical training session to the forum delegates.
Currently, the Programme operates in all six continents, with membership encompassing an expanding list of geographically distinct cities, ranging from Asker, Norway to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
