Sunday, 30 October 2016

WCCD Foundation City Report #5: Helsinki, Finland

   
#DATAFORCITIES  is a weekly publication of the WCCD that highlights a data point from each of the WCCD Cities – and, more importantly, shows how each city is harnessing standardized data to build the sustainable, prosperous, smart, resilient and inclusive cities of tomorrow.

Every week – and starting with the WCCD Foundation Cities for the next twenty weeks - a WCCD City will be profiled  with a short, 3 page snapshot and promoted throughout the week with innovative visualisations across Twitter (#dataforcities), Facebook and LinkedIn. 

A fully downloadable and shareable PDF of the profile can be found here. 

Previous reports can be found in the News and Updates section of the WCCD website

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Sunday, 23 October 2016

WCCD Foundation City Report #4: Barcelona

   
#DATAFORCITIES  is a weekly publication of the WCCD that highlights a data point from each of the WCCD Cities – and, more importantly, shows how each city is harnessing standardized data to build the sustainable, prosperous, smart, resilient and inclusive cities of tomorrow.

Every week – and starting with the WCCD Foundation Cities for the next twenty weeks - a WCCD City will be profiled  with a short, 3 page snapshot and promoted throughout the week with innovative visualisations across Twitter (#dataforcities), Facebook and LinkedIn. 

A fully downloadable and shareable PDF of the profile can be found here. 

Previous reports can be found in the News and Updates section of the WCCD website

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Wednesday, 19 October 2016

“Cities of all sizes need high quality data” says WCCD President & CEO as interest in ISO 37120 expands throughout Eastern and Southern Europe, Caucasus 

   
Click on the graphic to investiage the WCCD Open City Data Portal! 
This month, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) has certified its newest ISO 37120 Platinum city, and its first in Southeastern Europe. The City of Koprivnica, Croatia, while certainly smaller than some of the other WCCD ISO 37120 certified cities such as London or Shanghai, is proving the long-held conviction of WCCD President & CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney: cities of all sizes need good data to improve city services and quality of life. 

Located in the northern part of Croatia, and with a population of 30,872 (2011), Koprivnica represents a new and growing demand for WCCD ISO 37120 certification throughout Eastern and Southeastern Europe and the Caucasus – as well as in smaller cities throughout the world. “As the WCCD continues to expand throughout the region, the appetite for standardized urban metrics only appears to be increasing,” stated Dr. McCarney. “Last year was the first time that I had the opportunity to speak to a group of cities from this region about WCCD’s ISO 37120 standard, and the interest was staggering. After addressing the 5th Ljubljana Forum, held in October 2015, the WCCD has only continued to expand its reach throughout the region. Cities are quickly realising that standardized data not only demonstrates accountability and transparency to national governments and the EU, to citizens and industry partners in the smart and sustainable cities sector worldwide, but also showcases a city’s commitment to sustainability across the board.”

Dispelling the myth that only large cities have the capability to implement “world class” city services to improve citizen quality of life, Koprivnica – as it turns out – is a leader on several fronts when compared to other European cities. For example, in looking at number of women elected to local office per 100 000 population, the city bests both London and Amsterdam at 38%, coming in just behind Barcelona at 41%. With a low number of transportation fatalities, homicides and property crimes, the city is also quite safe relative to other cities globally – large and small alike. “Cities of all sizes, throughout the world, need high quality data. Currently in the pipeline, we also have Zagreb and Tbilisi, while we continue to have conversations with additional cities throughout the area,” Dr. McCarney continued. “What was particularly impressive, is that not only has Koprivnica become ISO 37120 certified, but it was certified by the WCCD at the platinum level alongside cities such as London and Barcelona. This is a true testament to Mayor Jakšić and his team, and I look forward to congratulating him in person.”

Koprivnica was certified WCCD ISO 37120 platinum in October 2016 and reported 91 out of a possible 100 ISO 37120 indicators. In addition to Koprivnica the WCCD has certified 7 cities in Europe including: Helsinki, London, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Barcelona, and Porto, Valencia. Zagreb, Croatia and Tbilisi, Georgia are also currently in the pipeline and Zagreb is nearing the final data verification phase. Once WCCD ISO37120 certification is complete for Zagreb, the data will be uploaded to the WCCD Open City Data Portal (available at www.dataforcities.org) and Zagreb will become part of the WCCD global network of cities, exchanging knowledge and lessons through standardized data alongside Koprivnica and other cities globally.

For more information on the WCCD, ISO 37120 certification, please visit www.dataforcities.org or Contact Us.

What key issue is missing from the New Urban Agenda?

   
As part of the continuing Citiscope series on the New Urban Agenda, WCCD President and CEO expands upon what she see's as the key element missing from the document.

 "Although the New Urban Agenda briefly mentions strengthening the data and statistical capacity of sub-national and local governments, it does not directly address the critical importance of data in achieving viable development goals or how a lack of reliable, comparative data has been a stumbling block for cities in the past. Worldwide, city governments are making efforts to address the complex challenges of inequality, climate change and infrastructure deficits, while attempting to chart a course to a sustainable, smart, resilient, prosperous and inclusive future for their citizens. However, without high-quality, standardized, city data to guide problem solving and decision making, these risks cannot be fully addressed. The World Council on City Data firmly believes that ISO 37120 can address this critical data deficit. Data is absolutely fundamental for citizens and governments to create transformative change. While statistics are gathered by national governments and international agencies, there are enormous gaps in comparable city-level data. Where urban indicators do exist, they are not standardized, consistent or comparable over time or across cities. Too often, municipal officials lack the capacity to implement local data strategies, and data is not accessible or usable by citizens seeking to participate in city building or to hold their leaders to account." 
— Patricia McCarney, President & CEO, World Council on City Data

Read the full article here

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

What is the most innovative, transformational idea in the New Urban Agenda?

   
As part of an ongoing series by Citiscope in the margins of Habitat III, the WCCD President and CEO, Dr. Patricia McCarney, weighed in on what she views as the most transformational aspect of the proposed New Urban Agenda. 
"One of the most critical aspects of the New Urban Agenda is that it situates cities as essential in combating various global issues such as poverty and hunger, reducing inequality, empowering women and girls, improving health and well-being, fostering resilience and protecting the environment. Like many of my colleagues from around the world, I firmly believe that the global struggle for sustainable development will be a battle largely waged in cities, where two-thirds of the global population will reside by 2050. From the perspective of the World Council on City Data (WCCD) — which is helping to create sustainable cities worldwide through ISO 37120, the first international standard for sustainable cities — the fact that the New Urban Agenda raises the need to harness data and statistical capacities as a means of implementation is an idea with the potential to be globally transformative. I believe that the challenge of creating a more sustainable world — and specifically more sustainable cities — will hinge on the availability of high-quality, standardized and comparable city data for cities to plan, invest, measure progress and learn from other cities globally through accurate benchmarks and high-caliber data analysis." 


Photo credit: Citiscope 

Sunday, 16 October 2016

WCCD Foundation City Report #3: Boston, USA

   
#DATAFORCITIES  is a weekly publication of the WCCD that highlights a data point from each of the WCCD Cities – and, more importantly, shows how each city is harnessing standardized data to build the sustainable, prosperous, smart, resilient and inclusive cities of tomorrow.

Every week – and starting with the WCCD Foundation Cities for the next twenty weeks - a WCCD City will be profiled  with a short, 3 page snapshot and promoted throughout the week with innovative visualisations across Twitter (#dataforcities), Facebook and LinkedIn. 

A fully downloadable and shareable PDF of the profile can be found here. 

Previous reports can be found in the News and Updates section of the WCCD website




Friday, 7 October 2016

WCCD Foundation City Report #2: Melbourne LGA, Australia

   
#DATAFORCITIES  is a weekly publication of the WCCD that highlights a data point from each of the WCCD Cities – and, more importantly, shows how each city is harnessing standardized data to build the sustainable, prosperous, smart, resilient and inclusive cities of tomorrow.

Every week – and starting with the WCCD Foundation Cities for the next twenty weeks - a WCCD City will be profiled  with a short, 3 page snapshot and promoted throughout the week with innovative visualisations across Twitter (#dataforcities), Facebook and LinkedIn. 

A fully downloadable and shareable PDF of the profile can be found here. 

 Previous reports can be found in the News and Updates section of the WCCD website

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