Abstract

As urbanization, environmental degradation, and poverty become increasingly urgent problems, understanding the links between sustainability and poverty reduction is imperative. A sustainable urban future for all requires raising the quality of life of the most vulnerable. Existing at the margins of urban life, low-income residents of cities in the global south are subject to numerous environmental burdens and are too often excluded from mainstream development and planning. In the face of these challenges, communities have proven to be remarkably resilient and innovative. This book attempts to show how this potential can be harnessed, by showcasing sustainable solutions developed by the urban poor themselves and present the findings of participatory action research projects funded by IDRC’s ECOPOLIS. The studies, conducted in the growing urban and peri-urban areas of Peru, Senegal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, the Philippines,Thailand, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, outline concrete strategies for sustainable urban living and design, developed in partnership with low income city dwellers.Published in association with IDRC.