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Reviving Famagusta: from ghost town to eco-city? London, 21 February 2014
Posted on: 20 March 2014
By: mackene
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A half-day conference organised by the Hellenic Observatory, LSE and Contemporary Turkish Studies, LSE. Recent citizens’ initiatives in Cyprus have proposed the opening of the ghost town of Varosha and have imagined the revitalisation of the Famagusta area. This conference brought together town planners, architects, and economists to discuss the anticipated social, economic, and ecological consequences of a potential opening. A podcast of the event is available online.
Can slums be used as laboratories for urban improvement?
Posted on: 19 March 2014
By: mackene
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Slums in the Global South are often used as “laboratories of urbanism,” where initiatives are experimentally “tried out.” The following examples from Cairo, Johannesburg, Mumbai and Cali have reported success with these “laboratory” initiatives, which indicates that this approach can work in certain contexts. While this approach encourages self-invention in slums, it can also be highly controversial to use informal communities as experimental territory. The example from Curitiba suggests that much of the city’s development success comes from integrating the favela into the formal city planning, as opposed to a running separate, isolated projects.
The state of African cities 2014
Posted on: 18 March 2014
By: mackene
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Growth of cities, towns and villages in Africa is continuing unabated, further adding to the continent’s already significant urban challenges, according to a new UN-Habitat report. This report argues for a bold re-imagining of prevailing models in order to steer the ongoing transitions towards greater sustainability based on a thorough review of all available options. That is especially the case since the already daunting urban challenges in Africa are now being exacerbated by the new vulnerabilities and threats associated with climate and environmental change.
UK-India workshop on the Future Cities. New Delhi, 24-25 February 2014
Posted on: 17 March 2014
By: mackene
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The workshop consisted of presentations by both Indian and UK-based academics, funders, policymakers and industry stakeholders, providing an overview of the issues and research around ‘Urbanisation’ in both countries, followed by discussions on potential future collaborations and funding mechanisms. The aim of the event was to bring together UK stakeholders in future cities research and innovation, to create a network with the Indian side.
Ecology rights and city development plans: The case of Mumbai
Posted on: 13 March 2014
By: mackene
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Mumbai’s development plan is revised every twenty years. The revision process of the current plan is underway for preparation of a new plan for 2014-2034, to be launched some time later in 2014. Amongst many issues that active citizens and environmental groups have flagged is that of ecology and environment. This articles argues that sadly, ecology and environmental causes are considered by authorities as huge burdens on the “development” agenda, particularly so in “land starved” cities, as is Mumbai.
2 billion strong: A regenerative solution to building sustainable African cities
Posted on: 13 March 2014
By: mackene
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This document is a collaborative contribution of insights, expertise and experience made by the individuals who comprise the communiTgrow team. The title makes reference to the projected population of Africa by 2050. It offers valuable insight into communiTgrow’s mission to build new regenerative cities throughout Africa. This document was published in 2012.
Pilot Climate Change Adaptation Market Study: Turkey
Posted on: 11 March 2014
By: mackene
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This study, jointly funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation, has investigated the market opportunities for adaptation in Turkey, in the hope of guiding investment flows.
Sustainable energy for whom? Governing pro-poor, low carbon pathways to development: Lessons from solar PV in Kenya
Posted on: 7 March 2014
By: mackene
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This paper analyses the evolution of the Kenyan photovoltaics (PV) market. Considered by many to be an exemplar of private sector led development, the Kenyan PV market has witnessed the adoption of more than 300,000 solar home systems and over 100,000 solar portable lights. The notion of an entrepreneurially driven unsubsidised solar market has proved to be a powerful narrative amongst development actors who, paradoxically, have provided millions of dollars of funding to encourage the market’s development. This analysis gives important clues for designing climate and development policies, with implications for the governance of energy access pathways that are inclusive of poor and marginalised groups in low income countries.
OECD Development Pathways – Multi-Dimensional Review of Myanmar
Posted on: 5 March 2014
By: mackene
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For over 50 years the OECD has given independent advice to governments on over-arching economic issues including macroeconomic, structural and institutional policies. OECD Multi-Dimensional Country Reviews are a new tool adapted to the realities of developing economies. It will look at how a country is performing with regards to meeting the multiple objectives of growth, sustainability and equity, looking not just at the absolute levels which a country has achieved but also at how the underlying dynamics of a country’s development process affects these objectives. The primary goal of a Review is to identify the binding constraints to development in a country and suggest a strategy with specific policy recommendations and reform sequencing. This development strategy will be designed to support the multiple objectives of economic and social development and the well-being of citizens. The Reviews provide recommendations for public policy action by a country’s national authorities, although the findings will also be useful to international donors to inform their development co-operation with the country. The first in the series looks at Myanmar.
The city we need
Posted on: 5 March 2014
By: mackene
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This booklet presents nine principles that can be implemented in order to achieve sustainable urban development. It is conceived, designed and written by the members of the World Urban Campaign. The World Urban campaign is a platform of more than 70 institutions and networks coordinated by UN Habitat, and created in 2010 to define the direction that urban development must take in the coming decades.
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