We need local solutions for global issues – that was the key message of the fourth Future of Cities Forum in Munich, Germany, last week. 90 participants from 18 countries, from both the political sphere and civil society, put their heads together for two days to build and share municipal-level solutions to worldwide challenges.
Fresh new ideas were pitched alongside tried-and-tested tools and governance solutions. Mayors, town councillors, researchers, practitioners, communicators and urban planners from Casablanca to Milton Keynes and Beijing to Calgary debated what leadership and participation really looks like in cities. They shared their experiences of building bridges, and explored the factors that create long-term visions for cities. The lively, interactive and inspiring character of the forum is captured in our photo gallery.
In order for those visions to become reality, we must bring the political and social together to collectively imagine a future that is better than the past. We’re already looking forward to fostering these essential debates in the run-up to the 5th Future of Cities Forum in 2015.
Future Policy Award 2014: US Vice President Joe Biden Highlights Gold Winner
US Vice President Joe Biden
The Gold Winner of the Future Policy Award 2014 to end violence against women and girls was highlighted by US Vice President Joe Biden at an event in Duluth, Minnesota, on October 23. The City’s Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence, which is known as the “Duluth Model”, was recognised asthe world’s best policy to end violence against women and girls at the Future Policy Award Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on October 14. In Geneva, Rep. Michael Paymar from the Minnesota House of Representatives accepted the Gold Award in front of several hundred international parliamentarians. Click herefor a TV news report about the event with Vice President Biden in Duluth, and here for more information, pictures and a video of the Award Ceremony in Geneva.
Powering the world on 100 % renewable energy is only a matter of political will – this is the key finding of our latest policy handbook. To spread this message, we are hosting an international forum to present 100% Renewable Energy solutions from Germany, Europe and the world as part of the congress “100% Erneuerbare Energie Regionen” in Kassel, Germany, on November 11. Clickhere for more information on the event andhere for the website of the forum.
Cradle to Cradle is an exciting concept for eco-intelligent design and a best policy in our Global Policy Action Plan. It considers the entire life cycle of a product – from its creation using sustainable materials to the recycling at the end of its lifetime. Our ambassador Inez Bjørg David and WFC Climate and Energy Commission member Helmy Abouleishwill take the opportunity to join the first C2C Congress in Lüneburg, Germany. For further information in German clickhere.
Recent Events
First Global Forum on Youth Policy – 28/10 – 30/10
Our Youth Ambassador Kehkashan Basu
Sixty-two percent of all countries have a national youth policy, addressing the needs and hopes of our future generations. To further this progress and define what it means to take youth policies forward into the twenty-first century, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy of Youth organised the First Global Forum on Youth Policy. Our Youth Ambassador Kehkashan Basu was one of the participants from around the world, acting as a voice for future generations. Click here for a short video and here to read the Baku Commitment to Youth Policies.
Workshop on Good Nuclear Disarmament Practices in Geneva, Switzerland – 17/10
Working towards a world free of nuclear weapons
What are the best policies to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons? In recent years, we have collaborated successfully with theInter-Parliamentary Unionand theParliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, to inform parliamentarians worldwide on nuclear disarmament practices. On October 17, we continued this work with a workshop in Geneva, Switzerland. Read the final report to find out more about the event and its promising outcomes.
Let’s create a better future!
To successfully continue our work, we depend on people willing to support our projects. If you want to help us create a better future, please make a donation.
Please donate to:
World Future Council
GLS Bank
Acc. No.: 200 900 4000
Sort Code: 430 609 67
The World Future Council newsletter appears fortnightly. Please activate the function “picture download” in your email programme and add our sender address to the trustworthy addresses in your address book so that our newsletter will not be categorized as spam.
