Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC) Some useful functionalities for Finnish cities

1. Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC) Some useful functionalities for Finnish cities 1

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3. The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities

4. What is the RFSC?

5. A toolkit for cities • an interactive web-tool • facilitating the dialogue about sustainable and integrated urban development • within cities • between cities • with local stakeholders • across sectors • at different political levels (local, regional, national, European) • within different levels of governance 5

6. The content of the tool 6

7. Three main sections of RFSC

8. Profile and Network Exchange experiences and learn from other cities: • describe your city with some simple characteristics • add documents, photos, use existing documents • tell what is useful for other cities to stimulate exchange and learning • search engine to find other cities to start sharing and learning with • directory of cities and institutions to contact • catalogue of showcases to learn from

9. Three evaluation tools Checklist to develop a sustainable urban development strategy Check whether a strategy or project is developed in an integrated manner Build a monitoring system to evaluate a strategy or project Choose the tool that suits your needs!

10. Tool 1: Develop strategy or project Helps to develop a sustainable and integrated urban development strategy with a checklist • … in line with: • the city’s own priorities • European objectives and principles • general and detailed objectives

11. Tool 2: Check the integrated approach Check with a qualitative evaluation tool the integrated approach of an urban strategy or project • by checklist of questions • based on a vision of a European sustainable city • stimulate discussions • positive or negative impacts? • conflicts or synergies in objectives? • visualise the results

12. Tool 3: Build a monitor system Helps to monitor the progress over time • 33 recommended key indicators (e.g. EU 2020) • some targeted values • a broad collection of other useful indicators in library • detailed explanation of all indicators in library • possibility to add own indicators • a spreadsheet to build own monitoring systems

13. The “core” of the 3 evaluation tools 25 objectives on sustainable urban development • covering European objectives and principles • inspired by practices in some 200 European cities • grouped by the 4 pillars of sustainability • economy • social affairs • environment • governance • each objective specified with sub-objectives to go into details and to stimulate further debate

14. What are the benefits of the RFSC? 14

15. Better communication • about sustainable and integrated strategies and projects • amongst and between different groups • technical departments in the city administration • elected representatives • planners, practitioners and experts • citizens and stakeholders • at different political and multi governance levels (local, regional, national, European) • through illustrating and explaining decision-making processes • compare the impact and results for different alternatives • improve coordination • give reasons for the choices taken 15

16. Better results • making urban strategies and projects more sustainable • fostering integrated thinking and actions • raising awareness about potential synergies • warning about possible gaps and conflicts • creating cost-savings in the long run • assessing progress over time • identifying the potential need for adjustments • building capacity in urban management • learning step-by-step with a strong focus on the process • finding useful examples and show cases from other cities • exchanging with peer-cities and learning from each other 16

17. Background of RFSC 17

18. Background and political context Decisions of EU Ministers for urban development • Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (2007) • Promote the integrated approach • Pay special attention to deprived neighbourhoods • Marseille Statement (2008) • Create a tool for cities to implement the Leipzig Charter • France initiated the “Reference Framework” • Toledo Declaration (2010) • Prototype of the RFSC • Test the RFSC with a larger group of cities (66) • Poznan (2011) • Improve and then diffuse among European cities 18

19. A joint European initiative • Cities and local authorities networks (CEMR, Eurocities, ICLEI) • Member States of the EU • European Commission (DG Regional and Urban Policy) • Multi-level working structure • Urban Development Group (political monitoring committee) • Member States and Institutions group (MSI group) • National Support Groups • Management Team (joint leadership: France, DG REGIO, trio presidencies) • Expertise and support • CSTB (technical expert, webmaster) • National Support Groups • Platform31, ICLEI and CEMR (RFSC secretariat, information, training) 19

20. A common European platform No evaluation or judgement of cities • but critical self-assessment of cities and conscious decision-making No standardisation of urban development • but creating a space for debate • adaptable to the national context and the local situation No measuring or ranking of cities • but comparing different approaches and results No obligation for cities, no precondition for funding • but cities contributing to common European objectives No fees for cities, no financial support • but e-learning, exchanging and capacity building 20

21. How to start using the RFSC?

22. Access to RFSC and RFSC-secretariat rfsc.eu Contact secretariat info@rfsc.eu • easy to explore the RFSC • all tools and user guides available • no sharing and networking • no safeguard of work As visitor • sharing, networking and learning • all your strategies and projects later • available for further developing/checking • all kind of support of RFSC-secretariat As RFSC city