Urban Planning
Restrictions on the use of public space and social distancing have been key policy measures to reduce the transmission of SAR-CoV-2 and protect public health. At the time of writing, one half of the world’s population has been asked to stay home and avoid many public places. What will be the long term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public space once the restrictions have been lifted? The depth and extent of transformation is unclear, especially as it relates to the future design, use and perceptions of public space.
Share this
Urban areas are responsible for the majority of GHG emissions. The next several decades will see the construction of a large amount of new urban area globally, which means that there is still an opportunity to encourage low-carbon urban growth.
Share this
Climate change is set to exacerbate existing inequalities across regions and negatively impact already-vulnerable populations: the urban poor will be hit the hardest by the unevenly balanced climate change impacts. More than 1 billion members of the global population are slum-dwellers: they are the poorest and most vulnerable to climate risks due to overcrowding, substandard housing and living conditions, and lack of housing rights, physical infrastructure, and access to services.
Share this
Kenya is experiencing rapid urbanization. In 2016, about 14 million people (25 percent of the country’s population) were living in urban areas, but by 2030 that number is expected to increase to over 22 million, and by 2050 to 40 million—over 50 percent of the population (World Bank 2016). A lack of inclusive growth in Kenya’s cities has led to the proliferation of informal settlements and unequal access to services.
Share this
Evidence is mounting that secure property rights have positive effects for poor people in general and women in particular. The aim of this report is to review what is known about women's access to and control over land and real property in urban settings, identifying approaches to strengthening property rights that enhance women s agency, and sharing key lessons.
Share this
Urban planning and design quite literally shape the environment around us — and that environment, in turn, shapes how we live, work, play, move, and rest.
Share this
One important way for urban leaders to rise to today’s challenges is to bring biodiversity and nature into urban design through urban ecological planning. Such planning recognizes that cities depend on biodiversity and that biodiversity depends on cities. Ecological planning not only illuminates the linkages between urbanization and biodiversity, but also helps integrate this understanding into urban planning, strategy, and investment.
Share this
The Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) program on Sustainable Cities aims to promote sustainable urban development through integrated models of urban design, planning, and implementation.
Share this
This study summarizes the findings of a non-lending analytical activity carried out by the World Bank in 2004 and 2005. The work was driven by concern over the quality of the urban environment, and undertaken in a context of uncertainty on the suitability and effectiveness of Bank investment in this area, particularly in regard to components that generate little or no direct revenue, like waste disposal and sewage treatment.