Tune in to the Mayors’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Register now for the Cities & Transport International Congress.
Given the widespread challenges of urbanization, mayors need to learn from one another and gain fresh ideas in order to pioneer projects that result in sustainable cities. To inspire city leaders worldwide, WRI Brasil Sustainable Cities is hosting the Mayors’ Summit, which will be attended by Ken Livingstone, Enrique Peñalosa, Mary Jane Ortega, Jaime Lerner, and Sam Adams. These individuals have been internationally recognized for their achievements as mayors, and will be sharing their experiences on how to overcome bureaucracy and develop sustainable cities.
The Summit will also feature the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, with Andrew Steer, President and CEO of World Resources Institute, moderating the event. The Summit takes place on September 9, from 1PM to 4:30PM EST.
"The leaders and issues addressed will inspire Brazilian mayors to imagine cities that are designed for all and centered on sustainable development. These inspiring stories of public officials who have overcome great obstacles show us what we’re capable of. Decisions today will impact life tomorrow and the lives of future generations," said Luis Antonio Lindau, Director of WRI Brasil Sustainable Cities.
Follow the Summit’s live stream on the event’s website.
For complete coverage and to join the debate, check out:
Twitter with the hashtag # CTBR2015
Meet the Former Mayors
Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London
Livingstone was the mayor of London from 2000 to 2008, and put into place a number of initiatives that expanded public space, improved public transportation and developed priority corridors for bus service. Among his best-known initiatives, none gained greater praise than his congestion charging program, which has transformed urban mobility in London.
Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogota
The former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia believes that urban transport is not just a matter of convenience and economy, but also of justice and equity. During his mayorship, Peñalosa built 250 km of bike paths, implemented the BRT TransMilenio—which is used by over 2 million people a day—and significantly reduced crime rates in the Colombian capitol.
Mary Jane Ortega, former mayor of San Fernando
Mary Jane Ortega was the mayor of the city of San Fernando in the Philippines for three consecutive terms (1998-2007). During her time in office, she was awarded numerous awards. One, for example, was for her work creating a development strategy for the city. As a public leader, Ortega helped to relocate populations displaced by climate change, and demonstrated that women are more than capable of holding office in a country that values masculinity.
Sam Adams, former mayor of Portland
Political scientist Sam Adams is a former mayor of Portland, Oregon, USA. During his mayorship, he integrated sustainability into decision making at every municipal level. For example, he led a coalition of government leaders, businesses and civil societies to create the Climate Action Plan of Portland. Adams is currently the director of WRI's Climate Initiative in the United States.
Jaime Lerner, former mayor of Curitiba
Mayor of Curitiba three times, Jaime Lerner turned the city into a global model for sustainability. In the 1970s, Lerner established bus rapid transit (BRT) in the city, which has been cheaper than subways but equally impactful.
About WRI Brasil Sustainable Cities
After 10 years, WRI Brasil | EMBARQ Brasil is becoming WRI Brasil Sustainable Cities. Moving forward, the challenge for the Brazil team will be to draw on previous work in sustainable urban transport and achieve transformative results at a greater scale. They will focus on developing high impact projects in urban mobility, urban development, road safety, water, energy and climate to improve the lives of millions of people in cities.
About WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities works to make urban sustainability a reality. Through global research and on-the-ground experience, our experts work with city and national leaders in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey and the United States to spur action and improve life for millions of people. WRIcities.org
