MISSION
The PAGUS -Program Alternative Governance Urban Settlelments INITIATIVE aims to underline the relevance that human settlements have on climate change and the negative impacts produced by the actual uncontrolled urbanization toward metropolises and megacities and highlight the need of a renewed balance between human settlements and environment, restoring a permanent presidium spread on territories. Wild urbanization, without any respect of the existing natural peculiarities is determining permanent damages for the environment, being one of the main climate change responsible.
PAGUS is an entirely scientific, indipendent, open and entirely non-profit initiative.
WHO WE ARE
This initiative is supported by an international network of qualified scholars and experts in diverse fields that regard urban and territorial development, who sharef a new vision and holistic approach, including the societal , environmental and all other issues necessary for a sustainable and resilient settlement development , aimed to the mitigation of the existing urban/rural inequalities. We ask to all other actors as academics, experts, stakeholders and citizens to join the inititative sharing these concerns and indications.
HISTORY
The current assessments and reflections on the complex topic of territorial rebalancing and the search for alternative urban/rural development governance derive from previous studies and programs developed jointly over twenty years by most of the members of the PAGUS network. The identified basic concepts were then carried forward individually by each one in diverse other platforms and working groups, sharing the approach, methodology, main principles and guidelines with several other scholars and experts.
The PAGUS coordinator Paolo Motta is a territorial /urban planner focused on sustainable integrated development strategies and policies. Since long time he is actively engaged in opposing the current unbridled urbanization processes , searching an alternative settlement model with a holistic approach. He has acquired a wide experience in territorial and urban development projects, including intense field activity, working in national and international programs. Actually also involved on heritage safeguard, cultural tourism, renewable energy, participating as advisor and expert member within research centres, international institutions and committees.
