The city of Ludwigshafen, Germany, together with BASF and UN-HABITAT have agreed to initiate on a joint project to showcase environmental technologies and successful collaboration with the private sector in the development of sustainable cities. The agreement was reached at a meeting between UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, the Mayor of Ludwigshafen, Dr. Eva Lohse, the Deputy CEO of BASF and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Transport, Construction and Housing. They met at the City of the Future: Opportunities for Europe conference, held in Ludwigshafen on 8-9 September. The conference, whose main theme was sustainable urban development in a European setting, focused on energy-saving technologies. Practical experiences, best practices and lessons learnt on improving energy efficiency were shared with the aim of replicating them in other cities, particularly in eastern European countries about to join the European Union. The meeting also highlighted strategic partnerships with the private sector in building sustainable cities. Ludwigshafen is a shining example of successful collaboration between the private and public sectors. The authorities of this “corporate city”, have partnered with the BASF owned Housing and Construction Company (LUWOGE) for the renewal of their satellite towns. LUWOGE works closes with housing societies and authorities to manage about 25 per cent of the housing stock of the city. One of the fruits of this collaboration has been the considerable reduction in oil consumption - by as much as 80 per cent. By compiling a central collection of experience in environmental technology and successful public-private sector partnerships, the new initiative between UN-HABITAT, the city of Ludwigshafen and BASF will provide a useful knowledge base, which other cities can draw on and enhance, to help build the sustainable city of the future. |
