Translation of "forum sur l'énergie du centre-ville " (French → English) :

Lower humidity in urban areas due to the absence of vegetation and the increased absorption of energy from the sun caused by dark asphalted or concrete surfaces are the main reasons inner city areas are often many degrees warmer than their surroundings.

[10] In this context, a system consists of many energy-consuming entities; examples include data centres, buildings, factories and cities.

At the Clean Air Forum taking place today in Paris the Commission and the EU Environment Agency launched a new Air Quality Indexwhich allows citizens to monitor air quality in real time. The Commission also published an Air Quality Atlas, a tool developed by the Commission's Joint Research Centre that maps the origins of fine particulate matter, such as dust, smoke, soot, pollen and soil particles, in EU cities.

European research and innovation should provide tools and methods for a more sustainable, open, innovative and inclusive urban and peri-urban planning and design; a better understanding of the dynamics of urban societies and social changes and of the nexus of energy, environment, transport and land-use including the interplay with surrounding rural areas; an improved understanding of design and use of public space within cities also in the context of migration to improve social inclusion and development and reduce urban risks and crime; new ways to reduce pressures on natural resources and stimulate sustainable economic growth while improving the quality of life of European urban citizens; a forward-looking vision on the socio-ecologica ...[+++]l transition towards a new model of urban development reinforcing EU cities as hubs of innovation and centres of job creation and social cohesion.