International local government news 16.07.24

Here are the latest newsworthy and interesting stories from the local government sector that caught our attention. In this round-up of what’s happening right now in the world of local government, you’ll find best practices, inspiration, and more from across the sector.

Germany: Residents can receive red cards for wrong rubbish
While Euro 2024 may have come to a close, in one German district, the spirit of the game has been continued in a slightly different manner. The Heilbronn District has recently introduced yellow and red cards to indicate to residents that they are incorrectly sorting their rubbish. The cards are being used as part of a grace period: Yellow cards are issued if contaminants are found once during a bin collection, with the container still emptied by the authorities. If it happens again, however, the bin is left unemptied and the resident receives a red card sticker. The grace period will continue before a new sensor scheme is introduced, which can identify incorrectly filled organic waste containers automatically.
The Mayor

Denmark: Copenhagen offers free perks to climate-friendly tourists
The City of Copenhagen is offering free museum tours, art workshops and more to visitors who take part in climate-friendly initiatives, a contrast to the recent trend of fees and restrictions on tourists in other parts of Europe. As of this week, visitors who participate in cycling, clean-up efforts or train travel could receive rewards. Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, chief executive for the Capital Region of Denmark tourism organisation said “we must turn tourism from being an environmental burden into a force for positive change” and “change how we move around on the destination, what we consume, and how we interact with the locals”.
The New York Times

Latvia: Riga launches interactive heat map for residents
In preparation for winter in Europe, the Riga Municipality in Latvia has launched a new interactive tool: A heat map that shows detailed information on a residential building’s energy efficiency. All residential dwellings in the Latvian capital are included in the tool, which aims to facilitate decision-making for local citizens when it comes to energy choices. Users can review the heat energy consumption in their building over the past 12 months, and compare this with similar residences in the city.
Pragmatika

Spain: City launches mobile climate shelters
As extreme heat becomes more and more of a lived reality in Spain, the City of Alcala de Henares has launched an innovative solution for cooling urban areas that can’t be greenified due to regulatory constraints. The city has proposed “climatic islands”, or mobile climate shelters – to make the historic areas of the city habitable during intense summers. First deputy mayor Isabel Ruiz Maldonado said “these modern climate islands are plant-based, self-stable and mobile stations that will provide up to 50 metres of shade in the areas with the least vegetation and will be equipped with sensors to analyse temperature, humidity and air quality at all times, ensuring self-management and efficiency in irrigation”.
The Mayor

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