UCLG, 400 mayors in Palazzo Vecchio

Three days of discussions, meetings and events at Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo dei Congressi. It started today, the World Council of United Cities and Local Governements, the largest international organization of local governments, whom it represents approximately the half of the world-wide population.

The event will conclude on Sunday in Florence. The works, divided into preparatory meetings, seminars, round tables (today in Palazzo Vecchio) and in plenary sessions (tomorrow and Sunday at Palazzo dei Congressi), will focus particularly on sustainability, governance of cities and international cooperation. Present more than 400 mayors from all over the world: from Paris to Istanbul, from Dakar to Kabul.

The meeting opened with the round table “Itelligent lighting and LED revolution for the city”, promoted by the City of Florence. Present at the discusison technicians of international fame as Rogier Van Der Haijd (Philips Lighting), Mauro Annunziato (Director of Smart Cities of Enea) and Andrea Maria Costa (Telecom Italia). Among the projects presented “smart poles” with IP, to support wifi hotspot, interactive video, network for environmental and mobility monitoring .

Another debate has focused on tourism. Present among others Nicola Villa (Global Director of Cisco Internet business solutions) and Khalifa Sall (Mayor of Dakar). Great attention is focused on theme of sustainable mobility and info-mobility. The subject was treated by Piero Fassino (Mayor of Turin), Mario Perretta (Highway Tech), Franco Borasi (Elsag), Gino Franco (Mizar) and Roberto Rossi (Thales). Mercedes has also presented the project “Car2go” at the presence of the Mayor of Stuttgart, Wolfgang Schuster, head of mobility sector of UCLG.

Tomorrow the works will move to Palace dei Congressi with two panel discussions in the morning and in the afternoon in favor of urban electric transport. Among others there will be Pedro Ballesteros, head of the EU Covenant of Majors and Ilmar Reepalu, Mayor of Malmo. Will present experiences and visions of sustainability Andrea Solari (Arval), Brodocz Thomas (Siemens) and Michele Genisio (Selex Galileo). There will be also a “witness” of the city of Paris on the project Autovelib. Finally, bring the experience of projects carried out in various cities worldwide Mirko Rifles (Ducati Energia), Vincenzo Scardigno (Piaggio), Andrea Baracco (Renault), Francisco Sierra Carranza (Nissan). For utilities and energy companies is involved Tommaso Roselli (Enel Distribution), Bartosz Wojszczyk (General Electric) and Gherard Dambach (Bosch).