Students:City & regional context

The city & region context

Barriers/problems


 * Waste, energy, water, pollution, agriculture, mining
 * Lack of will among political representatives
 * Unfavourable natural conditions & social conditions (unemployment, low educational standards, ethnic conflict)
 * Historical problems
 * Communication problems
 * Inability to cooperate, poor attitude to change
 * Corruption, passivity, clientelism
 * Risks associated with one dominant company in a region being the biggest source of employment, e.g. Czech Coal, Unipetrol in Usti region

Opportunities/solutions


 * Region – citizen: pride & participation
 * Local resources for the local economy. Local currency
 * RCE incubator
 * Green procurement in cities in infrastructure, railways, city transport
 * Rewards for SD behaviour. Ecological tax
 * Education – use international know-how, international partnerships for cities, schools, enterprise
 * Utilise structural funds for regions
 * Cross-border cooperation for regions & cities
 * New politicians?
 * More devolved power to local councils
 * Financial benefits for local businesses & employment of disadvantaged people
 * Emphasis on locally-produced food & energy savings in cities