Topic: Governo local

Sete tendências que urbanistas precisam saber em 2025

Por Jon DePaolis, Janeiro 16, 2025

Este conteúdo foi desenvolvido em uma parceria entre o Lincoln Institute e a American Planning Association (APA), como parte da iniciativa APA Foresight. Ele foi originalmente publicado pela APA na Planning.

Nas palavras imortais de Ferris Bueller, “A vida passa muito depressa. Se você não curtir de vez em quando, a vida passa e você nem vê”.

Tenha isso em mente quando descobrir que sua próxima viagem em um fim de semana prolongado (o que pode acontecer todo fim de semana, já que mais e mais empresas estão adotando semanas de trabalho de quatro dias) será em um avião movido a energia solar. Ou quando você adquirir sua próxima ferramenta multifuncional, feita de um plástico capaz de alterar a forma e as características ao ser aquecido ou resfriado.

Com um mundo mudando mais rápido do que um ciclo de notícias de 24 horas pode acompanhar, é mais importante do que nunca que os urbanistas fiquem um passo à frente dos problemas e preparem as comunidades à medida que as mudanças ocorrem.

Relatório de Tendências para Urbanistas 2025

Em janeiro, a American Planning Association (APA) publicou o Relatório de Tendências para Urbanistas 2025 em parceria com o Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. A equipe de prospecção da APA e a Comunidade de Prospecção de Tendências da APA identificaram tendências existentes, emergentes e potenciais que os urbanistas devem conhecer e entender para que possam agir, se preparar e aprender.

O relatório inclui cerca de cem tendências e sinais, explorando-os em cenários futuros, aprofundamentos, podcasts e muito mais. Aqui estão algumas das tendências que você precisa conhecer.

1. Mais Obstáculos Habitacionais: Custos de Seguros, Impactos Climáticos e Mudanças Populacionais

A população está crescendo  muito mais lentamente nos EUA do que nas décadas anteriores, e o Census Bureau projeta um crescimento populacional de apenas 9,7% nos próximos 75 anos. O conceito de família também está mudando. Lares com pessoas que moram sozinhas e casais sem filhos (incluindo casais do mesmo gênero) agora representam  mais da metade de todos os domicílios dos EUA. O número de famílias com um único pai ou mãe e de famílias multigeracionais também está crescendo, assim como a prática de morar com colegas de quarto.

Menos de um quinto das famílias dos EUA agora se encaixam no modelo tradicional de “família nuclear”, e os conceitos convencionais sobre os domicílios continuam a evoluir. Mas uma coisa não mudou nos últimos anos: encontrar moradia acessível está ficando mais difícil. De acordo com a pesquisa da  Zillow, as famílias precisam ter uma renda US$ 47 mil superior à de quatro anos atrás para pagar uma moradia unifamiliar. A inflação, as altas taxas de juros e a escassez de moradias acessíveis colocaram o Sonho Americano fora do alcance de muitas pessoas, com a casa própria agora quase 50% mais cara  do que o aluguel.

Enquanto isso, as cidades do Nordeste e do Centro-Oeste dos EUA registram perdas populacionais, enquanto os estados do Sul e do Oeste continuam a ganhar moradores,  mesmo que os impactos das mudanças climáticas estejam atingindo essas áreas com mais força. A carga tributária relativa e o menor custo de vida são provavelmente fatores essenciais. Na verdade, os impactos drásticos das mudanças climáticas estão ameaçando a saúde, a segurança e a vida de milhões de pessoas, com 34%  das pessoas nos EUA vivendo em áreas em risco de desastres naturais e inundações e 41%  das unidades de aluguel vulneráveis às mudanças climáticas.

As perdas relacionadas às mudanças climáticas também estão gerando caos no mercado de seguros. As seguradoras estão aumentando substancialmente as taxas em muitas áreas e têm demonstrado relutância ou se recusado a fazer seguros de imóveis em áreas de risco. As grandes seguradoras se retiraram da Flórida, da Louisiana e da Califórnia, um estado em que a gigante dos seguros State Farm parou de aceitar novas apólices devido à “exposição a catástrofes que cresce rapidamente”. (Cenários futuros no Relatório de Tendências podem ajudar os urbanistas a explorarem como essa situação pode evoluir nos próximos dez anos.)

Para reduzir os impactos do mercado de seguros para os proprietários de imóveis, os reguladores podem adotar estratégias  como exigir transparência do setor de seguros e proibir o “bluelining”, o aumento dos prêmios ou a retirada de serviços em áreas de alto risco pelas seguradoras. A Associação Nacional de Comissários de Seguros adotou recentemente uma  Estratégia Nacional de Resiliência Climática para Seguros para orientar tanto reguladores quanto seguradoras, e a Flórida aprovou várias leis com o objetivo de reduzir os prêmios de seguro e fornecer subsídios de mitigação para proprietários de imóveis e de propriedades multifamiliares.

2. Espaços Públicos para o Salsicha e Também Para o Scooby

À medida que cresce a necessidade de espaços públicos, os chamados “terceiros lugares”, algumas cidades estão revendo como eles podem se adaptar ou onde novos espaços  podem ser criados. Isso inclui levar em conta espaços para pets, especialmente considerando que mais lares nos EUA têm animais de estimação do que crianças. A previsão é de que a indústria global de animais de estimação atinja quase US$ 500 bilhões até 2030. As cidades podem obter uma certificação  “pet-friendly” (“acolhedora de animais de estimação”) para atrair mais turistas, e o número de parques para cães nos EUA está em franca expansão, com um aumento de 40% no desenvolvimento de parques públicos para cães entre 2009 e 2020. Em São Francisco, as construtoras estão incluindo  áreas específicas para cães perto de complexos habitacionais para atrair compradores.

3. A Água é Preciosa e Está Ameaçada

O Golfo do México está com a temperatura mais alta da era moderna, causando tempestades de rápida formação, como os furacões Helene e Milton no ano passado, que devastaram a Costa Leste dos Estados Unidos. Enquanto isso, as temperaturas na Grande Barreira de Corais  atingiram os níveis mais altos em quatro séculos, enquanto a expansão oceânica  causada pelo calor foi responsável por um terço da elevação do nível do mar em todo o mundo. No Golfo Pérsico, a água é escassa e valiosa , à medida que o crescimento populacional e o desenvolvimento atingem níveis recordes. Globalmente, um quarto de todas as plantações de alimentos  está ameaçado por fornecimentos de água não confiáveis ou altamente precários. Ao mesmo tempo, as correntes de água no Ártico e no Atlântico parecem estar diminuindo, com o potencial de mudar os padrões climáticos e colocar em risco regiões produtoras de alimentos.

Enquanto isso, as operações comerciais em larga escala de engarrafamento de água, impulsionadas por investimentos privados, estão representando um risco crescente para a estabilidade das fontes locais de água nos EUA, assim como o crescimento de data centers  de inteligência artificial (IA), que necessitam de grandes quantidades de água para resfriamento. Isso está ameaçando reservatórios locais e regionais, aquíferos e fontes de água doce, e alguns lugares estão implementando regulamentos de uso da água  como resposta.

4. Poderíamos Evoluir Para Um Mundo Pós-trabalho?

A pandemia de COVID-19 e o aumento do trabalho remoto fizeram com que os padrões tradicionais de trabalho ficassem mais flexíveis e menos definidos. Considere a crescente popularidade das “workcations” (férias com trabalho) e “bleisure” (negócios com lazer), que sugerem que o trabalho e a vida pessoal podem se sobrepor cada vez mais. Nem todos gostam disso; a Austrália promulgou uma lei de “direito de desconexão” para os trabalhadores em agosto de 2024.

Experimentos de semana de trabalho de quatro dias,  implementados globalmente e nos EUA, mostram que a redução de horas pode levar a maior produtividade e maior satisfação com a vida. Os trabalhadores também pensam assim. Cerca de 80% disseram que seriam mais felizes e igualmente produtivos se abandonassem o horário tradicional, de acordo com o estudo Work in America de 2024.

Ao mesmo tempo, nossa relação com o trabalho está mudando. Um estudo do Pew Research Center de 2023 revelou uma nova tendência: apenas quatro em cada dez trabalhadores nos EUA enxergam o trabalho que realizam como central para sua identidade geral. Essa mudança é reforçada pela ideia de ver o trabalho como um verbo (algo que você faz) em vez de um substantivo (algo que você é, como um contador ou técnico).

As atitudes em relação ao lazer também estão mudando. Se as pessoas usarem o tempo livre para buscar projetos pessoais ou paixões, o lazer poderá substituir o trabalho como foco principal na vida. Com a porcentagem de americanos com mais de 65 anos prevista para atingir 23% até 2025, esses aposentados atuais e futuros também estão buscando aproveitar ao máximo a próxima etapa de suas vidas.

5. A Fadiga Digital (E a Reação Contrária) Começa a se Instalar

A fadiga digital é real. Ela está se manifestando de várias maneiras, desde uma crescente desconfiança em relação às notícias online e preocupações crescentes com o conteúdo gerado por IA até o desencanto com os aplicativos de namoro online. As escolas estão proibindo telefones celulares nas salas de aula e os estados estão restringindo o acesso das crianças a aplicativos sociais. O cirurgião-geral dos EUA chegou a sugerir que as plataformas de mídia social deveriam exibir rótulos de advertência semelhantes aos encontrados nos maços de cigarro. Em julho, o Senado aprovou o primeiro grande  projeto de lei de segurança na Internet para crianças  em duas décadas.

Essas medidas refletem um esforço mais amplo para equilibrar os benefícios da tecnologia com a necessidade de estar mais consciente do bem-estar da geração mais jovem. Para os urbanistas, essa tendência sugere uma necessidade maior de equilibrar o engajamento público digital com interações presenciais, promovendo uma comunicação significativa e empatia dentro das comunidades. Isso inclui criar oportunidades presenciais para envolver os jovens nos processos de planejamento, o que pode ajudar a conectar essas gerações com as comunidades e entre si.

6. Fungo é o Futuro

A cultura pop pode levar você a pensar que uma era dos fungos marca o nosso fim, mas os benefícios ecológicos e de saúde dos fungos devem fazer mais do que apenas “empreendedores de cogumelos” pularem de alegria. Os fungos podem nos ajudar a reduzir a dependência de combustíveis fósseis,  diminuir o colesterol, auxiliar em transplantes de órgãos bem-sucedidos, combater a poluição por plásticos, eliminar micropoluentes da água contaminada e promover a transição para sistemas alimentares mais sustentáveis. Em 2023, as vendas de cogumelos nos EUA atingiram US$ 1,04 bilhão, e o mercado  deve triplicar  nos próximos dez anos. À medida que os urbanistas buscam soluções baseadas na natureza para ambientes urbanos, os fungos podem se tornar um parceiro crucial na criação de espaços de vida melhores para todos.

7. Equilibrar a Demanda de Energia Verde com os Direitos Indígenas

Com o aumento do interesse em energia renovável, também cresceu a necessidade de minerar os minerais e metais brutos exigidos por essas tecnologias, e algumas estimativas apontam que a demanda quadruplicará  até 2040. Esses minerais incluem lítio, cobalto e silício, além de mais de uma dúzia de elementos terras-raras. No entanto, a mineração vem com inúmeros  custos humanos e ambientais, muitas vezes ocorrendo em áreas desfavorecidas e às custas delas. Isso pode colocar os interesses do governo e do setor privado contra os povos indígenas, principalmente por meio da extração e  exploração de recursos  em terras tribais.

Mais da metade dos projetos de extração de materiais para a transição energética estão em terras indígenas ou próximas a elas, e os povos indígenas são  diretamente impactados  por mais de um terço dos conflitos ambientais globais, seja por perda de paisagem, território ou meios de subsistência. Alguns esforços estão em andamento para fortalecer a soberania indígena.

Central para a questão (e para as potenciais soluções) estão o uso e a posse da terra, assim como a capacidade de aplicar diferentes perspectivas para entender os pontos de vista e as necessidades das pessoas que serão mais afetadas por essas decisões. Proteger os direitos soberanos dos povos indígenas poderia reduzir o impacto negativo dos conflitos ambientais relacionados à transição para a energia verde e oferecer soluções. Uma dessas maneiras é através da adoção do  conhecimento indígena  nas abordagens existentes para mitigação e adaptação às mudanças climáticas, a exemplo de como várias nações nativas americanas estão reintroduzindo o bisão  nas planícies dos EUA para melhorar os resultados ambientais e socioeconômicos.

 


O Relatório de Tendências 2025 para Urbanistas foi escrito por Petra Hurtado, PhD; Ievgeniia Dulko; Senna Catenacci; Joseph DeAngelis, AICP; Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP; e Jason Jordan. Ele foi editado por Ann Dillemuth, AICP. 

Jon DePaolis é editor sênior da APA.

Imagem principal: Vapor sobe das torres de resfriamento do data center do Google em The Dalles, Oregon. Foto cedida pelo Google.

Siete tendencias que los planificadores deben conocer en 2025

Por Jon DePaolis, Janeiro 16, 2025

Este contenido se desarrolló mediante una asociación entre el Instituto Lincoln y la American Planning Association como parte de la práctica APA Foresight. Originalmente, APA lo publicó en Planning.

Como dijo Ferris Bueller, “la vida pasa bastante rápido. Si no te detienes y miras a tu alrededor de vez en cuando, podrías perdértela”.

Téngalo en cuenta cuando descubra que el próximo viaje que haga durante un fin de semana largo (que podría ser todos los fines de semana, ya que más y más empresas están adoptando la semana laboral de cuatro días) será en un avión impulsado a energía solar. O cuando compre la próxima multiherramienta, que estará hecha de un plástico que cambia su forma y propiedades si se calienta o enfría.

En un mundo que avanza más rápido de lo que puede cubrir incluso un ciclo de noticias de 24 horas, es más importante que nunca que los planificadores se adelanten a los problemas y preparen a las comunidades a medida que se produce el cambio.

Informe de tendencias de 2025 para planificadores

En enero, la Asociación Americana de Planificación (APA, por su sigla en inglés) publicó el  2025 Trend Report for Planners  (Informe de tendencias de 2025 para planificadores) en asociación con el  Instituto Lincoln de Políticas de Suelo. El equipo de Previsión y la comunidad encargada de la exploración de tendencias de la APA identificaron fenómenos actuales, emergentes y potenciales que los planificadores deben conocer y comprender para poder actuar, prepararse y aprender.

El informe incluye alrededor de 100 tendencias y señales, y ofrece una exploración de estas tendencias y señales en escenarios futuros, análisis profundos, pódcast y más. Estas son solo algunas de las tendencias que debe conocer.

1. Más obstáculos para la vivienda: costos de seguros, impactos climáticos y cambios poblacionales

En Estados Unidos, la población está creciendo con mucha más lentitud  que en décadas anteriores, y la Oficina del Censo proyecta un crecimiento de la población de solo un 9,7 % en los próximos 75 años. El concepto de familia también está cambiando. Los hogares unipersonales y las parejas casadas (incluidas las parejas del mismo sexo) sin hijos ahora representan más de la mitad de todos los hogares de Estados Unidos. Los hogares monoparentales y multigeneracionales también están en aumento, al igual que los hogares compartidos.

En la actualidad, menos de una quinta parte de las familias estadounidenses se ajustan al modelo tradicional de “familia nuclear”, y los conceptos típicos de hogar continúan evolucionando. Pero hay un aspecto que no ha cambiado en los últimos años: encontrar una vivienda asequible es cada vez más difícil. Según una investigación realizada por Zillow, los hogares necesitan ganar USD 47.000 más de lo que ganaban hace solo cuatro años para poder costear una vivienda unifamiliar. La inflación, las altas tasas de interés y la escasez de viviendas asequibles han hecho que el sueño americano quede fuera del alcance  de muchas personas, ya que la propiedad de la vivienda ahora es casi un 50 % más cara que el alquiler.

Mientras tanto, las ciudades del noreste y el medio oeste están experimentando pérdidas de población, y los estados del sur y el oeste continúan ganando residentes  aunque sean las áreas más afectadas por los impactos del cambio climático. Es probable que los factores clave sean las cargas fiscales relativas y los costos de vida más bajos. De hecho, los drásticos impactos del cambio climático amenazan la salud, la seguridad y la vida de millones de personas, ya que el 34 % de los estadounidenses viven en áreas que se encuentran en riesgo de desastres naturales e inundaciones y el 41 % de las unidades de alquiler son vulnerables al cambio climático.

Las pérdidas relacionadas con el cambio climático también están generando caos en el mercado de seguros. Los proveedores de seguros están aumentando las tarifas en gran medida en muchas áreas y se han vuelto reacios a asegurar viviendas en áreas peligrosas, o simplemente se han negado a hacerlo. Las grandes aseguradoras se han ido de  Florida, Luisiana y California, un estado donde el gigante de los seguros State Farm dejó de aceptar solicitudes debido a que la “exposición a las catástrofes está creciendo con rapidez”. (Los escenarios futuros que se presentan en el Informe de tendencias pueden ayudar a los planificadores a explorar cómo podría desarrollarse esta situación en los próximos 10 años).

Para mitigar las consecuencias del mercado de seguros para los propietarios de viviendas, los reguladores pueden emplear  estrategias,  como exigir transparencia en la industria de seguros y prohibir la discriminación por riesgo climático, el aumento de las primas o la retirada de servicios en áreas de alto riesgo. La Asociación Nacional de Comisionados de Seguros adoptó recientemente una  estrategia nacional de resiliencia climática para seguros  a fin de guiar a los reguladores y proveedores por igual, y Florida ha aprobado varias leyes con el objetivo de reducir las primas de seguros y proporcionar subvenciones de mitigación a los propietarios de viviendas y propietarios de propiedades multifamiliares.

2. Espacios publicos para Shaggy y Scooby

A medida que crece la necesidad por los espacios públicos, o “terceros lugares”, algunas ciudades están analizando cómo se pueden adaptar los espacios existentes o dónde se pueden crear  espacios nuevos. Esto incluye tener en cuenta los lugares para mascotas, en especial porque en Estados Unidos hay más hogares con  mascotas que con niños. Se espera que la industria mundial de mascotas alcance casi los USD 500.000 millones para 2030. Las ciudades pueden obtener una certificación  de “apta para mascotas” para atraer a más turistas. Además, la cantidad de parques para perros en EUA está aumentando; de hecho, el desarrollo de parques públicos para perros aumentó un 40 % de 2009 a 2020. En San Francisco, los desarrolladores están agregando  áreas específicas para perros cerca de los complejos de viviendas para atraer compradores.

3. El agua es muy valiosa y está bajo amenaza

El Golfo de México nunca ha tenido temperaturas tan elevadas en la era moderna, lo que ha causado tormentas de rápida formación, como los huracanes Helene y Milton del año pasado, que devastaron la costa este de Estados Unidos. En los últimos cuatro siglos, las temperaturas en la  Gran Barrera de Coral  nunca han sido tan elevadas, y la expansión del agua oceánica  impulsada por el calor ha causado un tercio del aumento del nivel del mar a nivel mundial. En el Golfo Pérsico, el agua es escasa y valiosa, ya que el crecimiento de la población y el desarrollo alcanzaron un máximo histórico. A nivel mundial, una cuarta parte de todos los cultivos alimenticios están amenazados por el estrés hídrico y los suministros de agua poco confiables. Al mismo tiempo, las corrientes de agua en el Ártico y el Atlántico parecen estar disminuyendo, lo que podría modificar los patrones climáticos y poner en riesgo las regiones productoras de alimentos.

Mientras tanto, las operaciones comerciales de embotellado de agua a gran escala impulsadas por el capital privado representan un riesgo creciente para la estabilidad de las fuentes de agua locales en Estados Unidos, al igual que el crecimiento de los centros de datos  de inteligencia artificial (IA) que necesitan grandes cantidades de agua para enfriarse. Esto representa una amenaza para los embalses, los acuíferos y las fuentes de agua dulce locales y regionales, y algunos lugares están implementando reglamentaciones sobre el uso del agua como respuesta.

4. ¿Podríamos evolucionar a un mundo poslaboral?

La pandemia por COVID19 y el aumento del trabajo remoto han desdibujado las líneas de los patrones de trabajo tradicionales. Tomemos como ejemplo la creciente popularidad de las vacaciones laborables y el turismo de negocios, conocidos en inglés como workations y bleisure respectivamente, que sugiere que el trabajo y la vida personal se pueden combinar cada vez más. Pero no a todos les gusta esto. En agosto de 2024, Australia promulgó una ley de “derecho a desconectarse” para los trabajadores.

Las pruebas piloto de una semana laboral de cuatro días realizadas a nivel mundial y en Estados Unidos muestran que la reducción de horas puede conducir a una mayor productividad y satisfacción con la vida. Los trabajadores coinciden. Alrededor del 80 % dijo que serían más felices e igual de productivos si trabajaran un día menos, según el estudio  2024 Work in America (Trabajo en Estados Unidos en 2024).

Además, nuestra relación con el trabajo está cambiando. En un  estudio del Centro de Investigaciones Pew  de 2023, se descubrió una nueva tendencia: solo cuatro de cada diez trabajadores estadounidenses consideran que el trabajo forma parte de su identidad general. Este cambio se ve reforzado por la idea de considerar al trabajo como un verbo (algo que hacemos) en lugar de un sustantivo (algo que somos, como contadores o técnicos).

La actitud en cuanto al ocio también está cambiando. Si las personas usan su tiempo libre para llevar adelante proyectos personales o perseguir pasiones, el enfoque principal en la vida podría pasar a ser el ocio en lugar del trabajo. Dado que se espera que el porcentaje de estadounidenses mayores de 65 años aumente al 23 % para 2025, los jubilados actuales y futuros también buscan aprovechar al máximo el próximo capítulo de su vida.

5. La fatiga (y el rechazo digital) es una realidad

La fatiga digital existe. Se presenta de varias maneras, desde la  creciente desconfianza de las noticias en línea  y una mayor preocupación por el contenido generado por IA, hasta la desilusión con las citas en línea. Las escuelas están prohibiendo los teléfonos móviles en las aulas, y  los estados están restringiendo el acceso de los niños  a las redes sociales. El Cirujano General de Estados Unidos incluso ha sugerido que las plataformas de redes sociales deberían llevar etiquetas de advertencia como las de los cigarrillos. En julio, el Senado aprobó el primer gran  proyecto de ley de seguridad en Internet para niños  de las últimas dos décadas.

Estas medidas reflejan las acciones llevadas a cabo con la intención de equilibrar los beneficios de la tecnología con la necesidad de ser más conscientes del bienestar de las generaciones más jóvenes. Para los planificadores, esta tendencia sugiere una mayor necesidad de equilibrar la interacción digital con la vinculación en persona, y así fomentar la comunicación significativa y la empatía dentro de las comunidades. Esto implica generar espacios presenciales donde los jóvenes puedan participar en los procesos de planificación, para así fortalecer su vínculo con la comunidad y entre ellos.

6. Los hongos son el futuro

La cultura pop puede llevarnos a pensar que una era dominada por los hongos representa el fin de la humanidad, ya que solemos relacionarlos con un mundo apocalíptico, pero los beneficios ecológicos y de salubridad que tienen los hongos deberían entusiasmar a más personas que solo a los emprendedores del mundo de las setas, o mushroompreneurs como son conocidos entre los angloparlantes. Los hongos nos pueden ayudar a alejarnos de los combustibles fósiles,  reducir el colesterol, realizar trasplantes de órganos exitosos, combatir la contaminación plástica, eliminar los microcontaminantes del agua contaminada y hacer la transición a sistemas alimentarios más sostenibles. En 2023, las ventas de hongos en Estados Unidos alcanzaron los USD 1.040 millones, y se prevé que el mercado se triplique  en los próximos 10 años. Dado que cada vez hay más interés por parte de los planificadores en buscar soluciones basadas en la naturaleza para los entornos urbanos, los hongos podrían comenzar a tener un papel clave en la creación de mejores espacios de vida.

7. Equilibrio entre la demanda de energía renovable y los derechos indígenas

Dado que el interés en la energía renovable se ha disparado, también lo ha hecho la necesidad de extraer los minerales y metales en bruto requeridos por estas tecnologías, y se estima que  la demanda se cuadruplicará  para 2040. Algunos de estos elementos son el litio, el cobalto y el silicio, así como más de una docena de tierras raras. Pero la minería conlleva innumerables costos humanos y  ambientales,  que a menudo ocurren en áreas desfavorecidas y a expensas de ellas. Esto enfrenta los intereses gubernamentales y privados con los pueblos indígenas, sobre todo por la extracción y  explotación de recursos  en tierras tribales.

Más de la mitad de los proyectos para extraer materiales para la transición energética se encuentran en tierras indígenas o cerca de ellas, y los pueblos indígenas se ven  directamente afectados  por más de un tercio de los conflictos ambientales mundiales, ya sea por la pérdida de tierras o de sustento. Se están llevando a cabo acciones para impulsar la soberanía indígena.

El uso y la propiedad de la tierra son cuestiones fundamentales para el problema y para las posibles soluciones, como también lo son la capacidad de tener en cuenta los diferentes puntos de vista y las necesidades de las personas a las que más afectarán estas decisiones. Proteger los derechos soberanos de los pueblos indígenas podría reducir el impacto negativo de los conflictos ambientales que presenta la transición a las energías renovables, además de proporcionar nuevas soluciones. Una de esas soluciones es aplicar el  conocimiento indígena  en los enfoques existentes para la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático, por ejemplo, la forma en que varias naciones nativas están  reintroduciendo el bisonte  en las llanuras de Estados Unidos para mejorar los resultados ambientales y socioeconómicos.


El 2025 Trend Report for Planners fue escrito por Petra Hurtado, PhD; Ievgeniia Dulko; Senna Catenacci; Joseph DeAngelis, Instituto Americano de Planificadores Certificados (AICP, por su sigla en inglés); Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP; y Jason Jordan. Fue editado por Ann Dillemuth, AICP.  

Jon DePaolis el editor sénior de la APA. 

Imagen principal: Se ve cómo sale el vapor de las torres de refrigeración del centro de datos de Google en The Dalles, Oregón. Crédito: Google.

Conferências

Lincoln Institute Session at the 2024 IAAO Annual Conference

Abril 27, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (EDT, UTC-4)

Offered in inglês

The annual conference of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) offers state and local assessing officials the opportunity to hear varied perspectives on property tax issues from practitioners and valuation experts. This year, the Lincoln Institute will present a plenary session on best practices and real-world challenges in property taxation.

This session will explore the challenge of applying the best practices for assessment administration in the real world of property taxation, illustrated by general perspectives from the Netherlands. The discussion with experts from the Netherlands Council for Real Estate Assessment (Waarderingskamer) will spotlight the new Lincoln report, Lessons from the Netherlands: Real Estate Assessment and Property Tax Systems. The report offers perspectives on developing a stable, efficient, and continuously improving system that earns the trust of taxpayers.


Details

Date
Abril 27, 2024
Time
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (EDT, UTC-4)
Language
inglês

Keywords

Governo Local, Tributação Imobiliária, Finanças Públicas, Valoração

Lincoln Vibrant Communities Teams Program, September 2025

Submission Deadline: July 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM

The submission deadline has been extended to July 13, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.

The Lincoln Vibrant Communities Teams Program is a 24-week program designed for teams of up to six individuals committed to tackling a real-world challenge in their communities. Utilizing concepts from the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows and Communities of Excellence 2026’s Building Strong Teams for CollaborACTION programs, this initiative provides structured support, expert coaching, and collaboration opportunities to drive impactful solutions.

Participants will engage in immersive in-person education; an online leadership curriculum; and specialized coursework covering scenario planning, data visualization, strategic communication, conflict mediation, and policy development. The program culminates in a nine-credit graduate certificate in Advanced Public Sector Leadership, providing a pathway for further academic and professional growth.

Through applied learning, expert-led discussions, and collaboration, teams will develop innovative solutions to enhance resilience and inspire impactful change. Graduates join a national network of leaders dedicated to fostering sustainable, engaged communities.

The program begins on September 11, 2025, in Chicago. Applications are due July 13, 2025.


Details

Submission Deadline
July 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Keywords

Desenvolvimento Econômico, Habitação, Infraestrutura, Governo Local, Planejamento, Pobreza, Finanças Públicas, Recuperação de Mais-Valias

The Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program, September 2025 

Submission Deadline: July 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM

The submission deadline has been extended to July 13, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.

The Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program is a 24-week program designed to build capacity to address challenges in communities using the best practices tools and research of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the academic excellence of Claremont Lincoln University. This collaborative program offers graduate-level education, expert coaching, and peer networking to support public and private sector leaders in advancing sustainable community development.

Participants will engage in immersive in-person education; an online leadership curriculum; and specialized coursework covering scenario planning, data visualization, strategic communication, conflict mediation, and policy development. The program culminates in a nine-credit graduate certificate in Advanced Public Sector Leadership, providing a pathway for further academic and professional growth.

Through applied learning, expert-led discussions, and collaboration, fellows will develop innovative solutions to enhance resilience and lead impactful change. Graduates join a national network of leaders dedicated to fostering sustainable, engaged communities.

The program begins on September 11, 2025, in Chicago. Applications are due July 13, 2025.


Details

Submission Deadline
July 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Keywords

Desenvolvimento Econômico, Governo Local, Planejamento

Perpetuating the Providence Renaissance

April 16, 2025

By Anthony Flint, April 16, 2025

 

Providence, Rhode Island is a unique story—a “second city” in the orbit of significantly larger Boston to the north, but punching above its weight as a desirable place to live and work. With a population of nearly 200,000 people, it’s the third largest city in New England after Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, and was once home to extensive manufacturing and mills—a classic smaller legacy city, making its way in a postindustrial world.

Key city-building strategies have driven revitalization over the last 30-plus years. Providence became known for embracing New Urbanism, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse in its traditional downtown, and for culinary, cultural, and arts innovations like WaterFire, a festival of lanterns along three downtown rivers. The Congress for the New Urbanism is returning to Providence in June of this year for its annual summit.

At this juncture in the remarkable narrative, after dismantling highways and daylighting rivers and paying attention to urban design, the Renaissance City is now grappling with concerns about affordability, failing schools, crumbling infrastructure, and lingering pockets of post-manufacturing blight

All of that is the scenario for Brett P. Smiley—once chief of staff for former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo—who was elected the 39th mayor of Providence in 2022. In this latest episode of the Land Matters podcast, and as part of the continuing series Mayor’s Desk—interviews with local leaders tackling global problems—Smiley talks about the challenges of keeping up the city’s revitalization momentum while addressing stubborn disparities.

“We’ve come a long way, and while there’s many of these kinds of postindustrial cities that continue to struggle, Providence is on an entirely different trajectory,” Smiley says. “Through the pandemic, a lot of people moved to Providence—primarily from the major population centers of New York and Boston, but from really around the country—where you saw people still wanting urban amenities, still wanting arts and culture and diversity, walkability, but with a little bit less work than it is to live in Manhattan or Brooklyn, certainly less expensive than living in those places or in Boston.”

While welcoming the influx, he says, “We’ve not kept pace with building, and as a result, housing prices are skyrocketing. That was in fact one of our competitive points in that we were less expensive. In the decade ahead, we’ve got a lot of work to do to bring down the cost of housing. What we have is a supply shortage and the solution to that is to build more.”

Also in the interview, Smiley reflects on his contrarian views on bike lanes, how to better support night-shift workers with improved transit and other services, housing as an economic development strategy to attract and retain major employers, and his experiences engaging with constituents.

He also shares his thoughts on how to balance public input with policy leadership; he was quoted earlier this year as saying, “There are times when public leaders need to say, ‘Pencils down, we’ve heard enough. This is what we’re doing.’”

Smiley came into office promising to prioritize public safety, education, affordable housing, and climate resilience, relying on “strategic investments and data-driven solutions.” Before being elected mayor, he was head of the Rhode Island Department of Administration and chief operating officer of Providence. Smiley graduated from DePaul University with a degree in finance and an MBA. He resides on the East Side with his husband, Jim DeRentis, their dog, and their two cats.

A version of this interview is available in print and online in Land Lines magazine, as the latest installment in the Mayor’s Desk series.

Listen to the show here or subscribe to Land Matters on Apple Podcasts, SpotifyStitcher, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

 


Further Reading

From Plan to Place: Providence’s Downtown Renaissance | Placemaking Journal

Our city is a wonderful place, and yet it has its challenges | The Providence Journal

Smiley sees no ‘good options’ as he prepares taxpayers for rate hike | WPRI

How Four Cities Are Advancing Affordable Housing Despite NIMBYs | Smart Cities Dive

Providence, Rhode Island, Set to Become First City on East Coast to Ban New Gas Stations | Washington Examiner

Finding His Faith Community: Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley converts to Judaism | The Boston Globe

 


Anthony Flint is a senior fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, host of the Land Matters podcast, and a contributing editor of Land Lines.

 

Mayor Brett Smiley leans on a metal railing. Part of the Providence skyline is visible in the background.
Mayor’s Desk

Small City, Big Changes

By Anthony Flint, Abril 16, 2025

As the 39th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, Brett Smiley is addressing public safety, affordable housing, education, and climate resilience. Before being elected mayor in 2022, Smiley—who was born and raised in the Chicago area and moved to Rhode Island to work in politics in 2006—was head of the state Department of Administration, chief operating officer of Providence, and chief of staff for former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo.

With a population of about 191,000, Providence is the third-largest city in New England after Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. Once home to extensive manufacturing and mills, the city in recent years became known for embracing New Urbanism, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse, and for culinary, cultural, and arts innovations. The Congress for the New Urbanism is returning to Providence in the summer of 2025 for its annual summit.

Smiley sat for an interview with senior fellow Anthony Flint this spring at City Hall. Their conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, is available as a Land Matters podcast.

Anthony Flint: The narrative arc of Providence over the last 30 years has been remarkable: a second city brought out of economic doldrums by dismantling highways and daylighting rivers and paying attention to urban design. Now there are concerns about affordability, beginning with housing. Where does the city go from here?

Brett Smiley: I appreciate you mentioning the remarkable progress that the city has made. We’ve come a long way, and while many postindustrial cities continue to struggle, Providence is on an entirely different trajectory. Through the pandemic, we had an influx of people wanting urban amenities, wanting arts and culture and diversity and walkability, but with a little bit less work than it is to live in Manhattan or Brooklyn, certainly less expensive than living in those places or in Boston.

One of our competitive points is that we were less expensive. But we’ve not kept pace with building, and as a result, housing prices are skyrocketing. We are on the top five list of net inflow migration, but 50 out of 50 for new housing starts. Our task is to make it easier to build more densely, and to do so in the context of the world in which we find ourselves, so that means incorporating green infrastructure, preparing for climate change, while also allowing for more growth.

We think we can actually lead the way in doing both. It’s an exciting time in the city. We don’t have a hard time selling Providence. What we have a hard time doing is making sure that there’s a home available for everyone who wants one.

AF: You’ve got different places where you can build infill, including surface parking lots. You’ve got some places that don’t require tearing anything down.

BS: We have plenty of places to build. One of our economic challenges has always been that we are in, from a cost perspective, the same economic market as Boston, and yet our rents or sales prices are significantly discounted to Boston. We’ve got a gap to fill there in terms of the price that the housing unit can command and the cost it takes to construct it, which is why we’re working so hard on allowances for things like bonuses for density and the relaxation of parking minimums, ways to try to allow developers to help projects become financially viable; while also looking at some more innovative solutions that cities around the countries are trying, such as changes to the fire code and other ways that actually will reduce the cost of construction by relaxing some of the regulatory requirements.

 

A distant perspective on the skyline of downtown Providence, with trees and houses in the middle ground and cars traveling Interstate 95 in the foreground.
The postindustrial city of Providence has seen growth in both population and household income in recent years, thanks in part to an influx of residents with hybrid or remote jobs elsewhere. Credit: Alex Potemkin via iStock/Getty Images Plus.

 

AF: Unlike the mayors of Boston or Paris, you’ve been a little less enthusiastic about the complete streets concept of pedestrian, bike, and bus lanes. How has your thinking evolved?

BS: I remain convinced that pedestrian safety is of critical importance. We know that one of the reasons that people like living in Providence and want to move to Providence is because of its walkability, and pedestrian safety is super important to me and to the city. We’ve also been working closely with the AARP. Pedestrian safety is really important to older residents. I’m convinced that Providence is a great city to retire to.

The dilemma that I see is that the discussion around bicycle lanes and those who commute by bicycle seems to consume a disproportionate share of the conversation. We know that only two to four percent of the population commutes by bike. We have aspirations of doubling or quadrupling that number. It’s still going to be less than 10 percent of people commuting by bike. We do want to see more people choosing that as an alternate means of transportation. When we’re talking about five percent of the commuting public, sometimes it feels like 75 percent of the conversation.

That’s the shift that I’ve been sensitive to, and I try to devote time and resources to the means and methods of transportation that most people actually use, which is not, in fact, biking. We’re in the Northeast. We have real winters. It’s a city of seven hills, famously in its history, and it doesn’t work for everyone to be able to commute by bike year-round. Most of those folks still have a car. I just try to be realistic about how much time and energy and resources we put into a slice of the commuting public that represents a relatively small minority.

AF: Can you reflect on the challenge of retaining major employers, like the toy manufacturer Hasbro, and the practice of offering things like tax breaks for economic development?

BS: The tactics for economic development have changed in my career in public service. At first, when I was working in government, people were trying to woo headquarters based upon incentives. Then corporate leaders were making decisions, and then the conversation shifted where it became all about talent. Headquarters were choosing where to go based upon where the talent was, maybe less so based upon the financial incentives. Then the pandemic changed it a third time, where with the increase of remote or hybrid work, people are starting to work anywhere and everywhere.

The really meaningful growth that we’ve seen over the last decade, and particularly since the pandemic, are people moving here with good jobs in hand that are located somewhere else or nowhere at all. They’re moving here with good jobs, and it doesn’t matter where their job is. The way in which we think about economic development has shifted. The way I think about economic development has shifted, which is one of the reasons that housing is so primary in my priorities because housing is, in fact, an economic development strategy.

When people can choose where they live and their job is not dependent on that location, you have to give them a high quality of life and an affordable home, and so that’s what we’re working on. Nevertheless, there is still a role for major site-based employers. In terms of municipalities’ reputation, companies that people know can be very important to your identity and to your city’s economic prospects and its brand, if you will, and Hasbro is one of those. It’s got a century-long history in Rhode Island. It’s currently headquartered in neighboring Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The CEO there has said that that site is no longer working for them, and we found ourselves in a competition with Boston. To date, they’ve not made a decision, but we put forward a very compelling package and proposal, and I hope that they choose Providence. Part of our pitch, in addition to being competitive on an economic package, is again, back to this quality of life and livability. It’s really easy for me to convince the executive suite at Hasbro that mid-career professionals and young workers want to be here, that this is the kind of city that has a youthful vibrancy that other cities have, but it’s a place that they can actually afford to be.

We made a compelling economic package, and we would do that for other major employers as well to choose Providence. I will say, despite the comments about the importance of embracing the hybrid and remote workers, the other thing about having a corporate headquarters that really does matter is it impacts the investments that that company makes in the community, its philanthropy, and its volunteer time. Whereas hybrid or remote workers are often not doing the same level of investment in a community as a headquarters does.

There’s real value in making sure that there is a core corporate community that helps support and sustain our civic institutions, our artistic organizations, and other groups that rely on that corporate philanthropic support that seems to be most generous in the headquarters city as opposed to a regional office or a place in which they just happen to have hybrid or remote workers.

AF: A recent study found that Providence nightlife generates nearly a billion dollars a year in economic activity, but pointed out that many workers can’t catch a bus to go home after the bars and restaurants close. What can Providence, lacking a light rail or subway, do to improve transit?

BS: It’s important that we refer to it as life at night, because it’s not just nightlife. There are thousands of employees that work during what we refer to as “the other nine to five”: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. That’s restaurants and hospitality and nightclubs, but also someone working the overnight shift at a hospital and other jobs like that.

We don’t have a subway or light rail system here in Providence or anywhere in Rhode Island. We have a bus system that works reasonably well during the day but is less frequent—and in the case of some lines, shuts down—late at night. The solutions are to look at other means of transportation like ridesharing and micromobility, and with our bus system, RIPTA, to provide better service to these major employment centers. We don’t need brand-new innovations. We just need to think about the delivery of services for this other period of time that often gets overlooked and forgotten.

 

A Rhode Island Public Transit Authority sign on a pole in the foreground with the Rhode Island State House in the background, against a cloudy gray sky.
A bus stop at the Rhode Island State House in Providence. A recent study revealed opportunities to improve local transit options, especially at night. Credit: Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current.

 

I talk about arts and culture, but nightlife is a big part of it too. This is a fun city, and I think the most thriving nightlife in New England to be sure, with some pretty impressive statistics. On a per capita basis, Providence has more nightclubs than New York City. In terms of percentage of our population, we’re a more diverse city than Los Angeles. There’s something for everyone here and we know for a fact that people come down 95 to go out in Providence from the much bigger neighbor to our north, Boston.

Our reputation as a place of theater, live music, a growing comedy scene, a really vibrant Spanish language club scene, there is really something for everyone here and we want to make sure that not only do people have a safe, fun time, but that that really important contributing part of our economy continues to thrive.

AF: Given the experience of a major bridge having to be closed because of structural integrity issues, what is your vision for investing in infrastructure, particularly now that cities might be looking at a different framework from the federal government?

BS: Part of the story of the Washington Bridge on I-95, which is a major artery here in the city—it’s a state-owned bridge and a Rhode Island DOT-funded project—was inadequate maintenance. The lesson I draw from that is the importance of ongoing maintenance to avoid the much bigger price tag that comes for replacement.

We need to make sure that we’re all taking care of this infrastructure, particularly after four years of significant investment in some real big infrastructure projects here at home and all around the country. Secondly, we need predictable revenue to be able to pay for these projects [such as user fee tolls on heavy trucks]. You can repair it today or replace it tomorrow, and the replacement is always the worse investment.

AF: Similarly, are you worried about the health of the “eds and meds” anchor institutions, which continue to be a critical component of the Providence renaissance, amid the disruptions in federal funding?

BS: I’m very worried about the financial stability of the eds and meds. The change of the indirect cost recovery for NIH grants is affecting Providence already. Both our hospitals and our primary research institution, which is Brown University, depend on those funds. To change the rules of the road midstream is hugely disruptive.

Our largest employers are the hospital and the colleges. It will find its way into our community one way or another with these cuts, whether it’s job losses, depressed real estate values, diminished investment. And all of the good things that might not come as a result of this—the cures to diseases that may not be discovered and solutions to real problems none of us get to benefit from, if the research never happens. It’s a real problem and a real shame. It’s no way to treat really critical partners.

AF: You’re a different kind of politician compared to some past leaders in Rhode Island who might be described as more old-school. How would you rate yourself in terms of engaging with constituents? In a recent interview, you said, “There are times when public leaders need to say, pencils down, we’ve heard enough. This is what we’re doing.”

BS: I think about things in two ways. One is around priorities, and the other is around style. With respect to priorities, I didn’t know him, but the late Boston Mayor Tom Menino talked about being an urban mechanic, [and that] has always been a phrase that resonated with me. I’ve tried to set my priorities on core quality of life issues, things that impact people’s daily lives, and try to make them better. Just try to fix the problems that people actually care about.

I think there’s going to be a huge erosion in trust in government in general. The antidote to that is to show competence and efficiency and effectiveness, particularly at the local level, because our residents know us by name. They’re not shy to tell us what they think isn’t working well. I try to stay focused on those things and not on solving all the world’s problems, but solving a neighborhood’s problems.

In terms of style, I’m a pretty low-key person, and I don’t have high highs, I’m not bombastic, I try to listen to people. We do a lot of community engagement. We’ve tried to do community engagement in some new ways [like Zoom and online surveys]. There does come a moment where the leader just needs to make a decision and move on. That’s what I got elected to do. I’ll be on the ballot again next year. If the voters of Providence don’t like it, they can pick someone else.

I feel like it’s my job to say, “Okay, we’ve heard everyone’s feedback. We’ve made modifications where we think it makes sense. We can agree to disagree on other things. This is what we’re doing moving forward and the day of accountability is election day.” I’m entirely comfortable with that. I think that’s what it takes to get things done. That’s what I think our residents actually want us to do, is to get things done. Inaction is the enemy of progress. It’s something I don’t want to fall victim to.

 


 

Anthony Flint is a senior fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, host of the Land Matters podcast, and a contributing editor of Land Lines.

Lead image: Mayor Brett Smiley. Credit: City of Providence.

 

Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber Khalik speaks at the World Urban Forum in 2024. He is standing at a white podium with two furled flags behind him and a large blue screen in the background that reads World Urban Forum.
Mayor’s Desk

Planning for Growth in Cairo

By Anthony Flint, Abril 9, 2025

Ibrahim Saber Khalil, 62, was appointed governor of Cairo in July 2024. In this role, he leads the city of Cairo and oversees about half of the metropolitan area, including New Cairo, El Shorouk, and Badr City. Khalil previously served as deputy Cairo governor for Eastern Cairo and chief of the Misr El-Gadidah, Maadi, Dar El-Salam, and Tora districts. He has a PhD from the city’s Ain Shams University, with a focus on environmental and economic evaluation of national road network projects in Greater Cairo, and a master’s degree in public and local administration from the Sadat Academy for Administrative Sciences. His professional training is in law and environmental administration.

Cairo, built on the foundation of an ancient metropolis and now home to some 22 million people, was host of UN-Habitat’s World Urban Forum 12 in November 2024, where the governor joined other municipal leaders—including several previously featured in the Mayor’s Desk series—at a session organized by the Lincoln Institute, Mayors and Innovators: Replicable Strategies for Local Political and Technological Change. At the forum he talked with Senior Fellow Anthony Flint; the interview was continued and finalized by email and has been edited for length and clarity.

Anthony Flint: What are your reflections on the extraordinary expansion into the desert east of the city center that you are now overseeing?

Ibrahim Saber: Cairo stands at a historic crossroads—an intersection between the roots of its ancient civilization and the trajectory of its modern expansion. The extraordinary urban growth we’re witnessing, particularly to the desert areas outside of the city center, is a reflection of both necessity and vision. The New Administrative Capital alone spans 700 square kilometers—nearly the size of Singapore—and is designed to house 6 million residents. Beyond this, Egypt’s broader urban strategy involves developing over 30 new cities across the country, effectively tripling Greater Cairo’s footprint over the coming decades. This is not simply expansion for its own sake; it’s a deliberate effort to decentralize, reduce pressure on the historical core, and offer new economic and residential opportunities for millions.

 

Four tall, tan buildings against a blue sky, with a road in the foreground.
New construction in the New Administrative Capital, a development on the outskirts of Cairo designed to house 6 million people. Credit: Anthony Flint.

 

AF: Are the estimates still accurate about the influx of immigrants and refugees, which has prompted the construction of so much new housing?

IS: One of the key drivers behind this growth is Egypt’s rapid population increase, which is fueled not only by domestic growth but also by significant migration and refugee influxes. Currently, Egypt hosts approximately 5 million refugees and migrants, a far larger figure than often cited. These individuals [represent] over 60 nationalities, contributing to Egypt’s social fabric, labor force, and cultural diversity. Our national policy has long emphasized hospitality and inclusivity, providing access to services such as healthcare, education, and housing without discrimination. Yet accommodating this large, dynamic population places tangible strain on infrastructure, housing stock, and public services, which is why much of our urban expansion is strategically focused on ensuring capacity for both citizens and migrant communities alike.

AF: The urban expansion plan includes a monorail, connected to Cairo’s existing subway network. In a city known for its traffic jams, are there any plans for the type of congestion pricing recently adopted in other cities, or to go more fully car free in the city center, as Paris has done?

IS: Alongside this physical expansion, we are heavily invested in transforming Cairo’s urban mobility landscape. Projects such as the Cairo Monorail, which links to the city’s metro system, are designed to both alleviate existing traffic congestion and prevent its escalation as the city grows. Our vision is to promote public transportation and nonmotorized mobility options, reducing dependency on private cars. While policies like congestion pricing are under review, our immediate focus remains on expanding transport infrastructure, encouraging cleaner mobility, and exploring low-emission zones or even car-free districts, particularly in the historic city center.

 

A blue bridge with several arches spans the Nile River. Many low-rise buildings of Cairo are visible on both sides of the river.
The Nile River and downtown Cairo. Credit: Anthony Flint.

 

AF: What in your estimation are the top impacts of climate change in the region? Are there plans to reduce local emissions causing the smog and pollution often seen in the city?

IS: Of course, all these efforts are being implemented in the context of global and local climate challenges. Egypt faces mounting threats from rising temperatures, water scarcity, and urban air pollution, particularly in Cairo. We are addressing these by pursuing policies to reduce local emissions, including expanding electric public transport, introducing green building standards, and increasing urban green spaces. Our commitments under the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 reinforce our pledge to build resilient, sustainable cities that can withstand the pressures of climate change.

AF: Finally, can you reflect on the contrast between the old and the new in Cairo—antiquities alongside gleaming new development?

IS: What makes Cairo unique is its ability to weave together the old and the new. As we oversee the construction of state-of-the-art urban centers, we remain deeply committed to preserving and revitalizing Historic Cairo, home to millennia-old heritage. This coexistence is not contradictory, it is a source of strength. At forums such as the World Urban Forum, we’ve shared how our urban development approach is rooted in balancing heritage conservation with modern growth, ensuring that as we build for the future, we honor the past.


 

Anthony Flint is a senior fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, host of the Land Matters podcast, and a contributing editor of Land Lines.

Lead image: Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber Khalil speaks at the World Urban Forum, hosted by the city in November 2024. Credit: IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou.