Urban

Addressing urban environmental issues for cities that work for people and planet

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Urban development

Urban Matters blog

Informal settlements (slums)

Image of grafitti of child crying on a building in Favela Metro-Mangueira. The buildings next to it are torn down.

Can people-centred justice stop forced evictions?

Camila Cociña and Paula Sevilla Núñez
09 July 2026

A 'green' view of Freetown, with urban buildings in the distance observed over an expanse of trees.

Freetown: pioneering nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development and climate adaptation

24 April 2026

People sit outside under a canopy behind tables with the words "reuse, recycle and reduce".

Youth strategies from informal settlements: harnessing civic media to drive change around urban governance and housing

Camila Cociña and Alexandre Apsan Frediani
18 May 2026

Head and shoulders photos six podcast presenters.

Housing challenges are not solved by forced evictions. What is the way forward? Make Change Happen podcast episode 38

30 April 2026

People walking on the streets on Karachi.

Are international financial institutions becoming disconnected from reality?

Arif Hasan
29 May 2026

A bearded man stands at a podium with a screen behind him.

Urban legend: one man, 50 years, countless seeds of hope

Long read 13 May 2024

Related collections

Learn more about focused areas of IIED's urban work

Better cities are possible: achieving resilient, low-carbon and inclusive urban development

A series of articles exploring the critical shifts in governance, policy and action needed to transform informal settlements on a warming planet

The transition to a predominantly urban world

A series of insights and interviews designed to share the experiences of community leaders, professionals, researchers and government from the global South

Urban crises and forced displacement

A programme of work on urban refugees and internally displaced peoples that also supports municipal authorities to respond to crisis and protracted displacement

Housing justice

A programme of work involving research, capacity development, policy advisory and advocacy initiatives that advance housing justice

Publications

View more Urban publications

Preview of Cover image: Youth-led civic media for urban governance Case studies from India and Nepal

Youth-led civic media for urban governance

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Unlocking urban climate finance: barriers and progress in African cities

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Drought’s inequalities: towards inclusive climate adaptation in Zambia

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Engaging young people from informal settlements in housing and urban governance

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From nature-based solutions to naturing infrastructure: towards a care-centred approach

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From capacity to capability: urban living labs as a route to gain influence

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From power to influence: counter-mapping for urban living labs

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Connecting tenure security and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa

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Heat impacts on informal settlements

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Why collective organisations matter for resilience

615 entries

A group of men standing around a black water tank.

Rainwater harvesting in vulnerable homes in Santo Domingo’s colonial centre

Article, 14 February 2024

People building a wall out of disused tyres.

Tegucigalpa: From climate change adaptation to mitigation strategies in informal urban settlements

Article, 14 February 2024

Aerial view of a densely populated slum area with numerous buildings and a river flowing through it.

Building low-carbon resilience into Freetown’s future

Article, 14 February 2024

A close-up view of a building, with an abundance of windows, washing hanging from balconies and TV dishes shown outside the densely packed apartments.

São Paulo: how social movements are advancing housing rights while decarbonising the city

Article, 14 February 2024

A group of people forming a line, handing bags of garbage to each other.

San José: ecoins – promoting the circular economy and decarbonisation through public-private partnerships

Article, 14 February 2024

A garden area with a structure with vegetation on its roof.

Green infrastructure for heat reduction in San Salvador

Article, 14 February 2024

Aerial view of an city with the sea in the background.

Rethinking urbanisation and economic development

Insight, 05 February 2024

A man standing beside a garbage cart and holding a big sack. The cart has a flag of Brazil and a sign saying "collective collection" on Portuguese.

Supporting waste pickers in Brazil’s cities: what’s needed and what needs to change?

Insight, 18 January 2024

Garbage collects in a stream under a bridge. In the background, cars are parked in front of shops and homes.

Mapping Brazilian waste pickers’ risks and their responses to climate change

Insight, 04 January 2024

A diverse crowd of individuals congregated in a park, engaging in various activities.

Abandoned no more: Mumbai's new park on previously disused land

Insight, 18 December 2023