The dynamics of urbanization and growth of the Latin American city is due to different geographical, economic, and social factors. One of these elements, which has expanded the availability of resources for the urban expansion process is the growth of international trade, whereas it facilitates the import and availability of goods from anywhere in the world and consolidates cities as large markets, making them more attractive each time, which falls again in the process of growth.

The settlements of informal origin in Colombia emerged as an alternative to access housing for the socially and economically vulnerable population due to the limited institutional opportunities to obtain a solution. Thus, the victims of the armed conflict have found in this modality of urbanization a refuge in the city as a result of the forced displacement and the poverty.

A drenagem urbana, antes conceituada no rápido escoamento das águas pluviais, tem-se apresentado insustentável no meio urbano. Desse modo, não se trata mais de trabalhar esse sistema isolado, mas sim, integrar todo o sistema das águas urbanas, realizando um manejo eficaz e adequado desde o início do evento de precipitação. A partir disso, algumas alternativas estão sendo desenvolvidas, a fim de compensar os impactos negativos que ocorrem nas áreas urbanas, como alagamentos e inundações.

Desde el reconocimiento de la existencia del desplazamiento forzado, el Estado ha ampliado y fortalecido la protección para los derechos de las víctimas. No obstante, las vulnerabilidades asociadas a la situación de desplazamiento se han agudizado. Este escenario da cuenta de una relación paradójica. En este trabajo pretendo mostrar una de las caras de esa situación, la forma en que el Estado ha administrado el asentamiento de la población en situación de desplazamiento como una forma de respuesta a las demandas de las víctimas para la cesación de la situación de desplazamiento.

De las problemáticas ambientales urbanas, las asociadas a la industria presentan especial interés para la gestión ambiental. La ciudad de Tandil en Argentina debe su crecimiento económico y urbano a la actividad metalmecánica, en particular a la fundición, y a pesar de las crisis del sector, la actividad sigue siendo eje de crecimiento económico y urbano local. Esta investigación caracteriza -en términos productivos,operativos y ambientales- las industrias de fundición, y evalúa las condiciones operativas de la gestión de emisiones gaseosas en el sector en el año 2010.

How can links between disaster mitigation and urban planning be strengthened? Can urban livelihood strategies reduce poor city dwellers’ vulnerability to disaster? Scant attention is currently paid by relief organisations to urban planning and disaster mitigation, according to a recent Care International report.

This report, by researchers working in urban agriculture (UA), examines concrete strategies to integrate city farming into the urban landscape. Drawing on original field work in cities across the rapidly urbanising global South, the book examines the contribution of UA and city farming to livelihoods and food security. The case studies covered by the authors, focus on the following aspects of urban agriculture:

Countries throughout the world are rapidly urbanising, particularly in the developing world, and for the first time in human history, the majority of people today are no longer living in rural areas, but rather in cities. This report examines the worldwide phenomenon of urbanisation from the point of view of women’s housing rights.

Can the twin developmental goals of administrative decentralisation and improving services for the urban poor be meshed? How can urban authorities and local politicians learn to listen to service users, particularly women? What services should be run by municipalities and what could be managed by neighbourhood or private management?

How can young people be involved in creating more livable cities? Can the noble participation principles set forth in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Agenda 21 of the Earth Summit, and Habitat II be realised? What is being done to help young people, especially children in difficult circumstances, to get their voices heard by policy-makers?

Could more efficient use of energy have an impact on poverty alleviation? What changes in energy use patterns are likely to generate the greatest benefits for the poor? What are the constraints on the uptake of energy efficiency measures? Can they be overcome?