In a world beset by multiple crises, mayors are multitaskers, crisis managers and frontline responders – and crises never wait in line. Katja Dörner, Mayor of Bonn and ICLEI Co-Chair for Climate Action on circular cities and Bonn’s promising path to becoming zero-waste.
On the 20th anniversary of the City Statute, it is essential to reflect on its legacy of social inclusion in Brazilian cities, recognise its strategic role within national urban frameworks throughout the world and understand how a more radical transformation of our cities can be inspired by mechanisms that this legislation offers.
Cities have immense potential to foster capacities for lifelong learning, argues Raúl Valdés-Cotera from the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.
"Kulunas" – youth gangs – have been part of Kinshasa's neighbourhoods for two decades. Marc-André Lagrange and Thierry Vircoulon analyse their origins and why their ever more violent repression is not going to increase safety in Kinshasa.
Efforts for infrastructure development will be in vain if the public is not involved in the process. Olive Kabatwairwe with meaningful insights and best practices from Uganda.
Local authorities often perceive publishing information about their activities as a tedious responsibility. But Ukrainian cities prove that digital openness is a chance for rising investments, growth of trust, and increased human resources. By Olena Ogorodnik from Transparency International Ukraine
Translating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into practice at the local level remains a significant challenge for many countries. Dr Firdaus Ara Hussain and Redita Rokib on the challenges in Bangladesh – and on a promising model pursued by the Government of Bangladesh to overcome them.
Many transitional cities have worked hard to develop planning tools that make a difference in people’s lives. And while Colombia’s “City of Eternal Spring”, Medellín, has made significant progress, it should now take it to the next level to become fully compatible with global sustainability agendas. By Santiago Mejía-Dugand
Localising the global Sustainable Development Goals presents key challenges to policymakers everywhere. An ‘Urban Equality lens’ however, may help navigate some of the tensions, contradictions, and gaps in the Agenda. By KNOW Investigators
Reducing carbon emissions is no longer enough to reduce the effects of climate change, making climate adaptation – the process of adjustment to climate change and entailing hazards – necessary. Cristina Bernal Aparicio takes a look at Spain's climate adaptation plan, its flaws, and its potential.
Challenges to residents, resources, and the environment alike: Mohammad Asfour shares his observations on Jordan's rapid urbanisation.
Despite scientific evidence of the relation between air pollution and premature deaths, cities are hesitant to take bold action for clean air. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen and Sasha Khomenko on reasons and perspectives.
Nairobi is recognised to be among the rapidly urbanising and growing economies in East and Central Africa. Eunice Jimmy reviews the city's spatial, economic, and social structure, uncovering its dual nature of formal/informal, planned/unplanned, and connected/disconnected fragments, hence Nairobi's spatial fragmentation.
After years of ongoing crisis, the once called temporary measures at the EU borders have become constant ones: the Fortress Europe has solidified. Isabell Enssle presents the effects the fortified border has for communities and public spaces from the North Macedonian-Greek borderline to the city of Thessaloniki, linking them with a tool kit for inclusive public spaces.
Juanita Alvarez outlines how the Green Building Councils of Latin America employed Public Private Partnerships to join forces for sustainable development.
