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