The PASCAL Board has asked Peter Kearns, the founder of the EcCoWell approach to learning city development, to undertake a review of progress in implementing the idea since 1992 and to report to the Board by the end of this year. The summary below provides background on the EcCoWell idea and presents some questions where I would welcome comment.

Peter Kearns

Review of EcCoWell Approach to Learning Cities

The EcCoWell concept was developed by Peter in 2012 following a visit to the Taipei learning city the previous year. The concept is based on an integrated holistic approach to building a sustainable learning city. This was set out in a paper titled “Living and Learning in Sustainable Learning Cities” that Peter wrote in 2012 for the PASCAL PIE program. This paper was then revised in 2013 for the PASCAL Hong Kong conference.  EcCoWell papers are still available on the PASCAL International Exchanges (PIE) web site.

The city of Cork has been the international leader in developing and implementing EcCoWell ideas. This included convening a seminar on the idea in 2013 led by Peter, followed by an international conference later in 2013. The Cork learning city has an EcCoWell website where further information may be found. Cork has taken particular interest in connecting learning and health development with Cork also an active Healthy City.

The development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has highlighted the need for a holistic approach to sustainable development across economic, social, and environmental objectives. This idea has much in common with the EcCoWell concept, a relationship noted by the PASCAL Board in deciding to ask Peter to review the situation of EcCoWell in a context significantly different to the situation in 2012.

In this rethink of the EcCoWell concept in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Board welcomes comments from anyone interested in achieving more integrated development of sustainable learning cities. Comments may be sent to Peter at [email protected] by 30 October.

Comments on the following questions is invited.

1. What progress has been made in implementing EcCoWell concepts in learning city development since 2012?
2. What have been the main barriers? How can they be addressed?
3. What are the implications for the EcCoWell approach of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Does this make EcCoWell obsolete?
4. What contribution could an EcCoWell approach to learning city development make to the UN 2030 Agenda?
5. Can you suggest other ways in which integration ideas in learning city development could be boosted?

Comments on other aspects of EcCoWell are also welcome.