Government Decision No. 1,575 validating the National Integrated Urban Development Strategy for Resilient, Green, Inclusive and Competitive Cities 2022-2035 - Romania's Urban Policy.

Integrated Urban Development Strategies (IUDS) are a planning tool that responds to local development needs and ensures the long-term continuity of the development vision. The strategies help local administrations to become aware of the main problems/issues of the community, to formulate future priorities and, in particular, to identify the investments they need to make to access external financing and for development. In order to identify the main issues covered by these strategies and to identify the main gaps and challenges for cities in the development and implementation of urban strategies, this report is also based on an analysis of 183 strategies of cities in Romania with a population of more than 10,000 inhabitants.
A green city means ensuring that climate change mitigation strategies, such as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, along with climate change adaptation, for example by reducing vulnerabilities to climate change for all demographic categories, are well-rooted practices. To this end, local public administrations should ensure access to green and recreational areas for all, while focusing on the regeneration of urban ecosystems through investments in green technologies, urban green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. A green city involves promoting energy supply and the use of carbon-neutral technologies, especially in buildings, transport and the provision of urban services, to ensure energy efficiency. Carbon-neutral mass transport and sustainable mobility can drive real change, as they contribute to better connectivity within and to the city, while reducing the negative environmental externalities linked to mobility. Connectivity and efficiency are elements that make a city more inclusive and attractive for both businesses and citizens. Transforming the city into a green city also requires a transformation of production and consumption systems, enabling and promoting the implementation of circular economy practices. This involves promoting a sustainable use of resources that will ultimately reduce both waste and GHG emission levels.
The achievement of green and resilient, liveable and climate-smart cities will be based on: (a) limiting the phenomenon of uncontrolled urban expansion, especially in areas with demographic decline; (b) regeneration of urban areas, paying special attention to multi-family apartments from the communist era; reconversion of disused and underused industrial heritage, and reduction of vehicle congestion (parking lots); (c) investments in and activation of public open spaces, incorporating nature-based solutions and urban green infrastructure to mitigate hydrometeorological hazards; and (d) investments in reducing vulnerability to seismic risk by developing a risk management approach that incorporates buildings and communities at risk.
A fair and inclusive city means that every demographic category must have equal access to services of general interest – fair access to the benefits produced by urban areas. Adequate and affordable housing, access to infrastructure including energy supply, sewage connection and drinking water should be a reality in all neighbourhoods, and access to green space in cities should be made available to all diverse groups in society. Opportunities also mean access to jobs and opportunities to accumulate assets and wealth. Urban governance systems should be similarly accessible to all demographic categories, and city public administrations should take care to include vulnerable and marginalized categories in the established participatory processes.