ECO-CITIES FORUM

The Ministry of Environment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are pleased to announce the next Eco-Cities of the Mediterranean Forum, to be held under the framework of the Mediterranean Economic Week, in Marseille on October 11-12, 2011.

During the Eco-Cities Kick-off Conference held in Marseille on December 2010, UNIDO and the Ministry of Environment of Jordan announced the second Eco-Cities Forum. The Kick-off Conference, held from December 2-3, was a successful event that culminated in the formalization of the main thematic areas to be addressed during the 2nd Eco-Cities Forum - the two thematic areas are waterand waste management.


The objective of the 2011 Forum is to bring together municipalities of the region and the private sector, as well as non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations, to discuss solutions to environmental challenges, which promote both economic growth and social responsibility. The Forum will set a platform for municipalities and the private sector to exchange experiences on the most critical environmental issues being faced in the  Mediterranean region and discuss business opportunities to address the issues, including environmental services and best available technologies. 

Eco-Cities are areas where urban planning and environmental management tools are applied to pursue synergies in resource utilization and productivity, waste management, environmental preservation, industrial and economic development and a healthy living environment

The Forum will focus on a multi-stakeholder discussion of the main thematic areas of water and waste management; however, it will also hold, in parallel, side events such as workshops and business-to-business (BtoB), which will allow for a more in depth discussion of the topics, as well as face to face meetings amongst the participants. The Forum will also have an exhibit area where cities, sponsors and other partners can showcase their areas of expertise. 

The Forum will seek the participation of a wide array of stakeholders including:

• Mayors and City Managers;
    • Relevant Ministries of the region, e.g. Environment and Industry;
    • Private Sector - providers of environmental service and eco-technologies;
    • Non-Government Organizations (NGOs); 
    • Inter-Governmental Organizations;
    • Universities

During the Kick-off Conference participants illustrated the importance of the challenges still facing municipalities of the region. Although water and waste management emerged as the key topics, other cross-cutting issues such as energy and financing were also identified. These will be incorporated into the discussions in order to assure that the Forum responds to the most urgent environmental challenges faced by the region. Several institutions and organizations have already expressed their interest and commitment to the forum and they have been invited to take an active role during the event.