Celebrating Urban Transformation
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Helping cities make big ideas happen. Project of World Resources Institute. Producer of TheCityFix.com
The climate crisis is having greater and greater impacts on communities around the world. But it is also prompting creative and effective solutions.
Last week, amidst Climate Week NYC and the UN General Assembly, we announced the Grand Prize Winner of the 2023-2024 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities. It was an extraordinary moment, full of inspiration and positive affirmation of what’s possible.
Re-Ciclo, an innovative waste management, e-mobility and worker empowerment initiative from Fortaleza, won the $250,000 grand prize. “Re-Ciclo is a powerful example of how the most effective urban solutions tap into our creativity and resourcefulness to solve multiple problems at once,” said WRI President & CEO Ani Dasgupta.
“The Re-Ciclo project not only advances environmental education and boosts recycling rates but also enhances the dignity of waste pickers, thereby improving the overall quality of life in the city,” said Luiz Alberto Saboia, president of CITINOVA, which leads the project.
Indeed, all finalists this year demonstrate holistic approaches to responding to climate change, from Oslo’s climate budget, to green community schoolyards in New York, housing upgrades in Buenos Aires, and community river clean-up in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Each is a great idea, well-executed by an incredible team of people.
As we seek inspiration for the work of creating sustainable cities, let us uplift and celebrate success stories like these!
- Rogier van den Berg Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
🌐 Around Our Network
Re-Ciclo Wins Grand Prize in 2023-2024 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities
“The Re-Ciclo team and all of the outstanding finalists show what’s possible when passionate people believe in their cause and sustain their mission, even against steep odds,” said Rogier van den Berg, Global Director of WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. “They prove that transformative change is not just a distant dream but a tangible reality.” Learn more →
What Would Cities Look Like With 3 Degrees C of Warming vs. 1.5?
New data from WRI finds that at 3 degrees C of warming, many cities could face month-long heat waves, skyrocketing energy demand for air conditioning and increased risk of insect-borne diseases — sometimes simultaneously — with low-income cities likely to be the hardest hit. Learn more and explore the data visualizations →
Increasing Job Opportunities Along Bengaluru’s Metro Network
Bengaluru's public transportation systems struggle to keep up with the city's growing population, leading to traffic congestion that hurts workforce productivity and limits access to opportunity. New research from WRI India highlights the need to bring jobs closer to the city’s metro network through transit-oriented development strategies. Learn more →
6 Graphics Explain South America’s Forest Fires
High temperatures and persistent drought fueled by this year’s El Niño — as well as longer-term changes driven by deforestation and climate change — caused fires across millions of hectares and several countries, threatening lives and property and creating dangerous levels of air pollution in cities like São Paulo and Rio. Learn more →
Measuring and Monitoring Urban Tree Cover in Pune, India
New research from WRI India outlines efficient and cost-effective methodology to assess tree cover in areas outside of forests, offering a valuable tool to address socio-urban environmental challenges and enable sustainable land-use planning. Learn more →
Why the Next 3 Months Are Critical for People, Nature & Climate
With decision-makers from nearly every country set to attend a series of high-profile international summits between now and the end of the year, leaders have an opportunity to put the world on track for a livable future. Learn more →
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E-Tricycles Power Fortaleza’s Recycling Revolution
2023-2024 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities Grand Prize Winner, Re-Ciclo, works to uplift informal waste pickers and expand Fortaleza’s recycling infrastructure by redefining how the city manages waste. Central to this effort is a fleet of e-tricycles that enabled the city’s first-ever door-to-door collection service for recyclables. Learn more →
Equitably Transitioning the Built Environment
The built environment is not on track globally to achieve its sectoral climate targets. WRI Ross Center experts recommend five actions to achieve an equitable and just green energy transition in the built environment. Learn more →
Amidst Fires, Will Brazil Confront Its Climate Challenges?
Brazil is in the midst of its longest drought in 70 years, impacting 1,400 cities. The persistent heat and shifting rainfall patterns, turbocharged by climate change, are making common what once were record-breaking fires, floods and landslides. Learn more →
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Communications Associate - Electric School Bus Initiative (Washington, DC, U.S.)
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Senior Geospatial Data Scientist / Independent Researcher
2moDeepali Bidwai - should we try (if you are interested) to apply our methodology on the same target area as used in this study: "Measuring and Monitoring Urban Tree Cover in Pune, India" and compare results?
Communication and PR professional
2moIts an inspiring example of how innovative, community-driven solutions can tackle urban challenges and climate change. Recognizing projects like this motivates progress toward building sustainable cities.
Danke