Philips advocates public-private partnerships

Royal Philips Electronics has called upon civic leaders attending the World Mayors Forum 2010 at World Cities Summit 2010 to make urban health and well-being a core strategic objective.

Philips Electronics aims to highlight the role mayors play in providing their residents with safe, livable city environments that are attractive to live, work and do business in.

Speaking to a group of mayors and urban planners from more than 60 countries at the "Cities as Growth Engines in a Post-Crisis World" breakfast session at the WCS 2010, Olivier Piccolin, senior vice president and general manager, Philips Lighting Asia, said: "In today's highly competitive global environment, the world's urban population is set to soar to around four billion by 2020 placing more pressure on cities that are already struggling to cope with their existing populations".

"In this rapidly urban environment, the onus is on city planners to ensure that economic progress is supported by infrastructure development that will ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.

Issuing a call to mayors to improve the health and well-being of citizens in their cities, Mr.Piccolin said: "Philips' approach to livable cities is to create meaningful solutions, with a clear view on the needs and priorities of people today".

"We believe that livable cities and sustainable communities can be developed through private and public sector partnerships that help develop the right technology, business model, alliances and cooperation".

"Philips will continue to engage government bodies and urban planners to leverage the latest technologies to renovate urban infrastructure and build sustainable urban centers where citizens have access to a high quality of life".

"Lighting is an essential component of urban design".

"Philips, through city lighting, improves the livability of cities by increasing citizens' sense of comfort, security, safety and pride in their city".

"By switching to LED lighting solutions developed by Philips, municipalities will be able to achieve their targets for lowering energy consumption and CO2 emissions, saving as much as 40 per cent of the energy used in older lighting technologies".

"Significantly longer lifetimes for LED luminaires and lamps can also considerably lower the cost of operation, benefitting the municipality and the taxpayer alike," added Mr.Piccolin.

Research indicates that public and commercial buildings represent 60 per cent of lighting electricity consumption globally.

Through urban infrastructure renovation programs, a switch to energy efficient lighting technologies could achieve an estimated energy saving of up to 40 percent.

Philips, through city lighting, improves the livability of cities by increasing citizens' sense of comfort, security and safety with lighting that's good for the planet, while helping cities enhance their identities, image and appeal.

Philips has a proven track record in driving private-public sector partnerships and has been actively engaging mayors and urban planners via forums such as the UN Leadership Forum on Climate Change.

Philips also has several global partnerships that enhance the health and wellbeing of communities.

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