Better cities are possible: responding to the twin urban crises of climate change and inequality

A confluence of crises, including COVID-19, deepening inequalities, and climate breakdown, present a critical juncture in the evolution of cities; but there is limited focus on the urban dimensions of these intersecting crises. In the global South, ongoing economic hardships have dramatically reduced municipal revenues and budgets. Urban areas typically receive lower levels of international development investment and assistance than rural areas, and climate finance rarely flows into informal settlements. The social, economic and environmental impacts of these crises continue to be acute in cities across the global South, where informal workers, residents of informal settlements, and displaced peoples have been disproportionately affected. Local governments and grassroots organisations continue to lead responses to persistent urban poverty while simultaneously responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of climate change. Local, national and international networks have provided valuable learning exchange opportunities, however these platforms to date have limited scope and resources. There is a need for continuous cross-sectoral learning and networking so local organizations, municipal governments and development practitioners can pioneer and uptake successful approaches to climate action that also provide basic services to the urban poor and respond to severe challenges in the housing, migration and public health sectors. This networking event convened by the Human Settlements Group of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) will facilitate constructive networking between stakeholders and thought leaders working in the fields of urban inequalities, resilience, housing and migration in the context of a warming planet. This event, during which participants will hear from on-the-ground leaders and participate in smaller-group discussions, is designed for development practitioners, civil society actors, municipal government and researchers. These thought and action leaders will participate in a ‘lightning question round’ responding to key questions facing development practitioners, researchers and policy makers in diverse contexts in the Global South. The primary opportunity for networking will take place during a 45-minute engagement exercise. Participants will choose between four thematic workstations, co-hosted by an action-researcher and member of civil society: ‘just decarbonization’, ‘urban resilience,’ ‘forced displacement,’ and ‘housing justice.’ The thematic hosts will give short inputs and then facilitate discussions about the priorities for housing, migration, ending poverty, and resilience at the nexus of climate governance and action.