Fostering Inclusive Nature-based solutions for Low-income Urban Communities

After the successful kick-off event on Fostering Sustainable Construction in Informal Urban Areas, the Peer Learning Series Urban Innovation for Just and Sustainable Cities host a second event on Fostering Inclusive Nature-based solutions for Low-income Urban Communities.

The loss of nature and biodiversity through urbanization and climate change bears heavy consequences for cities and the well-being of their residents. Most prominently shown by disasters such as floods, heat waves or smog, and its consequences which oftentimes are most heavily felt by low-income and marginalized communities. 

This discussion brings together urban experts and local governments to explore how working with nature within and around cities can protect vulnerable urban residents from climate change impacts and disasters, improve their quality of life, and reduce the impacts of cities on other valuable systems.  

This session is co-organized by GIZ and ICLEI, and will showcase projects and initiatives that combine nature-based solutions (NbS) to improve living conditions, especially for low-income urban communities. 

It will feature practical approaches on how NbS can benefit and be implemented in urban development processes. Further, the session will demonstrate how informal dwellers and communities living in poverty can be integrated into NbS projects in an equitable and just manner.

Keynote: Anna Heringer, Architect

Panelists:

• Jaqueline Mueni Katu, Senior Environment Officer, County Government of Kisumu 
• Ashali Bhandari, Managing Director, People’s Urban Living Lab, Transitions Research 
• Julie Greenwalt, Senior Climate Advisor, Cities Alliance

Moderator: Lorenzo Kihlgren, Founding Director, City Diplomacy Lab

The session is part of a Peer Learning series hosted by GIZ – on behalf of BMZ – and Cities Alliance, to strengthen local actors in their ability to act for socially just and climate-friendly urban transformation. The series will create a roadmap towards the World Urban Forum in November 2024 and discuss how subnational governments can be engaged more closely in the implementation of global development and climate agendas. Each session will feature practical approaches to just and sustainable urban planning, construction, and financing, with a focus on informal areas. Together with partners from ICLEI, UN-Habitat, Slum Dwellers International, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, the African Union for Housing Finance, and the City Diplomacy Lab, five events are planned across 2024.