News
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"The ACWA Fund and ACWA Platform provide a transformative path towards urban water resilience solutions in Africa."
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT (November 14, 2022) — At COP27, the World Resources Institute and partners launched the African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund) with the aim of channeling $5 billion towards urban water resilience solutions in 100 African cities by 2032.
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Urban projects from Colombia, France, India, Pakistan and the Philippines selected for innovative and inclusive responses to uncertainty, disruption and crisis.
The Prize for Cities is WRI’s urban transformation award, recognizing the leaders creating more sustainable and inclusive cities worldwide. Photo by City of Paris
KATOWICE, POLAND (June 29, 2022) — World Resources Institute announced five projects as finalists for the 2021-2022 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities today at the 11th World Urban Forum in Katowice, Poland.
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The Coalition for Urban Transitions has put zero-carbon, resilient and inclusive cities firmly on the agenda of national governments the world over.
Following five years of supporting and advocating for national government leadership on sustainable, prosperous and equitable cities, the Coalition for Urban Transitions will sunset at the end of 2021. A special initiative of the New Climate Economy (NCE), the Coalition was jointly managed by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.
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Third cycle of premier urban prize will award $350,000 to global projects demonstrating how cities can thrive in turbulent times
Recognizing the confluence of challenges with COVID-19 recovery, climate change and growing urban inequality, the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities welcomes the opportunity to showcase outstanding projects and urban leaders spearheading citywide transformations in response to these challenges.
WASHINGTON (October 31, 2021)—World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities has launched the third cycle of the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities, a global competition celebrating and spotlighting transformative urban change. The announcement comes on World Cities Day, a global occasion to mark efforts in advancing opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization around the world.
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With 1 in 3 city dwellers lacking access to basic services, new WRI report charts a new urban roadmap to improve billions of lives, reduce environmental damage and generate economic prosperity for all.
Synthesizing six years of research from more than 30 authors, the report shows that as urbanization has changed, income alone is no longer a sufficient barometer for quality of life and a thriving city — access to high-quality, reliable and affordable essential services, from clean water to decent housing, must be prioritized. Photo by Unequal Scenes
WASHINGTON (October 19, 2021)—A new report from WRI finds that 1 in 3 city dwellers globally and 2 in 3 city dwellers in low-income countries are “under-served” — lacking access to one or more core urban services like affordable running water and sanitation, consistent electricity, decent housing, reliable transport to work and school, safe cooking fuel and more. In some cities, the number of people under-served grows to an astonishing 90% of residents.
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UrbanShift will support 23 cities in Argentina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Rwanda and Sierra Leone to adopt integrated approaches to urban development, helping shape cities that are efficient, resilient and inclusive. Photo by Second-Half Travels/Flickr
NEW YORK (September 24, 2021)--At Climate Week NYC 2021, World Resources institute (WRI), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), C40 Cities, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched UrbanShift, a new global initiative to improve lives and transform cities into green and livable spaces, concurrently addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
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The $250,000 Prize for Cities goes to urban agriculture program for building inclusive climate resilience and improving access to healthy, local food
Sustainable Food Production for a Resilient Rosario, a project by the municipality of Rosario, Argentina, has evolved from a response to economic crisis into a cornerstone of climate adaptation and social inclusion. Photo by WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
WASHINGTON, DC (June 29, 2021)—WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities announced today that the grand prize for the 2020-2021 Prize for Cities has been awarded to Sustainable Food Production for a Resilient Rosario, a project by the municipality of Rosario, Argentina. The project has evolved from a response to economic crisis into a cornerstone of climate adaptation and social inclusion.
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The Transformative Urban Coalitions project seeks to change structures and values by shifting mindsets and building new coalitions for socially inclusive, zero-carbon cities. Photo by Daniel Lozano Valdés/Unsplash
Cities account for 75% of global carbon emissions. Meeting global emission goals will require city leadership. At the same time, cities are deeply affected by the current climate crisis. Extreme heat events, water stress, deterioration of natural assets and air pollution are lowering the quality of life in cities and putting severe stress on infrastructure.
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Clean Air Catalyst is a growing cooperative to help cities around the world reduce air pollution.
Everybody deserves the right to breathe clean air. Yet air pollution is choking cities and communities around the world: a staggering 9 in 10 people breathe unhealthy air.
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New report from the Coalition for Urban Transitions spotlights six emerging economies to demonstrate how cities can be engines of COVID-19 recovery, shared prosperity, and climate action
The Coalition's new report aims to inspire action by other national governments ahead of critical COP26 summit in Glasgow.
LONDON (March 17, 2021) — A new report from the Coalition for Urban Transitions finds that in order to accelerate COVID-19 recovery, achieve shared prosperity, and drive climate action, national governments must invest in cities to significantly accelerate decarbonisation and enhance resilience.