Brazil

UNEA-6

Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Localising Climate Action in Cities

By |2024-03-01T15:36:23+01:00March 1st 2024|

Since COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, the role of cities and local governments in implementing climate and sustainability goals has come to the forefront. At the recently concluded United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 6) in Nairobi, the Cities Summit on February 23rd focused on localising climate action, Laura Puttkamer reports.

Urban Health

“One Healthy” Parks: Where People and Biodiversity Thrive

By |2024-01-04T16:21:31+01:00September 20th 2022|

The link between better mental health and urban green spaces is undeniable – and people want to enjoy them more. Jéssica Felappi makes a point to use this momentum to invest in quality urban green spaces that benefit people, animals and the environment.

Young Voices

Digital Surveys to Access Marginalised Views in Favela Communities

By |2024-01-04T16:28:02+01:00August 4th 2022|

The study of favelas has been characterised by traditional methods, usually consisting of paper-and-pen interviews and field research. Recent studies suggest that digital platforms are a convenient way to access marginalised populations. Maria Luisa Tarozzo Kawasaki shares her experiences with digital surveys in São Paulo's favela Vila Missionaria and explains how they caused her to develop Neibz, a software tool for urban data surveying.

WOMEN IN CITIES

Transforming Our Cities by Addressing Gender Deficit in Land Titles in Brazil

By |2024-01-04T15:44:37+01:00April 1st 2022|

Can we transform our cities by addressing the gender insecurity and inadequacy women face? In the northeast state of Pernambuco in Brazil, Espaço Feminista reflects on lessons learned from fighting for women’s land rights by achieving land regularisation in informal settlements.

The Future of the Brazilian City Statute

By |2024-01-04T15:17:00+01:00September 30th 2021|

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.

The TUMI Observatory on COVID19

By |2024-01-04T13:38:23+01:00May 7th 2020|

In cities around the world, many people come together daily to use public transport – a risky endeavor in times of a pandemic. The Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative TUMI takes a look at protective measures of urban public transport systems around the world.

Why Care About Trees in Cities?

By |2024-01-04T09:54:52+01:00April 2nd 2020|

Forests provide tremendous benefits to urban areas such as clean air and water, climate resilience and biodiversity, human health and well-being. They also provide jobs, recreation, and a suite of nature-based solutions for city infrastructure, argues the international alliance Cities4Forests.

Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas: A Status Update from the South

By |2024-01-04T08:55:40+01:00January 14th 2020|

Brazil's strategies towards its favelas have varied enormously over time. If they are to be successful in improving people's lives, it is essential that informal settlements are perceived as an integral part of a city, argue Mariana Dias Simpson and Itamar Silva.

PPP for Energy Efficiency in Favelas: A Success Story from Brazil

By |2024-01-03T16:58:35+01:00July 18th 2019|

Access to energy is considered a key factor in development and progress. Especially in informal settlements, provision of energy can be challenging. Alessandro Galimberti outlines how Public Private Partnerships that include local CSOs have been key to solving this problem in many of Brazil's favelas.

Building Rights and Municipal Finance – The Experience of São Paulo, Brazil

By |2024-01-03T14:58:43+01:00June 6th 2019|

Revenue from building rights, or land value capture, plays an important role for municipal finance. Martim O. Smolka and Camila Maleronka report on the specific challenges and achievements in the city of São Paulo.

Sao Paulo’s Strategy for Organic Waste Management

By |2024-01-03T16:19:21+01:00April 11th 2019|

In Brazil, Latin America’s largest country in terms of population, the City of Sao Paulo is committed to recycle organics. In 2015, the City embarked on a journey towards separate collection of organics, thus enabling the production of high-quality compost.

Using Forests for Water Treatment: An Example from Rio de Janeiro

By |2024-01-03T10:24:12+01:00March 21st 2019|

Ecosystem loss and degradation contributes to water insecurity worldwide – natural infrastructure strategies that protect and restore natural systems aim to halt and reverse this trend. Suzanne Ozment and Rafael Feltran-Barbieri discuss how water utilities can profit from restoring ecosystems.

The Future of Cities is Female

By |2024-01-02T18:47:44+01:00November 21st 2018|

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, URBANET features an article by Cathy McIlwaine that discusses the question of gender-based violence in cities.

Shortcomings of Brazil’s Minha Casa, Minha Vida Programme

By |2024-01-02T15:57:36+01:00September 27th 2018|

Brazil's social housing programme Minha Casa, Minha Vida prides itself on having delivered an enormous amount of affordable housing. But putting a roof over people's heads is not sufficient if the settlements are located on the far outskirts of a city, depriving residents of access to urban resources, claims Clarisse Cunha Linke.

6 Features That Make Brazil’s Affordable Housing Programme Good for People and the Environment

By |2024-01-02T16:00:01+01:00September 26th 2018|

“Minha Casa, Minha Vida” (My House, My Life) is Brazil’s largest affordable housing project to this day. Priscila Pacheco describes the buildings’ sustainability features that benefit the residents and the environment.

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