Climate change is increasing the magnitude and frequency of extreme events, contributing to the idea of environmental threats as a third dimension to the famous saying “nothing is certain but death and taxes”. These catastrophes affect cities' fiscal capacities, burdening municipal revenues and ultimately imposing higher taxes and painful austerity. Mayors end up being in the … [Read more...] about Ten Ideas to Improve Urban Resilence
Cities LAB
The Cities Laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is our platform for innovation, design, and experimentation for the sustainable urban development in Latin America and the Caribbean. We lead innovative prototypes that arise from co-design processes between officials of the IDB and local actors (community, academia, government); in which citizen participation is key. From these urban interventions, we evaluate the experiences, analyzing the success of the cases with the objective of sharing knowledge, expanding or replicating the implemented pilots. Learn more by reading our blog and visiting the Cities LAB's web.
How to Finance Climate Action in Cities? Effective and Innovative Instruments for Latin America and the Caribbean
In the Housing and Urban Development Division of the IDB, we have organized the webinar series "Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean as Catalysts for Climate Action Post-COP28" to support municipalities in the region in understanding the opportunities and challenges of climate change management in the urban agenda, delving into aspects of governance, gender and equity, and … [Read more...] about How to Finance Climate Action in Cities? Effective and Innovative Instruments for Latin America and the Caribbean
The most read in 2023 about housing and urban development
We have just started a new year, and it's time to share the highlights from our blog throughout 2023. Guided by our experts, consultants, and prominent collaborators, last year we addressed multiple topics of interest and current relevance. In this article, we share the top ten, covering everything from how cities can support climate action to issues of urban discrimination, … [Read more...] about The most read in 2023 about housing and urban development
How to identify heat islands in cities? Discover URSA, the new intelligent software from the IDB
Walking is one of the most recommended physical activities by doctors, especially for those who do not engage in much exercise. However, doing so in the summer on the streets of cities, especially in their central areas, can be a dangerous task for certain groups. Who hasn't suddenly felt the effects of a heatstroke? The heat in cities is not only present in their central … [Read more...] about How to identify heat islands in cities? Discover URSA, the new intelligent software from the IDB
URSA: A Tool to Guide Urban Planning with Satellite Data
The way our cities are designed and planned significantly impacts our quality of life. Whether we are aware of it or not, factors such as commute time, access to parks and green areas, availability of schools, and pedestrian zones all contribute to our well-being. So, why not leverage all available means to enhance our cities? At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), we … [Read more...] about URSA: A Tool to Guide Urban Planning with Satellite Data