Sustainable Cities: PLUS Network:

• Assists cities to improve their planning processes by helping prioritise short term strategies and goals within a long-term context;
• Generates knowledge through sharing experiences, tools and innovations among diverse member cities and communities through peer exchanges and a web-based network.
• Assists with developing and applying practical long-term planning models, tools and techniques;
• Shares experiences with benchmarks, measurable indicators and action plans;
• Meets face-to-face every two years and recount their successes and set-backs. These meetings are often in conjunction with high-profile international events, such as the World Urban Forum. The next Biennial Conference is scheduled for 2010.

The PLUS Network facilitates professional sharing which helps communities avoid costly mistakes as they benefit from one another's lessons. The benefits of the PLUS Network reach beyond member cities and have positive impacts and financial gains for industries and businesses that support sustainable initiatives. Working together to tackle urban issues ensures that planners and policy makers address the economic, social and environmental needs of developers, businesses and future residents.

The International Centre for Sustainable Cities (ICSC) in Vancouver, Canada, serves as Secretariat for the PLUS Network. The PLUS Network also counts on its Members Steering Committee and an International Panel of Advisors, a team of consultants from citiesPLUS, the IGU competition, The Natural Step and others, who provide regular support to the Network.