In this report, ESCAP explores the future of urbanization in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dynamic shifts in the region’s urban landscape. It highlights the region’s demographic transformations, including population ageing, and the persistent challenges of urban poverty and inequality. The analysis covers urban areas of all sizes, …
This report is the third and the latest edition of the series since 2018 that take stock of climate action by cities, regions and businesses and their global aggregate impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The 2021 edition focuses on the progress of non-state and subnational actors toward their emissions reduction …
It is becoming increasingly clear that the complex and interrelated challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and rising inequality will not be solved without a fundamental transformation of our societies. Far-reaching changes are needed to our technologies and infrastructures, cultures and lifestyles, as well as adaptations to the corresponding governance …
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to influence Europe's transition towards more environmentally sustainable urbanisation patterns for years to come. European cities have been at the forefront of the crisis from the very beginning, not only bearing the worst impacts but also becoming key actors in advocating for a green and …
Major Ghanaian cities are at a critical point that will determine whether they become an engine of or a burden on the country’s development. Ghana’s urban areas contribute to more than two-thirds of the country’s gross national product, and cities will continue to grow rapidly, especially those other than capital …
The impact of a global pandemic on the world is still being felt. But which cities dealt with it the best and where does yours rank? The Liveability Index examines 140 cities worldwide to quantify the challenges presented to an individual’s lifestyle in the past year, for the first time …
This publication showcases 100 projects and programs tackling climate change and its impacts on people and the environment in cities across Asia and the Pacific. The climate actions are drawn from multiple sectors—renewable energy, carbon finance, transport, land use, information and communication technology, climate action plans, building energy efficiency, solid …
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an opportunity and the potential for national urban policy (NUP) to shape more resilient, green and inclusive cities as part of countries recovery packages. The scale and urgency of pressing and emerging urban challenges has become evident and has given prominence to NUP as a …
The World Social Report 2021 points to the ways in which rural development can be reset to achieve sustainable development. It calls for moving rural development to the centre of attention, instead of relegating it as an appendage of urban development; for ending the rural-urban divide through the adoption of …
Asian cities face the greatest risk from environmental issues including air pollution and natural disasters, according to a report by research firm Verisk Maplecroft. Of the 100 most vulnerable cities, 99 are in Asia, according to the report. Of those, 37 are in China and 43 are in India, the …
This report shows how 2020 marked ten years of cities reporting the climate and environmental data through the CDP-ICLEI Unified Reporting System. It presents how in 2020, there has been a 17x increase in city disclosure since 2011 — 812 cities have disclosed, compared to just 48 in 2011. It …
This practice note looks at the WRI India approach of developing a powerful value accelerator platform to scale innovative solutions for gaps in service delivery in collaboration with the quadruple helix stakeholders of government, private sector, academia and citizens. This note assesses the existing innovation ecosystem and the potential for …
This book is a collaborative effort born under the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to address the uncertain future of cities. After an online series of the same name, where Emergency Architecture & Human Rights, Think Fast: a Collective Urban Response to COVID-19, Copenhagen Architecture Festival, and multiple practitioners and …
Cities are critical to the global energy transition. The most visible energy transitions today occur in major cities. With their comparatively large revenue bases, big cities have the regulatory frameworks and infrastructure to scale up renewables and meet emission reduction targets. Small and medium-sized cities (with less than one million …
The energy transition in cities promises to transform the urban environment, with impacts that extend well beyond the energy sector. It will shape transport, buildings, land use and a host of other sectors. Even within the energy sector, the adoption of renewable energy involves more than a shift in energy …
Buildings are the most prominent feature of most cities, occupying large areas to provide homes and services for residents. Buildings are also among the biggest users of energy and contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. Renewables have impacts that extend well beyond the energy sector, leading to greater emphasis on …
A necessary extension of the concept of Resource Recovery and Reuse with an even higher priority is the prevention and reduction of waste. One concern, in particular, is food waste, which constitutes the largest share of human waste. Target 12.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to …
This brief gives an overview of different country case studies where social protection (SP) systems have been used to address risks arising from climate-related hazards in urban spaces. It also explores how the existing SP systems in Tanzania, Bangladesh and Ethiopia could be modified, given adequate resources, to become shock …
UN-Habitat’s new report - Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future – demonstrates how cities can reduce the impact of future pandemics and become more equitable, healthy and environmentally friendly. Urban areas have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis, with 95 per cent of …
Bangladesh is often referred to as the “ground zero for climate change”. The topography and location of the country make it highly prone to extreme weather events, including cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion and storm surges. Socio-economic factors, such as a strong dependence on agriculture and other resource-dependent sectors, and a …
This report titled “Re FORM: Lessons for Urban Governance futures from the Pandemic” is based on the study which was undertaken by Scaling City Institutions for India (SCI-FI), Centre for Policy Research (CPR). The study explores the impact of COVID-19 on public spaces, housing and slums, water and sanitation, public …
