Construction projects, mainly in cities, have made sand the most consumed natural resource on the planet after fresh water. Each year more than 30 billion tons of sand are consumed, an amount that would take 20 million concrete trucks to transport[1]. As a result, almost a quarter of the planet’s beaches and wetlands show the effects of the massive extraction of sand[2], a … [Read more...] about Cities at the Center of the Sustainable Development Goals: Highlights of the 2018 IDB Sustainability Report
Sustainable development
Between 1950 and 2014, Latin America and the Caribbean urbanized at an unprecedented rate, increasing its urban population from 50 to 80 percent (as a percentage of the total); a figure that is expected to reach 86 percent by 2050. On the other hand, Latin American cities are extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events, droughts and floods: three-quarters of Latin Americans live in low-lying coastal areas. How to promote sustainable urban development? Learn more by reading our blog and downloading this publication.
In Santiago de los Caballeros, Rio Yaque Is Central to a Shared Vision for the Future
Tucked between the Cordillera Septentrional and Cordillera Central mountain ranges, Santiago de los Caballeros is home to the second-largest urban population in the Dominican Republic and serves as a booming agriculture and industrial trade center. Despite industrial growth, Santiago maintains its presence as an arts and culture capital of the country and retains its colonial … [Read more...] about In Santiago de los Caballeros, Rio Yaque Is Central to a Shared Vision for the Future
Preserving Paramaribo’s historical center
Preserving Paramaribo’s historical center– A challenge the Notre Dame fire just reminded us of. Since the 17thcentury, the white wooden heritage buildings have come to define Suriname’s capital city, Paramaribo. Its historic center, like others around the world, has lost population, suffered from fire outbreaksand experienced physical decay. Over the last couple of years, … [Read more...] about Preserving Paramaribo’s historical center
Are Cities like Boiling Frogs?
Heat waves and floods have frequently hit the headlines in the news in 2018-19, and there is no indication that this will end soon but might get a lot worse. Climate change has increased the strength and frequency of both extreme heat and extreme precipitation worldwide, but still surprisingly little is being done about it considering the social and physical impact caused by … [Read more...] about Are Cities like Boiling Frogs?
More and better social housing increases inclusion in Latin American and Caribbean cities
In Latin America and the Caribbean there are few consensus issues as clear as the need to produce more and better housing for low-income families. This consensus engages governments right and left, and moves both national and local governments, as well as private business and NGOs. We have around 500 million people in the region living in cities under an accelerated, defective … [Read more...] about More and better social housing increases inclusion in Latin American and Caribbean cities