WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities’ Post

🏅WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities Finalist 🏘️ In Buenos Aires, the Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once an informal settlement that was vulnerable to climate risks and lacked access to basic services, it’s now a vibrant and resilient community. How did this happen? Trust and collaboration were key. By involving residents in every step of the process, from legalizing land ownership to improving infrastructure, the city turned what could have been a displacement story into one of empowerment and sustainability. Today, Rodrigo Bueno isn't just a place to live — it's proof that when communities take the lead, cities can achieve real, lasting change. 🏚️→🏠 Dig into the full story ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cvAdbp #PrizeforCities #BuenosAires #UrbanResilience #cities #SustainableCities

🏅WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities Finalist 🏘️ In Buenos Aires, the Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once an informal settlement that was vulnerable to climate risks and lacked access to basic services, it’s now a vibrant and resilient community. How did this happen? Trust and collaboration were key. By involving residents in every step of the process, from legalizing land ownership to improving infrastructure, the city turned what could have been a displacement story into one of empowerment and sustainability. Today, Rodrigo Bueno isn't just a place to live — it's proof that when communities take the lead, cities can achieve real, lasting change🏚️→🏠 Dig into the full story ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cvAdbp #PrizeforCities #BuenosAires #UrbanResilience #cities #SustainableCities

🏅WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities Finalist 🏘️ In Buenos Aires, the Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once an informal settlement that was vulnerable to climate risks and lacked access to basic services, it’s now a vibrant and resilient community. How did this happen? Trust and collaboration were key. By involving residents in every step of the process, from legalizing land ownership to improving infrastructure, the city turned what could have been a displacement story into one of empowerment and sustainability. Today, Rodrigo Bueno isn't just a place to live — it's proof that when communities take the lead, cities can achieve real, lasting change🏚️→🏠 Dig into the full story ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cvAdbp #PrizeforCities #BuenosAires #UrbanResilience #cities #SustainableCities

It seems we all recognize the symptoms, but the underlying causes remain elusive. As Gonzalo Chong pointed out, this is an enduring issue we’ve yet to fully address. Referring back to a proposition from Habitat III (Quito 2016), it succinctly states: "An adequate house is not affordable, and an affordable house is not adequate." Consequently, our focus should extend beyond property acquisition to encompass access to financial solutions, including rental options. To ensure widespread access to financial solutions, consider the following steps: 1.      Boosting Income: While it may sound straightforward, increasing the income of the population holds significant potential. Take Peru, for instance, with its abundant opportunities in mining, fishing, agriculture, and local industries. 2.      Formalizing Informal Income: Many individuals operate within the informal economy. Efforts to transition informal income to formal channels—such as through banking services—can pave the way for housing solutions. 3.      Specialized Financial Institutions: We should encourage the growth of financial institutions specifically tailored to serve low- and middle-income families seeking mortgages. 4.      Promoting Savings Culture: Cultivating a savings mindset is crucial. Currently, many families don’t save, spending their money on non-essential items like cell phones, TVs, and clothing. We need to shift this behavior. 5.      Rethinking Subsidies: Rather than offering an initial quote for a lower mortgage interest rate, let’s explore alternative subsidy models. By addressing these aspects, we can move closer to a future where financial solutions are accessible to the majority of the population.

UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach , shared her vision for urban development in a rapidly changing world. With over two decades of experience, she emphasized the urgency of addressing global challenges like climate change, inequality, and the #housing crisis, while also creating opportunities for systemic change. Ms. Rossbach drew on her experiences in #LatinAmerica, where she had seen first-hand how innovation in urban policies could transform cities and the lives of their residents. She stressed that to drive real, lasting change, global cooperation and partnerships were essential. She reflected on how global regions, including the Global South, could lead the way in innovative #urbanplanning. Some valuable references include: 🔹Public-Private Partnerships: Various cities in Brazil: The "Minha Casa Minha Vida" program combines public and private efforts to provide affordable housing. 🔹Community Engagement: Montevideo, Uruguay: The "Participatory Budgeting" initiative allows residents to directly influence municipal budget decisions, enhancing transparency and community involvement. 🔹Addressing Informal Settlements: Buenos Aires, Argentina: The "Urbanización de Villas" program focuses on upgrading informal settlements with better infrastructure. Some of these examples are being included in a publication that we are preparing about the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in Latin America, which will be launched at the upcoming twelfth session of the #WorldUrbanForum in Cairo from 4 to 8 November 2024. Read more: https://loom.ly/LbxGEfg Watch the full interview: https://loom.ly/ak8_RM8

🏙️ Time has come to adopt a governance strategy that aligns with the dynamic rhythm of #UrbanDevelopment. 💡 By fostering resilience in Canadian cities, actively involving communities, and promoting innovative solutions, our cities won't merely withstand difficulties, but also flourish amidst them. https://lnkd.in/gTgzgRBz

🏙️ Governance that matches the pace of city life—that's the flexible and forward-looking approach to #UrbanDevelopment. 💡 By engaging communities through innovation, we're ensuring Canadian cities don't just survive challenges but thrive through them. Learn how in our latest report: https://deloi.tt/3xFtwoL

The greater metropolitan area of São Paulo is one of the ten largest metropolitan areas in the world, with an estimated 21 million people. As the largest city in Brazil and the capital of the state of São Paulo, it has political, economic and cultural significance nationally, regionally and globally. It has also been at the centre of an intense and ongoing struggle over the values that drive decisions about land and city-making processes. Social movements and civil society organisations have long been mobilising to defend housing rights and improve access to decent housing for marginalised communities. These initiatives are now being combined with efforts to decarbonise the city and reduce pollution to make city spaces more just and sustainable. This #WorldHabitatDay, find out why São Paulo is one of our frontrunner cities. ➡ https://lnkd.in/e9SM4CT6 #SaoPaolo #Housing #ClimateAction #LandRights #decarbonisation

The first panel discussion of the ULI Australia Conference "What are the challenges that policy makers are trying to address in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney?" moderated by Claire O'Rourke and featuring Maria Atkinson AM, Yu-Ning Hwang, Stuart Moseley and Tess Pickering. The panelists shared insights on the challenges and strategies for sustainable urban development in these key Australian cities. Discussions centered on policy initiatives, infrastructure development, and community engagement to address the evolving needs of growing populations. Overall, the panel provided valuable perspectives on how Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney are adapting to population growth, offering attendees actionable insights for sustainable urban planning and development. #ULIAustralia #ULIAustraliaConference #GlobalFutures

🏙️ Governance that matches the pace of city life—that’s the flexible and forward-looking approach to #UrbanDevelopment. 💡 By engaging communities through innovation, we’re ensuring Canadian cities don’t just survive challenges but thrive through them. Learn how in our latest report: https://deloi.tt/3zt5vBT