In the face of enforced mass migration, the rising cost of recovery from increasing climate disasters, and an uncertain future without drastic and immediate action, it’s important to hold up examples of cities and projects that are successful in their innovative climate actions. In this episode, we look at climate projects in Curitiba, Brazil, and Barranquilla, Colombia, that are working towards saving the planet while making their cities more prosperous and resilient.

Featured guests:
Mayor Rafael Greca was elected to his current mayorship of the city of Curitiba, Brazil in 2017. His city participates in the Pathway Towards Zero Waste and Urban Nature C40 Accelerator programs. Curitiba has also produced a number of innovative projects and case studies, including a hydroelectric power plant, water shortage reduction programs, community gardens, modernized bus rapid transit, and the transformation of a landfill into a solar pyramid.

Mayor Jaime Pumarejo was elected Mayor of Barranquilla, Colombia in 2019. Under his leadership, the award-winning Todos al Parque initiative – a massive park regeneration scheme – has transformed Barranquilla, improving the health wellbeing and safety of residents. Due to its location and resources, Barranquilla is also a main landing hub for people displaced by climate change impacts: through his work with the Mayors Migration Council, Mayor Pumajero advocates equitably for all members of Barranquilla’s expanding community.

Links
Solar Energy for Social Housing in Curitiba - C40 Cities
C40-MMC Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration - C40 Cities
Keeping 1.5°C Alive in the Global South: Life or Death - Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy
Breaking the Walls of Complex Systems Change in Cities - Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy

Image credit:  © Helene Baum

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Dali Carmichael and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/