Cities Alliance is publishing Capturing the Opportunity: Rapid Urbanization, which explores how the circular economy and climate change mitigation can improve socio-economic conditions in developing cities, and the role of integrated and comprehensive urban planning approaches. We have launched the Spanish version of “Circular Economy”. This publication explores the intertwined nature of the circular economy, urbanization and poverty. To find solutions to these challenges, we consider how existing approaches to circularity and the informal economy can be incorporated and strengthened. Check this page for more information in English.
Seizing the opportunity – rapid urbanization and the circular economy: the intersection of climate change and poverty
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The 21st century is characterized by rapid urbanization and the negative effects of climate change, two interrelated challenges that require both immediate responses and innovative solutions. As hubs of human activity, cities have a key responsibility for delivering on the climate change commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement and expressed in the Sustainable Development Goals.
In charting a path towards a sustainable future, it is important to recognize the serious urban poverty situation in the rapidly urbanizing countries of the Global South. These countries are at the forefront of both the effects of climate change and rapid, largely unplanned urban growth. Ensuring climate justice for these vulnerable communities is not only critical to their well-being and livelihoods, but also to the collective resilience and sustainability of entire cities.
Exploring circularity and the informal economy in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is critical to finding solutions that reconcile the urgent challenges of urbanization and climate change mitigation.
A circular economy, which decouples economic growth from resource consumption and its associated environmental impacts, has the potential to improve social value while protecting the Earth’s delicate ecosystems. Strategies that promote emissions reduction, resource reuse, maintenance, repair, restoration, remanufacturing and recycling are determined to ensure the continued use of resources at their highest value and a sustainable and prosperous future. plays a role.
Adopting a circular economy model requires a paradigm shift away from the traditional linear economy take-make-dispose system. Instead, we must adopt design proposals, business models, and policies that prioritize renewable materials, extend product lifecycles, share resources, and close closed material loops. It also facilitates a shift towards repairable and durable products and fosters a culture of maintenance and repair.
Empowering residents in the poorest parts of cities is a fundamental catalyst for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Integrated policies that focus on local climate risks and community-centered urban planning and management can strengthen resilience across cities. By investing in education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, these communities can drive positive change and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive urban future.
This publication, produced jointly by Cities Alliance, Arup and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), explores the complexities of transitioning to a circular economy, considering case studies and challenges from a variety of countries. I’ll explore.
