“There are huge health risks in not dealing with solid waste” – An interview with Graham Alabaster from UN-Habitat (video)
What are the linkages between solid waste management and urban health? And how can city governments improve waste management systems to reduce health risks? On the occasion of World Health Day, URBANET talked to Graham Alabaster, Chief of Sanitation and Waste Management at UN-Habitat.
Cities are Engines of Transformation – and Urban Health is the Fuel
The benefits of cities are rarely distributed equitably. Particularly for the poor and disadvantaged, cities have a high rate of health hazards and risks. To address these dangers, city leaders need to take a multidisciplinary, rights-based approach. Maria Jose Amilibia argues that by leveraging cities’ unique opportunity to scale up essential services, we can truly transform the urban health landscape.
Managing Water in Secondary Cities: Interview with Mathew Kurian
As World Water Day approaches, URBANET interviewed Mathew Kurian of UN University about managing water supplies in secondary cities. Although often overshadowed by megacities, secondary cities face slightly different—but just as significant—water challenges as their larger neighbours. Kurian argues that secondary cities could be important laboratories for innovative financing mechanisms, but that we must first disrupt the entrenched dis-incentives that promote business as usual.
Antananarivo, Madagascar: Partnership for water access transformation
In order to reach the Sustainable Development Goals related to water, sanitation and hygiene, the government of Madagascar has drawn up an action plan and commissioned JIRAMA, the country’s state-owned electricity and water provider, to improve access to safe water supply.
Why should we deal with abandoned urban spaces?
Cities are constantly transforming, and societal development leaves marks in urban space. When industries decline or parts of cities are abandoned due to migration, urban wastelands or gaps in the built environment are left behind. How can cities make use of these empty spaces? Anja Graner looks at repurposing wastelands and the “dense city”.
Paving the way for sustainable urban mobility: TUMI celebrates one-year anniversary
From Cairo to Brasilia to Kaohsiung: the TUMI initiative offers exciting opportunities for international collaboration and learning on sustainable urban mobility. Launched at Habitat III last year, TUMI now celebrates its one-year anniversary. For URBANET, Armin Wagner takes stock of what has been achieved so far.