Press release English

For Release on July 23rd, 2013
ICLEI SAMS e UN Habitat are Awarded for Project Urban LEDS
On the evening of Monday, July 22, ICLEI SAMS and UN Habitat received the
INOVACIDADE Prize, awarded by ADVB-PE to initiatives that contribute to building
smart cities. The Prize was awarded for the Initiative of Project Urban Low Emission
Development Strategies, Urban LEDS, in Brazil. The project has also been nominated
to be among the top 100 Brazilian cases in the next edition of the Bright Green Book The Green Book of the 21st Century, which will be launched on September 30 by the
Euro-Brazilian Sustainable Development Council.
The event took place in the JCPM Trade Center in Recife, PE, Brazil – Urban LEDS
Model City, during the launching ceremony of the Candidacy of Recife to host the Third
United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development - Habitat
III. Many authorities were present, such as the Mayor of the City of Recife, Mr. Geraldo
Julio, as well as representatives of multilateral agencies, international organizations
and diplomatic missions, and leaders from local, national and international private
sector companies in the areas of urban planning, housing, and technology
infrastructure.
Urban LEDS is the result of an agreement established on March 2012, between UNHabitat and the European Commission, with ICLEI – Local Government of
Sustainability serving as the main implementer. A global initiative, the Project is being
implemented until August 2015, in four emerging economy countries: Brazil, South
Africa, India and Indonesia. In each of them, around two model cities and five satellite
cities were selected, in order to demonstrate urban low emission development
strategies in conditions of accelerated growth and transition.
In Brazil, the project is being implemented in the model cities Fortaleza (CE) and
Recife (PE); and has Belo Horizonte (MG), Betim (MG), Curitiba (PR), Porto Alegre
(RS), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), e Sorocaba (SP) as satellite cities.
UN-Habitat
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations’
agency for sustainable urban development. Through its World Urban Campaign and
technical support it promotes efficient and realistic planning at national, regional and
local levels as the most effective way to grow our cities to meet increasing demand for
urban shelter and services. UN-Habitat organizes its work around the following areas:
urban planning and design; urban legislation, land and governance; urban economy;
urban basic services; housing and slum upgrading; risk reduction and rehabilitation;
and research and capacity development. www.unhabitat.org
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
ICLEI is the world's leading association of cities and local governments dedicated to
sustainable development. We are a powerful movement of 12 mega-cities, 100 supercities and urban regions, 450 large cities as well as 450 medium-sized cities and towns
in 84 countries. We promote local action for global sustainability and supports cities to
A responsabilidade pelo conteúdo deste comunicado é dos autores. Ele não reflete necessariamente a opinião da União Europeia. A
Comissão Europeia não é responsável por qualquer uso que possa ser feito das informações nele contidas.
become sustainable, resilient, resource-efficient, biodiverse, low-carbon; to build a
smart infrastructure; and to develop an inclusive, green urban economy with the
ultimate aim to achieve healthy and happy communities. www.iclei.org
Information about this Project in Brazil:
Urban LEDS Team in Brazil
South America Secretariat
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
[email protected]
(55 11) 50843079