Monday 15 April 2024

County of Brant Celebrates Fifth Annual ISO 37120 Platinum Certification from the World Council on City Data

   

 

County of Brant Mayor David Bailey and WCCD President and CEO Dr. Patricia McCarney

County of Brant, ON – The County of Brant is proud to announce its achievement of ISO 37120 Platinum Certification for the fifth consecutive year, a recognition awarded by the World Council on City Data (WCCD). This year's certification was presented to Mayor David Bailey and Council by Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of the WCCD, in a ceremony that highlighted Brant's outstanding performance across various key performance indicators.

The ISO 37120 Platinum Certification distinguishes cities and communities worldwide that have a strong commitment to high-calibre data, supporting Brant’s efforts toward sustainability, economic resilience, infrastructure reliability, community well-being, and beyond. The data showcased by the WCCD includes:

  • Exceptional Canadian and global leadership on natural protection area and high air quality
  • Increasingly low unemployment rates and a highly educated population
  • Responsible energy and water consumption
  • A high quality of life demonstrated through a low crime rate and impressive opportunities for cultural events
Mayor David Bailey expressed his gratitude and pride in the County of Brant’s achievements, stating, 

“Earning this prestigious certification for the fifth year in a row underscores our collective efforts in setting and achieving high standards in various critical areas. It's a clear indicator of our dedication to building a model community that others might look up to. A heartfelt thanks goes out to our staff and the citizens of Brant for their relentless dedication."

Dr. Patricia McCarney also commended County of Brant for its exemplary leadership, saying, 

"The World Council on City Data is honored to recognize the County of Brant with the ISO 37120 Platinum Certification once again. Brant’s achievements across the board—from its environmental stewardship and economic resilience to its focus on health, safety, and engagement—are remarkable examples of what it means to lead in sustainable urban governance. With these five years of high caliber data, Brant can leverage this data continuity to support its strategic efforts and objectives under “Our Future Brant”. We look forward to our continued collaboration in future years."

About the WCCD

The WCCD hosts a network of innovative cities committed to high quality, globally standardized and certified city data which is critical for driving innovation and more strategic and sustainable economic development. This data supports city leaders in establishing a baseline for building more resilient, smart, prosperous and inclusive futures for their cities and their nations.

Established in 2014, over the past 10 years, the WCCD has built the most comprehensive city data platform in the world and is now working in over forty countries and has certified over one hundred cities. The WCCD is the global leader in supporting cities to collect, report and use ISO standardized, third-party verified and comparable city data of the highest calibre. This vital data has applications ranging from investment attraction and economic development, innovation and business growth, strategic planning and progress monitoring, to internal and global benchmarking, to localization of global agendas, and, overall, developing smarter, more sustainable, resilient, prosperous and inclusive cities.

Working with professionals worldwide, the WCCD was instrumental in publishing the global first: now referred to as the ISO 37120 Series of Standards for City Indicators – the first set of key performance standards to support city data published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in Geneva. ISO 37120 – Sustainable Cities and Communities —Indicators for City Services and Quality of Life is the foundational document and the WCCD is now operationalizing two additional standards: ISO 37122 — Indicators for Smart Cities and ISO 37123 — Indicators for Resilient Cities across its rapidly growing global network. The WCCD is now working toward the release of a new standard – ISO 37125, the first ever standard for ESG metrics at the city level.

The WCCD has created the first ever certification system and hosts the Global Cities Registry® for ISO 37120, ISO 37122 and ISO 37123. Further building on this foundation, the WCCD establishes a global hub for creative learning partnerships across cities, international organizations, corporate partners, and academia to further innovation, envision alternative futures, and build better and more livable cities.

Original Release from County of Brant: https://www.brant.ca/en/news/county-of-brant-celebrates-platinum-certification-from-the-world-council-on-city-data.aspx

For more information, please contact: 
 
Dr. Patricia McCarney
President & CEO
World Council on City Data
patricia.mccarney@globalcities.ca 

Monday 18 March 2024

Aalter Celebrates Three Successful Years of WCCD ISO 37120 Certification

   

 


AALTER, BELGIUM - March 18, 2024 - In a significant milestone for the City of Aalter, Mayor Pieter De Crem accepted the WCCD ISO 37120 Gold Certification, marking the city's third achievement of this prestigious award. The World Council on City Data (WCCD) President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney, presented the certificate in a ceremony attended by city members of the College of Mayor and Aldermen, staff, and stakeholders, underscoring Aalter's commitment to data-driven decision-making and sustainable urban development.


This certification at the Gold level acknowledges Aalter's exemplary collection of high-quality data to foster internal benchmarking, strategic planning, infrastructure investment, localization of global goals and sustainable economic development. Throughout the certification process, Aalter demonstrated exceptional data collection practices that have significantly contributed to its recognition and resulted in over one hundred fully standardized key performance indicators for the city to use.

Dr. Patricia McCarney commended the City’s achievements, stating, 
"Aalter's continued dedication to the highest standards of city data not only enhances its own urban management but also sets a global benchmark for cities globally aspiring to sustainable, smart, and resilient development."

Mayor Pieter De Crem expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the city's commitment to leveraging data for the betterment of its community.

The ceremony highlighted Aalter's particularly celebratory data points yielded from its certification, including exemplary leadership in business, bicycle lanes, recreation space, healthcare, and sustainable water consumption. 

The WCCD looks forward to continuing its partnership with Aalter, furthering the use of standardized city data to enhance urban sustainability and inclusive prosperity. 

About the WCCD

The WCCD hosts a network of innovative cities committed to high quality, globally standardized and certified city data which is critical for driving innovation and more strategic and sustainable economic development. This data supports city leaders in establishing a baseline for building more resilient, smart, prosperous and inclusive futures for their cities and their nations. 

Established in 2014, over the past 10 years, the WCCD has built the most comprehensive city data platform in the world and is now working in over forty countries and has certified over one hundred  cities. The WCCD is the global leader in supporting cities to collect, report and use ISO standardized, third-party verified and comparable city data of the highest calibre. This vital data has applications ranging from investment attraction and economic development, innovation and business growth, strategic planning and progress monitoring, to internal and global benchmarking, to localization of global agendas, and, overall, developing smarter, more sustainable, resilient, prosperous and inclusive cities.

Working with professionals worldwide, the WCCD was instrumental in publishing the global first: now referred to as the ISO 37120 Series of Standards for City Indicators – the first set of key performance standards to support city data published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in Geneva. ISO 37120 – Sustainable Cities and Communities —Indicators for City Services and Quality of Life is the foundational document and the WCCD is now operationalizing two additional standards: ISO 37122 — Indicators for Smart Cities and ISO 37123 — Indicators for Resilient Cities across its rapidly growing global network. The WCCD has created the first ever certification system and hosts the Global Cities Registry® for ISO 37120, ISO 37122 and ISO 37123. Further building on this foundation, the WCCD establishes a global hub for creative learning partnerships across cities, international organizations, corporate partners, and academia to further innovation, envision alternative futures, and build better and more livable cities.

For more information, please contact: 
 
Dr. Patricia McCarney
President & CEO
World Council on City Data
patricia.mccarney@globalcities.ca 

Wednesday 28 February 2024

MARKHAM RECEIVES PLATINUM-LEVEL WCCD ISO 37120 CERTIFICATION FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

   

 

From left: CAO of Markham Andy Taylor, President and CEO of WCCD Patricia McCarney, and Mayor of Markham Frank Scarpitti.

MARKHAM, ON – February 28, 2024 – The City of Markham has received ISO 37120 Platinum-level certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) for the fifth consecutive year.

The certification underscores Markham's position as a global and Canadian leader in data-driven decision-making. Markham became a member of the WCCD in 2019 and is now part of a worldwide network comprising more than 100 cities across 40 different countries.

“This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of the entire community, and it is an honour to receive this WCCD ISO certification, marking our fifth year of building a solid platform of data in Markham to inform our decision making and highlight our tremendous progress,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “We take great pride in our ranking in many key indicators in relation to other global cities.”

“The City of Markham has benefitted from participating in the WCCD certification process which has allowed our city to benchmark ourselves against similar municipalities while also supporting our goal of making data-informed decisions that support service excellence,” said Markham CAO Andy Taylor.

"This certification is a testament to the culture of robust, data-driven decision-making in Markham, championed by Mayor Scarpitti, CAO Andy Taylor, and the exceptional City staff. It has been a pleasure collaborating with you during this certification, and I look forward to our continued partnership,” said Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of the WCCD.

A Canadian-led, global innovation, ISO 37120 is the first international standard for city data. With 104 fully numeric indicators across 19 themes, it helps to measure city services and quality of life, underpinned by standardized definitions and methodologies.

The WCCD was founded in 2014 and helps communities of all sizes worldwide embrace standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous, inclusive and smart.

Read the press release from City of Markham here.

For more information, please contact: 
 
Dr. Patricia McCarney
President & CEO
World Council on City Data

Thursday 11 January 2024

Daegu Metropolitan Area Receives WCCD ISO "Triple" Certification for the Second Time

   

 Las Vegas, USA


Congratulations to the Daegu Metropolitan Area for earning the remarkable WCCD ISO “Triple Certification” for the second time. This achievement marks Daegu as the first city in Asia to receive such a distinguished title. The certifications include WCCD ISO 37120 for Sustainable Cities, ISO 37122 for Smart Cities, and ISO 37123 for Resilient Cities.

The certification was presented to Daegu Metropolitan City representatives at the “Powerful Daegu” exhibit during the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of the WCCD, highlighted the significant collaboration between the WCCD and Daegu, a partnership that promises to grow even stronger in the future.

Dr. McCarney also extended an invitation to Daegu to participate in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s MCR 2030 Program. Through their WCCD ISO 37123 certification, Daegu qualifies for the highest level of entry in this strategic global UN initiative. This participation will further enhance Daegu’s capabilities in addressing risk for a more resilient future for their citizens. Furthermore, Dr. McCarney invited Daegu to be among the first global cities to adopt the new ISO 37125 Standard – the inaugural global Standard for Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Indicators for Cities, which is currently under development and soon to be published by ISO in Geneva.



Daegu’s commitment to technology and innovation was also recognized. Justine Hamilton-Arvisais, Director of City Certification, lauded the city for its high quality of life and economic development efforts, as evidenced by indicators like low unemployment rates, a high number of patents issued, and the provision of digital learning devices to students.

We anticipate continuing our fruitful collaboration with Daegu Metropolitan City and are excited to witness their ongoing leadership and contributions within the WCCD global network.



Read more: 스마트 대구 : 네이버 뉴스검색 (naver.com)




Tuesday 9 January 2024

Town of Caledon Receives Second Platinum WCCD ISO 37120 Certification from the WCCD

   

 Caledon, ON

Justine Hamilton-Arvisais from WCCD presents Mayor Groves with platinum certification, joined by Council and senior leadership.

The Town of Caledon has received its second platinum certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) for the implementation of ISO 37120 (Indicators for Sustainable Cities) standards.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with the WCCD,” said Mayor Annette Groves. “Data of this caliber helps us make informed decisions when allocating resources and monitoring progress towards the vision outlined in our Strategic Plan.”

ISO 37120 sets parameters around data collection specific to sustainability and quality of life. By collecting and measuring data according to this standard, municipalities have access to information that supports evidence-based decisions, setting achievable targets and comparing performance against municipalities worldwide.

"By achieving the WCCD's top-tier platinum recertification, Caledon continues to be part of a worldwide community that leverages data for innovative service delivery," stated Nathan Hyde, Chief Administrative Officer. "This certification is a reflection of our commitment to enhancing our community in alignment with the 2023-2035 Strategic Plan."

In July of 2023, Caledon received its first platinum certification from the WCCD for the implementation of ISO 37120 in 2022. The WCCD was founded in 2014 and helps communities of all sizes worldwide embrace standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous, inclusive and smart.

Read original post from Town of Caledon: https://www.caledon.ca/en/news/town-of-caledon-receives-second-platinum-certification-from-world-council-on-city-data.aspx

Tuesday 14 November 2023

Vaughan receives Triple Certification from World Council on City Data on the ISO 37120 Series

   
(Please visit Vaughan's website to view the original release)


(From left, top: CAO Nick Spensieri, Councillor Marilyn Iafrate, Councillor Chris Ainsworth, Councillor Mario Ferri, Mayor Steven DelDuca, Councillor Mario Racco, Councillor Adriano Volpentesta, Councillor Gila Martow, Councillor Rosanna Defrancesca
From left, bottom: Joy Wang, Kelly Sutton, Patricia McCarney, Justine Hamilton-Arvisais, Stefan Tzianetas)

Vaughan is building a resilient, sustainable, smart and prosperous city! In fact, the City of Vaughan’s high-calibre data makes our city-building efforts award winning. The City has been presented with Triple Certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD).

Founded in Canada in 2014, the WCCD helps municipalities embrace ISO standardized city data to make data-driven decisions. Having standardized data enables any city of any size to measure and track its performance and progress annually. This globally comparable data is the starting point for economic development, innovation, widespread information exchange and smart, sustainable and resilient city development.

The WCCD presented Vaughan with the following certifications during a ceremonial presentation at the Nov. 14 Council meeting: 

  • Vaughan’s eighth consecutive Platinum World Council on City Data ISO 37120 Sustainable Cities Certification
  • Vaughan’s second Early Adopter World Council on City Data ISO 37122 Smart Cities Certification
  • Vaughan’s first Early Adopter World Council on City Data ISO 37123 Resilient Cities Certification
These certifications further establish the City as a leader in data-driven decision-making, both in Canada and on the global stage. View the WCCD’s presentation to learn more about the City’s achievements with data-driven insights.
 
QUOTE

“The City of Vaughan continues to be a leader in adopting innovative approaches to advance our city-building strategy. This includes our commitment to data-driven and accountable decision-making. Our efforts have once again been noticed as the City received Triple ISO Certification from the World Council on City Data today. We have been a WCCD ISO Certified City since 2015, and are now the first and only Canadian city to achieve all three certifications. This milestone is a credit to staff across the organization and a reflection of our collective commitment to delivering Service Excellence to the Vaughan community. We will continue to champion effective use of data and excellence in innovation to move our city forward.”

- Mayor Steven Del Duca 

Friday 6 October 2023

THE WORLD COUNCIL ON CITY DATA JOINS GLOBAL RESILIENCE LEADERS AT THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL RESILIENCE FORUM IN DUBAI

   

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The World Council on City Data joined global resilience leaders worldwide to participate in the United Nations Global Resilience Forum held in Dubai, as a guest of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Making Cities Resilient 2030, and the Dubai Resilience Hub. The Forum convened city mayors from across the globe, together with leaders of regional and national governments, and the private sector. The Forum addressed the widening gap between the increasing demand for more resilient city infrastructure and the limited capacity for cities to finance these infrastructure investments. The Forum delegates agreed as signatories to an impactful Call for Action entitled “Scaling Up Urban Resilience for a Changing Climate,” to be presented at COP 28 in Dubai later this year.

Described by Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, as a "very powerful and robust Call for Action," the document outlines the critical relationship between the COP process and financing disaster risk reduction activities, particularly focusing on infrastructure. The Call for Action advocates for data-driven resilience decision-making through the WCCD’s ISO 37120 Series, a global first by the WCCD. It emphasizes the importance of initiatives such as MCR2030, in which the WCCD is a core partner, to enhance local governments’ resilience toolkits. Additionally, it underscores the necessity for collaboration between public and private sectors to facilitate these critical steps for more resilient futures.

During her speeches in the opening and closing panel sessions, Dr. Patricia McCarney, the WCCD’s President and CEO, emphasized the importance of better connecting four critical stakeholders—global cities, the WCCD ISO data, UNDRR, and private sector—across the resilient cities ecosystem. She highlighted the linkage of globally standardized WCCD ISO data including the most current work at ISO in developing standardized data for Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) to the needs of cities worldwide, directing the trillions of dollars available to cities from the private sector for investment through debenture markets. In this context, Dr. McCarney also emphasized the opportunity to enhance resilience efforts to connect to UNDRR programming and in particular MCR2030 and the Global Education and Training Institute. These elements, along with the Call for Action, set the stage for this year's critical COP28 process.

The discussion was further enriched during the panel discussion moderated by Dr. McCarney, titled “Data-Driven Decision-Making for Resilient Cities: ESG Investment, Bonds and Financing Resilient Infrastructure.” The panelists, including Ms. Liza Ramos of Makati City, Mr. Abhilash Panda of the UNDRR, Dr. Hajar Saeed of Ajman Statistics Centre, and Mr. Darryl Carpenter, former Director at S&P Global Ratings, highlighted the imperative to harness data to support the growing activities of cities in the debenture market. They emphasized the need to demonstrate the impact of resilient infrastructure development financed through bonds to bridge the gap between the required critical infrastructure and the capital contribution needed to facilitate it. This public-private collaboration was also outlined during the panel session titled “Investment in Climate Resilience,” featuring the WCCD’s Director of City Certification and Data Applications, Ms. Justine Hamilton-Arvisais, as a panelist.

The WCCD anticipates the implementation of the critical guidance outlined in the Call for Action and remains committed to advancing the crucial conversation about supporting local governments to become more resilient and better prepared for mounting risks and the increased frequency of disaster. The WCCD extends an invitation to cities of all sizes to join its growing global network of data-driven municipalities.

Read more:

https://www.undrr.org/news/private-sector-investing-resilience-building

https://www.undrr.org/news/addressing-climate-challenges-dubai-hosts-first-global-urban-resilience-forum-and-unveils

For more information, please contact: 
 
Dr. Patricia McCarney
President & CEO
World Council on City Data
patricia.mccarney@globalcities.ca