RTPI International
RTPI and the international dimension of planning
RTPI is an international organisation. Five per cent of its 23,000 members live and work outside the UK, and it accredits planning courses overseas. The Institute has an International Committee and a dedicated International Affairs Officer.
RTPI is an active member of ECTP-CEU, the European Council of Spatial Planners and the Commonwealth Association of Planners. It is active in the Global Planners Network and with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
Our International Contacts page will tell you more.
RTPI houses the UK Contact Point for ESPON (the European Observation Network on Territorial Development and Cohesion): the ESPON CP web-page explains this and offers a wide range of contacts, articles and references to help link EU spatial planning policy to our members' daily lives.
NEWS
UK-German co-operation: As part of its programme of contact with ARL, the German Academy of Spatial Research and Regional Planning, British and German academics and practitioners met in January 2010 for a post-Copenhagen review of planning and climate change. Read the report.
In October 2011 they met again, this time to look at the scope for Integrated Spatial Strategies: the full report is on the ARL website complete with excellent slide presentations.
CAP: Ann Skippers is now Vice President (Europe) of the Commonwealth Association of Planners. Speaking after the election, the CAP Secretary General Clive Harridge said "I am delighted that Ann has been elected to the Vice President position. Ann brings tremendous enthusiasm to the post and she will be a great asset in helping CAP progress our exciting range of activities and events addressing the challenging planning issues facing the Commonwealth". Ann has a background in local government in England and was President of RTPI in 2010. Ann is a Director of the consultancy Charisma Spatial Planning Ltd and Vice-Chair of the RTPI International Committee. On taking up her appointment Ann said: "It's a great privilege for me to be elected as Vice President and to have the opportunity of working alongside a very committed group of people around the world. I'm looking forward to taking on a new and exciting challenge."
The Global Report on Human Settlements (GRHS) is a key UN-HABITAT publication every two years focusing on one main topic. In 2009 it was Planning Sustainable Cities and at the London launch, RTPI took the opportunity to make its Chief Editor, Dr. Naison Mutizwa-Mangiza, an Honorary Member of the Institute in recognition of his dedication to research and policy in sustainable development. He is pictured right talking to a Young Planner at the Planning Convention. Read more about the Global Report on Human Settlements 2009 and its emphasis on the value of planning.
GRHS 2011 is on the equally vital topic of Cities and Climate Change. The report is optimistic about change if action is taken now: well planned cities with efficient urban transport provision and solid adaptation and mitigation strategies can minimise their impact on climate and provide clear economic and social opportunities for their inhabitants. To see detailed information about the report (e.g. the very useful background briefings), click here. To download the abridged version free of charge, click here.
DISASTERS, RISK REDUCTION AND RECOVERY NEWS
Earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11th March 2011 The Development from Disasters Network continuously monitors the news coming in after geophysical disasers; we are monitoring it for planning news Read more. RTPI advice to planners wanting to know what they can do to help is here.
Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand The New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) has a news feed of information on the effects of the earthquake (Magnitude 6.3) on 22nd February and is gearing up to offer hands-on planning expertise after the search-and-rescue operation.Read more
Queensland Floods The Planning Institute of Australia now provides a useful round-up of flood-recovery resources on its Policy pages.
When natural disaster strikes, planners round the world want to know what they can do to help. Click here to go to the RTPI feature on the Haiti earthquake disaster in January 2010
Planners and others with a special interest in issues of international development and planning are encouraged to join the International Development Network. IDN has been instrumental in producing a booklet about the role of the built environment professions in international disaster response: you can download a copy here.
RTPI and CAP research for the Global Planners Network
Here's how RTPI and CAP are taking forward the GPN commitment to assessing the world's capacity for planning. We began by devising a tool to answer the questions: Where are the planners? Who are they? What challenges face them? What tools do they need to do their job?
In March 2008 RTPI and CAP launched their on-line self-diagnostic tool and invited planners from around the world to assess the capacity for planning in their country and the priorities for strengthening it. Within 5 months, over 1250 planners in over 100 countries responded by completing the tool. Taken together, these responses provide a rich account of what it means to practise planning throughout the world as volunteered by a good cross-section of the international planning community. What stands out is the extraordinary variety of issues that planners deal with in all kinds of development environments.
When the Global Planners Network met for its biennial Congress in Zhenjiang, China (31 October-2 November 2008), RTPI sent a delegation led by the President Janet O'Neill and including the researchers Will French and Lucy Natarajan. They presented the first findings of the capacity study to the Congress - the link on the research web-page will lead you to their report and its summary.
The work on the world's capacity for planning continues and has moved into a new phase. First, there are some detailed reports: a survey of the responses from Latin America, a briefing on issues of poverty and inequality, and an assessment of skills required. Next, responding to many heartfelt requests in the responses, we are working towards the creation of an on-line community of planners: a website where planners can exchange knowledge and experience, raise questions and start discussions. To read the latest newsletter about this part of the project, please click here.
Review of international strategic priorities
The UK Department for International Development has published a new White Paper on International Development, "Building our Common Future" (download PDF - 4 MB). It argues that rather than turn away when things get tough, we need to redouble our efforts - and that development is in our shared interest. Announcing it, Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, said "This White Paper will ensure that new and additional finance is made available, over and above our aid commitment to reach 0.7 per cent. of gross national income. We will also increase our investment in helping developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change."
Suppose you had the ear of the Secretary of State for a few minutes. What would you say to him, particularly about the distinctive contribution of planning to international development? We would like to know your views and your priorities. As a stimulus to discussion, you can see an introduction to a new Institute international strategy here on the RTPI website. It is easy to comment – just scroll down to the end of the article to add your view.
World Town Planning Day - past and future
Work is about to begin on organising an international online conference for World Town Planning Day in 2012 - follow progress on our WTPD page.
| Title/Synopsis |
|---|
| No items |
Latest Articles
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 06-Mar-12 | Voluntary work, sponsored travel and service overseas |
| 06-Mar-12 | Finding planning employment in New Zealand |
| 05-Mar-12 | Finding Work In Australia |
| 05-Mar-12 | Planning Exchanges |
| 02-Mar-12 | Working in the UK |
| 02-Mar-12 | Working abroad |
| 02-Mar-12 | Global Planners Network |
| 29-Feb-12 | World Town Planning Day |
| 16-Feb-12 | Disasters: immediate help |
| 15-Feb-12 | RTPI International Committee |
