Getting started with the RFSCGetting started with the RFSC

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The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities

2Information provided by

What is the RFSC?

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What is the RFSC?

A toolkit for cities

• an interactive web-tool

• facilitating the dialogue about sustainable

and integrated urban development

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– within cities

– between cities

– with local stakeholders

– across sectors

– at different political levels (local, regional, national,

European)

– within different levels of governance

The content of the tool

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The content of the tool

Three main sections of RFSC

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Your city/institution profile

− describe your city

− add documents, photos

etc

− you can use existing

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− you can use existing

documents

− choose what is useful for

other cities to stimulate

exchange and learning

Networking/sharing experiences

- Search engine to find other

cities to start sharing and

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learning with

- Directory of cities and

institutions

- Catalogue of showcases

Three evaluation tools

1. check list tool to help

developing a sustainable

strategy

2. qualitative evaluation tool to

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2. qualitative evaluation tool to

assess the integrated approach

3. a quantitative evaluation tool

with a library of indicators

Choose what suits your needs!

3 main tools

Checklist to develop a sustainable urban

development strategy

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Check whether a strategy or project is

developed in an integrated manner

Build a monitoring system to evaluate a

strategy or project

The “core” of the 3 tools

25 objectives on sustainable urban development

• covering European objectives and principles

• inspired by practices in some 200 European cities

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• 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

Tool 1: Develop strategy or project

Helps to develop a sustainable urban development strategy

with a checklist

… in line with:

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… in line with:

− the city’s own priorities

− European objectives and

principles

− general and detailed

objectives

Tool 2: Check the integrated approach

Helps to check the integrated approach of an urban strategy

or project

−by checklist of questions

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−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

Tool 3: Build a monitor system

Helps to monitor the progress over time

Including:

– 33 recommended key indicators

(e.g. EU 2020)

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(e.g. EU 2020)

– some targeted values

– a broad collection of other useful

indicators

– possibility to add own indicators

– a spreadsheet to build own

monitoring systems

The functionalities of the RFSC

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The functionalities of the RFSC

Evaluating, checking and monitoring

All kind of urban and regional (integrated) strategies

– E.g. urban and spatial planning, integrated city plan, municipal plan

of sustainable development, strategic development plan, integrated

city development plan

– Also with a focus on strategies in deprived neighbourhoods (if

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– Also with a focus on strategies in deprived neighbourhoods (if

needed)

All kind of urban and regional projects

– E.g. develop/evaluate/update Agenda 21, development of Eco-

district, plans of urban regeneration/redevelopment, revitalisation

of urban streets/areas, environmental action plan, bicycle project,

development of technology centre, et cetera

– Also with a focus on project in deprived neighbourhoods

What are the benefits of the RFSC?

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What are the benefits of the RFSC?

Better communication

• about sustainable and integrated strategies and projects

• amongst and between different groups

– technical departments in the city administration

– elected representatives

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– 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

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

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– 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

Background of RFSC

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Background of RFSC

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

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– 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

A joint European initiative

• Cities and local authorities networks (CEMR, Eurocities, ICLEI)

• Member States of the EU

• European Commission (DG REGIO)

• Multi-level working structure

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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)

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

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� 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

How to start using the RFSC?

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How to start using the RFSC?

Contact secretariat info@rfsc.eu

Access to RFSC and

RFSC-secretariatrfsc.eu

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As visitor

• easy to explore the RFSC

• all tools and user guides available

• no sharing and networking

• no safeguard of work

As RFSC city

• sharing, networking and learning

• all your strategies and projects later

available for further developing/checking

• all kind of support of RFSC-secretariat