Placemaking Europe Week 2023 is over and I feel grateful to be part of this inspiring event that connects practitioners, academics, community leaders, and policy makers from all over the world to discuss about placemaking for ecology, and civic engagement and place-led development. Strasburg itself was an excellent choice for the event, a place with an emphasis on green initiatives.
With Giulia,Ilektra Alex, Harrie, we had the chance to co-organize the session named "Global Urban Greening Strategies; From Policies to Community Action": https://lnkd.in/d-uvsjud, where we delved into a comprehensive array of policies spanning international, EU, and local levels. We dissected typologies of interventions, examining strategies for sidewalk, building, neighborhood, and entire city. The central theme was clear: fostering a sustainable urban environment requires a multi-faceted approach.
Two illuminating case studies from Milan and London underscored the transformative power of citizen-driven initiatives. Milan showcased a case of tactical urbanism, where citizens collaborated with local authorities to permanently reclaim urban space.
London presented an alternative model through its WeAreWaterloo Business Improvement District (BID). Local businesses pooled resources and funding to enhance the neighborhoods with green interventions. This approach highlights the potential for public-private partnerships in driving urban greening.
Participants were tasked with discussing urban greening projects where citizens played a pivotal role. In group discussions, they analyzed success factors, identified challenges. It became evident that successful urban greening initiatives hinged on factors such as community engagement, political will, and effective resource allocation.
One of the key questions to the participants was the pivotal role of technology in mobilizing citizens and scaling up initiatives. Our seminar concluded with a resounding affirmation that through harnessing citizen power, embracing technologies, and forging strategic partnerships, we can transform our cities into vibrant, sustainable havens for all.