The City of Greater Sudbury has been named a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) by the Institute of Advanced Studies, a research and training centre based in Yokohama, Japan, that is part of the United Nations University.
In receiving the designation, Greater Sudbury joins a network of 34 other such centres around the world that have been recognized by the UNbody as a result of their commitment to sustainable development.
The UN General Assembly has declared 2005 to 2014 the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development a worldwide initiative aimed atpromoting environmental stewardship, sustainable economies, socialjustice and improved quality of life.
Regional Centres of Expertise help support these objectives by delivering education and training programs, raising awareness about champions for sustainable development at the local and regional levels, and sharing success stories and best practices with other centres in the network.
Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez said the UN designation is further evidence of the city's leadership role as a champion of sustainable development.
"This UN designation is a direct result of the City's HealthyCommunity initiative," said Rodriguez, in a news release. "With that initiative, we set out to build a healthy, sustainable community where economic, environmental and social considerations are given equal weight and where everyone has a share in the benefits of development.
"Our designation as an RCE reaffirms council's commitment to develop and implement anaction plan that will result in a healthier community."
Speaking at Wednesday's city council meeting, Bob Rogers, chair of Greater Sudbury's Healthy Community Cabinet, said his groupspearheaded the city's application for the UN designation in an effortto underscore the importance of sustainable development with City residents.
"Some communities are successful in taking a balanced approach toward development," said Rogers. "We have an opportunity to helpensure our own city gets it right. Awareness and education the focalpoints surrounding Greater Sudbury's designation as an RCE are the first steps."
"Greater Sudbury was acknowledged as an RCE because of its excellent achievements through the Healthy Community Initiatives," said A.H. Zakri, Director of the United Nations University Institute ofAdvanced Studies.
"I hope with this acknowledgement, RCE Greater Sudbury will take further steps towards a sustainable community and a global learning space for sustainable development, the basic vision of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development."
Rogers said the Healthy Community Cabinet will be working with city council, community groups, businesses and individual citizens to promotelinkages, partnerships and activities that support the objectives of theUN program.
