Why should a new Network exist?
People in cities and towns deserve good lives in thriving, green and resilient places
There are many good existing urban-focused networks, research teams and knowledge sharing associations that focus on a wide range of matters. There are thousands of cities, and thousands more towns around the world, many of which, for various reasons, do not liaise with urban-focused networks.
The idea of the Urban Sustainable Development Network (SDN) is to provide a new network and a service that focuses on supporting local grassroots urban needs and assisting the local delivery of urban ideas and initiatives, for cities and towns everywhere. This is just an idea at this point in time.
What makes an SDN worthwhile?
How the SDN can find its place amongst the global knowledge sharing support that exists
The intent of the SDN is as follows:
- A unique urban service consisting of six integrated areas.
- Helping local teams globally solve real challenges.
- Actively connect grassroots action to global knowledge networks (COPs, RCN, C40, MCR2030, ICLEI, Covenant of Mayors and others) and goals action (the SDGs, Sendai Framework etc.)
What could the SDN focus on?
Six proposed areas of focus to support local action
The outline idea for the SDN is that it could consist of the following six areas:
- An Urban Investment & Finance Centre
- A Data Hub
- A City to City (C2C) Centre
- An Engagement Hub
- An Urban 2.0 app
- A Knowledge Hub
Getting started
One approach: Think big, start small & scale
The "Think Big" goal of the SDN is to support thousands of cities and towns around the world - to equip them with knowledge and ideas and services that they can use directly.
The idea of "Start Small" is to get it going in a controlled way that allows it to be scalable over time.
A compelling Investment Case to obtain funding for the SDN will be required if it is to proceed.
An SDN can be one part of engagement
Everyone must be involved through many different ways...
An SDN is designed to be part of the way everyone gets involved in making cities and towns better.
It can support the activities of city and municipal teams to continuously discuss local matters with their citizens (of all ages) and businesspeople.
