Virtual Masterclass
Fostering economic growth and climate resilience in cities
For public servants and policymakers
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023
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Speakers
Resources
This article which explores how the world's cities are preparing for climate change
This article by Artha Global which explores how urbanisation in India is threatening its path to net zero
Event Description
Emerging economies will have to tackle two critical challenges during the decades to come: ensuring that economic growth is equitable, and ensuring that the development trajectory is low-carbon. Both these challenges are inherently linked to cities. However, most urbanisation is unplanned and poorly managed, undermining the delivery of public infrastructure and services including water supply and sanitation, mobility and housing—and the inevitable consequence is deteriorating public health.
A systems approach, rather than a siloed and sectoral approach, is imperative if cities in emerging economies are to enable shared prosperity while decarbonising their economic activities. Green growth approaches require consensus-building between all stakeholders and the harmonising of competing socio-economic visions with contested spatial arrangements and techno-scientific regimes. Leadership and motivation become the key ingredients that create recipes for success.
In this event Jagan Shah discussed the city as a system of systems, the legacy of institutional structures that have fragmented the city, and the impacts of uncertainty and climate change that make green growth the most promising way to achieve inclusive prosperity as well as sustainability. Drawing on his rich experience as an urban policy practitioner and planner, Jagan highlighted key strategies and tools bureaucrats have used to foster green growth; in particular, the low carbon and resilient pathways for energy, transportation, waste collection and construction.
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Picture credit: Unsplash
Speakers
Jagan Shah
Director, Artha Centre for Emerging Cities, Artha Global
India
Jagan Shah, Jagan Shah is Director of the Artha Centre for Emerging Cities, which supports governments in urban strategy, innovation and capacity building. He was Director of India’s National Institute of Urban Affairs (2013-19) and Senior Infrastructure Adviser in the UK’s Department for International Development (2019-21). He has been a Trustee of Clean Air Asia since 2016, has recently been inducted as Distinguished Fellow at the InfraVision Foundation and is Advisor to My Liveable City. His work on urban innovation includes the design and implementation of India’s Smart Cities Mission, the design of the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States facility established by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the land pooling and transit-oriented development policies for the Delhi Master Plan 2041. He studied architecture in New Delhi, Cincinnati and New York.
