Adequate urban infrastructure and access to basic services, including energy, transport, and mobility, are critical to sustainable urban development. It is essential to include regulations that allow access to decent and adequate housing while understanding the importance of improving informal settlements' conditions.
The Inclusive, Sustainable and Smart Cities (CISI) project, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, is a successful example of fruitful cooperation. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). CISI's main focus is on the Great Impulse for Sustainability (GIS) approach, which aims to support the countries of the region in promoting economically, socially and ecologically sustainable development by bridging the existing gaps. One of the driving sectors identified by ECLAC is urban mobility. In this context, the CISI project aims to support ECLAC and the countries of the region in the implementation of the GIS approach in the field of urban connectivity.
In order to disseminate the results of the first phase of the project (2020-2022) and its contribution to the Big Push for Sustainability, a side event has been organized in the framework of the Sixth Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Countries Forum on Sustainable Development.
The Forum of Ministers and Highest Authorities of Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean - MINURVI is the intergovernmental coordination and cooperation entity that promotes the sustainable development of human settlements, and is composed of the ministers of state and governmental authorities under whose jurisdiction are, in their respective countries, matters related to housing and urban development.
In order to address the housing deficit while facing the challenges of climate change and promoting the development of the value chain of sustainable construction and housing, it is imminent to deepen the diagnoses and collaboration between the different actors involved.
In this regard, and in order to provide innovative and effective solutions to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Ministerial Meeting on: Financing for climate change mitigation in urban settlements, which was led by the presidency of Minurvi in charge of Minister Santiago Maggiotti, Minister of Territorial Development and Habitat of Argentina (2022-2023).
The objective of this meeting was to discuss possible strategies to create a regional financing fund that would contribute in a concessional manner to the incremental costs of projects and programs with a significant impact on increasing resilience to climate change and/or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The event took place on April 10 and 11, 2023 at the Kirchner Cultural Center in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. It was attended by 28 member countries and ECLAC was represented in its role as Technical Secretariat of Minurvi.
With the aim of sharing experiences and fostering debate on housing, habitat and urban development in Latin America and the Caribbean, MINURVI's virtual discussion forums were held during September and October 2023, led by the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory of Colombia, which assumed the vice-presidency of MINURVI for the period 2023. The three Forums focused on central themes such as energy, territory, land management and climate change mitigation in relation to housing and urban development.
National and sub-national governments in the region were invited to submit experiences and good practices to nurture the exchange of experiences and in preparation for the XXXII MINURVI General Assembly to be held on 9 and 10 November in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The topics and dates of the Forums were:
On December 5 and 6, the XXXI MINURVI Assembly was held at ECLAC headquarters, a regional meeting aimed at promoting adequate and decent housing, sustainable urban development, urban resilience and adaptation to climate change.
In a context shaped by unprecedented global challenges, the Fifth Housing and Habitat Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean concluded with a unanimous call to consider housing as a fundamental tool to address the climate and social crisis affecting the region. Organized by Habitat for Humanity, in collaboration with strategic partners and convened through the Urban Habitat and Housing Practice Platform (UHPH), the event took place in Bogota, Colombia, from July 31 to August 2, 2023.
The Forum, the only one of its kind in the region, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government representatives, sustainable development experts, community leaders and academics, who came together to analyze and co-construct comprehensive and innovative solutions that respond to current housing and urban challenges.
The region has faced increasing challenges related to climate change and social inequality, exacerbated by the global health emergency. The housing deficit, which has been a constant challenge, has become even more acute, underscoring the urgent need to address these problems from a comprehensive, horizontally and vertically coordinated and sustainable perspective. In this edition, the central theme was housing as a cornerstone in the fight against the climate crisis and the social problems aggravated by the pandemic.
For three days, experts and various stakeholders interested in housing, urban planning and sustainable development participated in panels, lectures and working sessions to address these critical issues. The participation of the Human Settlements Unit of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) strengthened the connection between the discussions and regional policies.
One of the highlights of the Forum was the panel entitled "Challenges in housing and settlements in the face of climate change and the social crisis," with the participation of Diego Aulestia, Chief of the Unit, who shared valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the region in the area of housing and habitat. The panel presented innovative approaches to ensure decent housing in harmony with the environment and resilient to climate change.
The Fifth Housing and Habitat Forum reaffirmed the commitment of multiple stakeholders to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in the region. It also highlighted the importance of intersectoral collaboration and the joint search for solutions to address emerging challenges.
The status of implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 was evaluated by the countries of the region at the Sixth Meeting of the Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Countries on Sustainable Development, at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile.
On Tuesday, December 6, the XXXI Minurvi General Assembly continued at ECLAC headquarters, chaired by Carlos Montes, together with the Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Gabriela Aguilera, who served as Vice-President, with a closed meeting in which the regional authorities of the 16 countries present elected the new Minurvi board of directors, with the Minister of Territorial Development and Habitat of Argentina, Santiago Maggiotti, serving as President.
