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 


Tuesday 25 July 2023

County of Brant Achieves 4th Consecutive Platinum Certification from World Council on City Data

Original release shared by the County of Brant: https://www.brant.ca/en/news/county-of-brant-achieves-4th-consecutive-platinum-certification-from-world-council-on-city-data.aspx

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

July 25, 2023
County of Brant, Ontario, Canada

The County of Brant is proud to announce that it has received Platinum certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) for the fourth consecutive year. The certification was presented during a special ceremony held during the County of Brant Council session, where Dr. Patricia McCarney, the President and CEO of the WCCD, personally presented the certificate to Mayor Bailey and Council.

"We are proud to receive our fourth consecutive Platinum certification from the World Council on City Data," said Mayor Bailey. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and community in creating a sustainable and prosperous environment for our residents. We look forward to continued partnership with the WCCD to enable data-driven decision-making."

ISO 37120, an internationally recognized standard, serves as a comprehensive measurement tool for evaluating the performance and quality of life in cities and municipalities. Covering a wide range of globally standardized indicators, including economy, environment, transportation, governance, and health, this certification demonstrates the County of Brant's unwavering commitment to data-driven excellence and sustainable development.

Positive indicators from the review for the County of Brant include having a low percentage of the population living below the poverty line which prioritizes the well-being of citizens. Active transit is also highlighted with the County having a high percentage of kilometres of bike paths and lanes for our population size. 

Dr. Patricia McCarney, the President and CEO of WCCD, congratulated the County of Brant on its achievement. "The County of Brant's commitment to data collection and analysis, as part of the WCCD global network of data-driven cities, empowers the County’s leaders and staff to make data-informed decisions and implement effective solutions that address the needs of their community," she stated. "Their efforts have set an exemplary example for other municipalities in Canada and worldwide to follow, and we are pleased to present them with their fourth certification. We anticipate a continued and fruitful collaboration with the County."

Since 2019, the County of Brant has actively pursued ISO 37120 certification. By adopting data-driven strategies and policies, and ensuring now four years of data continuity, the County has enabled informed decision-making and the ability to monitor progress on sustainable prosperity. 

The Platinum certification of the County of Brant underscores its transparency, accountability, and dedication to sustainable development. It serves as recognition of the County's ongoing endeavors to foster a vibrant and inclusive community for its residents and an enhanced quality of life.

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





Friday 14 July 2023

Makati City Receives WCCD ISO 37123 - Resilient Cities Certification

July 14, 2023

Makati City, Philippines 

In a momentous virtual ceremony, Mayor Abby Binay proudly accepted the World Council on City Data (WCCD) ISO 37123 Early Adopter Resilient City Certification on behalf of Makati City. Makati joins the ranks of one of the first cities globally to achieve this esteemed certification under the new ISO Standard, ISO 37123 Sustainable Cities and Communities – Indicators for Resilient Cities.
The WCCD certification recognizes Makati City's unwavering commitment to building a resilient and sustainable urban environment. Through comprehensive data-driven planning and implementation, the city has demonstrated its capacity to effectively address the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, climate change, and other complex urban issues.
With this certification, Makati City showcases its dedication to adopting best practices and innovative strategies that promote urban resilience and enhance the quality of life for its residents. The ISO 37123 Standard sets forth a rigorous framework for measuring and assessing a city's resilience across various indicators, including governance, economy, environment, and social well-being.

Mayor Abby Binay expressed her gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of resilience in building a better future for the city. She highlighted the collaborative efforts of the local government, community stakeholders, and various sectors in achieving this milestone.

Dr. Patricia McCarney, CEO of the World Council on City Data, congratulated Makati City on this significant achievement, remarking, "We extend our warmest congratulations to Makati City and Mayor Binay for being awarded the WCCD ISO 37123 Early Adopters Certification. This recognition reaffirms Makati City's commitment to urban resilience and data-driven decision-making. Globally, Makati City has already demonstrated its dedication to resilience building, and this certification further underscores their commitment in this critical area. We look forward to Makati’s continued certification and partnership for many years."

This certification serves as a testament to Makati City's continuous pursuit of excellence and its proactive approach to sustainable urban development. By adhering to global standards and adopting resilient practices, Makati aims to create a city that can effectively respond to shocks and stresses while ensuring the well-being and prosperity of its residents.



Read more: Makati receives WCCD resilient city certification (metronewscentral.net)


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