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WITH AN ESTIMATED 6.3 BILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN CITIES IN 2050, QUALITY OF LIFE CONSTITUTES THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE 10TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS – CITIES IN TRANSITION

The event, brought to a close on 26 November 2011 in Porto Alegre, presented various solutions for governance, urban planning, participatory democracy, innovation, the fight against climate change, sustainability, peri-urban agriculture and renewable energies

Some 850 participants from 150 cities in different countries – including governors, members of parliament, mayors, councillors, secretaries, urban policy managers, urban planners and corporate executives – came together in various landmark buildings in the city of Porto Alegre from 23 to 26 November, to take part in the 10th Metropolis World Congress: Cities in Transition, promoted by Metropolis (World Association of the Major Metropolises) and Porto Alegre City Council. It marked the first time a South American city played host to an edition of the Congress.

In light of the UN forecast that 70% of the world population – the equivalent of 6.3 billion people – will be living in urban areas by 2050, there is a pressing need to devise and deliver solutions that ensure better quality of life. A critical issue raised in various panels of the Congress was how to mobilise financial resources which allow for greater investment in governance, urban planning, participatory democracy, innovation, the fight against climate change, sustainability, peri-urban agriculture and renewable energies.

The modernisation of fiscal management systems and greater efficiency in administration management are two of the most employed strategies by municipalities. Public-private partnerships (known as PPPs) and urban operations – enabling private companies to make greater use of urban areas in exchange for investment in regions wherein said projects are implemented – constitute new alternatives for the development of cities. Also highlighted was the need to revise federal funding policy to afford municipalities better and more access to domestic and international credit lines. Jean-Paul Huchon, President of Metropolis and the Île-de-France Regional Council, advocates the greater participation of civil society in government decision-making. “Cities should resume the tradition of formulating an urban development plan, discussing it thoroughly with their inhabitants and fostering its acceptance. Following the public debate, it must be regulated so that everyone can adhere to its guidelines”, he suggests.

According to Joan Clos, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, a national urban policy must be created and priority must be given to small and medium-sized cities. “We must think about large-scale projects in order to scale up”, he asserts.

Renewal, Innovation and Participatory Democracy

Various specific examples of the exchange of experiences between the cities emerged over the four days of the 10th Metropolis World Congress – Cities in Transition. Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, paid a visit to Mauá pier on the banks of the Guaíba River, accompanied by José Fortunati, Mayor of Porto Alegre. As from 2012, by way of a public-private partnership, an area measuring 2.5 km2 will be revamped. The initiative plans to construct commercial and mixed-use buildings, as well as to restore and convert warehouses into bars, restaurants, shops and cultural establishments. The total investment will amount to 570 million reais. Xavier Trias was invited to join the project team in view of the fact that Barcelona (successfully) pioneered the renewal of urban and port areas, making it a benchmark model for the world.

Moreover, Porto Alegre inspired New York, Chicago and Dakar to replicate the models of democracy and participatory budgeting, which have been in place in Porto Alegre for over two decades. In Chicago, the inhabitants selected more than 30 projects that were allocated 1.3 million dollars. In New York, the programme is being implemented in District 8, which includes the area of Manhattan and the Bronx. After five months of meetings and assemblies, participatory budgeting generated 560 ideas, which will be subject to a second round of voting to determine which actions should be afforded priority.

In Dakar, citizen participation goes even further. Its inhabitants not only decide on how the budget will be spent, but they also work on the project, paving a street or installing a sewage system, thereby giving young people a trade, prospects and resources.

The creation of “Smart Cities” was one of the themes that stood out at the 10th Metropolis World Congress – Cities in Transition. Transport technicians from Stuttgart (Germany), one of the host cities of the World Cup in 2006, paid a visit to the Traffic Control and Monitoring Centre in Porto Alegre. This initiative was the product of an exchange between traffic technicians in the cities of Porto Alegre and Stuttgart. A similar monitoring centre is to be set up in Belo Horizonte. Rio de Janeiro officially opened its Operations Centre one year ago, which has helped develop preventive and emergency actions to reduce the impact of natural disasters such as landslides, for instance.

The 10th Metropolis World Congress – Cities in Transition was attended by Joan Clos, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT; Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona; Parks Tau, Mayor of Johannesburg; Hsiung-wen Chen, Deputy Mayor of Taipei; Miguel Lifschitz, Mayor of Rosario; Antanas Mockus, former Mayor of Bogotá; Márcio Araújo de Lacerda, Mayor of Belo Horizonte; Gérard Perreau-Bezouille, Deputy Mayor of Nanterre; Wim Elfrink, Executive Vice-President of Cisco; Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Council Member; Joe Moore, Chicago City Council Member, among others.

The last Metropolis World Congress – Cities in Transition was held in Sydney in 2008. The next edition will take place in Hyderabad in 2014. Beforehand, in 2012, the Board of Directors will meet in Guangzhou. In 2013, members of the Metropolis Network will meet in Johannesburg.

[pic]SUPPORT and SPONSORSHIP

The 10th Metropolis World Congress – Cities in Transition is supported by major international institutions such as UN-HABITAT, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), MERCOCIUDADES, the Brazilian Nation Front of Mayors (FNP), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD/CEADS) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs of India. Sponsorship by Cisco Systems, Claro Brasil, FIAT, GDF SUEZ Group and Gol Mobile.

Other supporters are United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar), The Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV), EMBARQ Brazil, France General Consulate in Brazil, ASCI, International Urban Development Association (INTA), Cities for Mobility, the International Association of Educating Cities (IAE), the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the Federal Government, the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul State, the Planning, Management and Citizen Participation Secretariat of Rio Grande do Sul Govern, Empresa Paulista de Planejamento Metropolitano S/A (EMPLAZA), São Paulo State Govern, CNM (National Confederation of Municipalities), the International Training Centre for Local Authorities /Actors for Latin America (Cifal), Brasil Competitivo Movement (MBC), Nossa São Paulo Network, the 5th City Congress, Procempa, São Pedro Theatre, French Alliance-Porto Alegre, UNISINOS, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University (UFRGS), Santander Cultural, Porto Alegre and Metropolitan Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau and FEDERASUL.

[pic][+] ABOUT METROPOLIS

Founded in 1985, the World Association of the Major Metropolises - Metropolis () is an international network that brings together large cities and metropolitan governments from all over the world in order to foster the transfer of knowledge and good urban practices. As of today, more than 120 cities are part of the association, six of which are Brazilian: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre.

The Metropolis Network is also a global alliance between metropolitan governments and their associates to promote urban sustainability through the promotion of an inter-sectoral approach and interrelationships between different aspects of urban sustainability: environmental, economic, social and cultural. The association is engaged in both metropolitan areas already urbanized and in those undergoing strong urban growth thus defining public-private cooperation and projects between different institutions and levels of government, besides promoting urban innovation and metropolitan governance.

Moreover, Metropolis manages the Metropolitan Section of UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments) and is recognized as a first-order organization by international organizations like the UN-Habitat, the UN Agency for urban issues and the World Bank.

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