CDI’s work and achievements

Human induced climate change poses a wide range of threats, in particular in urban areas. Existing urban systems (communication, transportation, economic, supply, social, etc.) are interconnected and usually exist within relatively small territories with a high density of population. Any disturbance to one or multiple elements of the system causes a chain reaction translated into various failures. A solution to this problem calls for a systemic change in the functioning of self-governments. As the leaders of adaptation process, they need to accept reacting to current (and future) climate change impact as an integral part of the long term planning of development intents but also as a part of everyday activities and decision-making. Local reaction to climate change is understood as the decreased production of greenhouse gases as well as adaptation of existing systems to current and anticipated climate change impacts.

Regional development - development of municipalities/cities/regions - is a wider concept. It includes the economic dimension as well as the positive changes occurring in other societal areas (social, cultural, health-related, etc.) while improving the quality of the environment and respecting the genius loci of each territory. For a sustainable, dynamic and synergic development of a territory, various activities and interests of public and private institutions must be taken into consideration and coordinated in order to achieve the most effective and the most efficient solutions for the joint challenges. Therefore, we are talking of the good governance of territorial development, which is a direct responsibility of territorial self-government.