Commission signs research cooperation agreement to promote sustainable towns
The European Commission has signed an agreement with the United Nations to jointly develop research activities into issues such as urban planning and governance, housing, water management, sanitation and land use. Currently, nearly 80 per cent of EU citizens live in cities, and by 2050 it is expected that six billion people around the world will inhabit urban areas. The sustainable development of towns and cities is therefore seen as a key challenge. The Commission signed its memorandum of understanding with UN-HABITAT, the UN's human settlement programme, on 16 February. The results of the joint research efforts between the two partners will be made available to experts and policy makers working in related fields. 'There is strong potential for research to help resolve urban challenges,' believes Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. 'It can help find innovative and durable solutions. With this memorandum of understanding the EU and UN-HABITAT will be able to expand on past achievements while addressing future opportunities and challenges.' From mid-2006, policy makers and scientists will be able to access the research results and recommendations of more than 250 urban sustainability projects financed by the EU and UN-HABITAT. Cooperation between the two organisations will begin with a project to identify good practice in urban environmental research.