The PLUS Network conducts member surveys to evaluate the services it provides to members and to understand better how learning about urban sustainability among cities can be enhanced.

2009 Survey - How Cities Learn

ICSC has just completed a research project on how cities in the PLUS network learn. In summary, when faced with a city problem —

- 80% of respondents go to their peers - colleagues in their own or other cities.
- 90% view conferences as a good way to learn, and other face-to-face events like peer exchanges were rated very highly.
- Women were more likely than men to consult websites of other cities (90% of women versus 33% men), and networks/associations (73% versus 44%), whereas men were more likely to consult journals/magazines (56% versus 18%).
- Many fewer consulted professional associations(40%), mentors (36%), private sector consultants or government resources (30%), academic institutions (28%), friends and family (16%).

These results are consistent with the pilot survey conducted in 2008 as described below.

Download City-to-City Learning (1.76 MB)

2008 Survey Highlights - Urban Sustainability and the PLUS Network

The PLUS Network organizes a variety of programs to support peer learning related to urban sustainability among its member cities. At the PLUS Network Biennial Conference in Durban, 20 international delegates completed a survey designed to discover:

Adoption of Urban Sustainabilty initiatives

- 90% said their city was undertaking an integrated long-term approach to planning.
- 80% were using a framework such as Earth CAT, LA21, GSRM, Transition Towns.
- 65% said their city had adopted a set of sustainability indicators.

Drivers of Urban Sustainability Initiatives

- Need to design for a better future
- Demand from the community and citizen action
- Progressive political aspirations of leaders
- Ability to learn about other cities' successes and failures in addressing urban sustainability challenges

Catalysts for Implementation

- 45% said their city uses FAST (Fast Action for Sustainability Transition) community demonstration projects, including:

- visioning processes
- multi-stakeholder groups to consult on a specific theme (e.g., tourism)
- credit cooperatives to support youth, women and disabled grouops
- mapping exercises
- seed funding for local initiatives (public spaces clean-up)
- analysis of pedestrian/bicycling activities
- building rain gardens
- raising public awareness

Sources of Learning about Urban Sustainability

- 100% consult colleagues in their own city
- 80% consult colleagues in other cities
- 80% consult a mentor
- 67% seek out a peer learning network or NGO association

Evaluation of Learning about Urban Sustainability

- 80% said that learning about urban sustainability could be enhanced, with key factors being time for informal, open discussions and esetablishing a network of people to provide advice and support.

Role of the PLUS Network

- 33% of respondents were members since 2004, and remainder since 2006.
- 65% consider themselves active participants; the remainder cited lack of leadership, time or resources as factors.
- Network strengths cited were peer learning and sharing forums, with respondents having attended between 1 and 4 peer exchanges.
- Peer exchanges provide inspiration, checks and balances, and opportunities to see initiatives in action throughout the world.
- Weaknesses include insufficient financial support, too few city staff participating, and the need to include European cities with their emphasis on environmental issues.

Help from the Network

- With initiatives: 26% helpful, 26% not
- With demonstration projects: 21% helpful, 15% not
- With sustainability indicators: 31% helpful, 10% not

PLUS Network Online Services

PLUS Network Membership and Governance

- 70% had no opinion about governance and membership
- 58% said NGOs should be eligible for membership
- 41% said private consultants should not be eligible for membership
- 58% said they would like a more active role in governance (advice, information

Download 2008 Summary (123.26 kB)