Site Visits LEAD Europe

LEAD aims to provide ‘behind the scenes’ access to leadership for sustainable development in action.

Participants visit carefully selected sites and stakeholders in and around module locations.

The site visits are an opportunity for participants to:

• test and apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during the training from the speakers, skills modules and each other.
• explore sustainability in practice.
• start the process of making sense of what is happening to move us closer to achieving a sustainable future.

Our site visits are selected to demonstrate the real-world challenges faced by different stakeholders.

Learning Objectives

Following the site visits you will be able to:

• See and interpret the challenges of sustainable development from different stakeholder perspectives
• List some of the challenges and opportunities of moving towards a sustainable future
• Use listening and questioning skills to engage local stakeholders in meaningful dialogue
• Capture information and feedback from stakeholders accurately and transparently

Examples of LEAD Europe site visits

London

Argent Kings Cross Development: Kings Cross is one of London's most significant regeneration areas, being developed by a company with sustainability values at its core.

BedZED eco-village: The multi-award winning Beddington Zero Energy Developmentis the UK's largest eco-village and the most coherent example of sustainable living in the UK.

Living Roofs: Green roofs are rapidy gaining recognition as an important climate change adaptation tool for sustainable urbanisation. We take to the rooftops of London for a closer look.

Clapton Park Estate Community Garden: This local initiative in Hackney, a deprived area of London, demonstrates the motivational power of shared vision and inclusive action.

Click here for the London Module 2008 site visit details.

Brussels

Renewable Energy House: At the Renewable Energy House, a central point for renewable energy issues in Europe’s capital Brussels, participants witnessed the integration of innovative renewable energy technologies in an old building. The REH creates synergies and allows easy access to information on renewable energy for stakeholders and the interested public.

European Parliament: While visiting the European Parliament, participants were engaged in a dialogue with a group of expert and visionary MEPs on the EU’s leadership role towards a sustainable future. Panellists included MEP Anders Wijkman, MEP Claude Turmes, MEP Satu Hassi, and MEP Chris Davies.

Click here for the Brussels Module 2008 site visits details.

Mexico

Water and Sanitation: A range of sites, including water reservoirs, treatment plants and deep drainage points to explore the challenges and opportunities of managing and governing the demand and supply of water in a growing megacity.

Energy Production and Consumption: Sites that demonstrate how Mexico City is meeting and securing consumer needs and in producing forms of energy that are efficient and renewable. Also alternative energy-saving measures such as solar heating and improving waste management, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Land Use and Urban Development: A range of site visits demonstrated the diverse range of projects involved in both development and conservation of Mexico City’s vast terrain. Participants engaged with users of land and water in designated conservation areas, and met with beneficiaries of a social housing development project.

Transport and Urban Mobility: Participants used various forms of transport in the city and encountered some of the opportunities that are being developed to improve services and mitigate the impact that different modes of transport can have on the urban environment. This included a privately-run university transport project, and a cycling initiative with a non-government organisation (NGO).

Click here for a summary of the many Mexico City International Session site visits.