COVID-19 In An Urban World - United Nations
Policy Brief:COVID-19 in anUrban WorldJ U LY 2 0 2 0
Executive summaryThe remarkable growth of cities in recent dec-joblessness, public services, infrastructureades has intensified a number of humanity’sand transport, all of which are disproportion-most pressing challenges. It has also presentedally affecting the most vulnerable in society.many of our greatest opportunities to protect people, prosperity and planet. COVID-19has laid bare – and indeed heightened – bothCOVID-19 highlights the critical role localgovernments play as front-line responders inthese challenges and these opportunities.crisis response, recovery and rebuilding. TheyWith an estimated 90 percent of all reporteddevelopment and infrastructure investments.COVID-19 cases, urban areas have become theHowever, business closures, job losses, andepicentre of the pandemic. The size of their pop-other economic impacts have led to decliningulations and their high level of global and localtax revenues during the crisis, placing significantinterconnectivity make them particularly vulnera-financial strain on many local governments.ble to the spread of the virus. On the other hand,Estimates from the World Bank and UN entitiesthere is no evidence to suggest that densitysuggest that local governments may on aver-per se correlates to higher virus transmission.age lose 15 per cent to 25 per cent in revenuesCities can manage this crisis and emerge as thein 2021.2 Cities with less diversified economichubs of energy, resilience and innovation thatbases have been hit especially hard. Cities withmake them such vibrant and appealing placesa revenue base reliant primarily on tourism, forfor many to live. But this will take consciousexample, may see acute economic shrinkagepolicy choices, as this policy brief will show,as earnings from international tourism are esti-particularly with respect to inequalities, localmated to decline by as much as 80 per cent incapacities and a green, inclusive recovery.2020, accompanied by the loss of 120 million1In the near term, for many cities, the COVID-19health crisis has expanded to a crisis of urbanaccess, urban equity, urban finance, safety,play a leading role in service delivery, economicjobs.3 If not addressed, the financial crisesthat cities may bear could jeopardise crucialurban infrastructure investments, lead to cutsin public services, and undermine broadersustainable urban development efforts.123United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), “Opinion: COVID-19 demonstrates urgent need for cities to prepare for pandemics”, 15 June 2020, available at Semeh Wahba and others, “Cities are on the front lines of COVID-19”, 12 May 2020, available at es-are-front-lines-covid-19.United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), “International Tourist Numbers could Fall 60–80% in 2020”, 7 May 2020, availableat tourist-numbers-could-fall-60-80-in-2020.2 POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 IN AN URBAN WORLD
COVID-19 shutdown measures in urban areastackling COVID-19 may be more challenging inhave had economic impacts far beyond theirurban areas with high levels of crime and vio-boundaries. Urban economies account forlence,9 poor infrastructure and housing,10 and/approximately 80 per cent of global GDP.or weak local governance11 with ill-equipped4Hours worked across all countries and regionsor under-resourced frontline workers. Limitedare estimated to have fallen by 14 percentaccess to healthcare,12 basic services13 andin the second quarter of 2020 relative to theadequate housing and/or public space canlast quarter of 2019, which is equivalent to afurther undermine COVID-19 responses.loss of 400 million full-time jobs. Globally,5the effects have been especially severe in theinformal sector, which represents 90 per centand 67 per cent of total employment in low andmiddle-income countries respectively.6 In thefirst month of the crisis, on average informalworkers worldwide lost as much as 60 per centof their earnings. In Africa and Latin Americathis figure was nearly 80 per cent.7 This hashad devastating impacts for women. Globallywomen are overrepresented in the informaleconomy as well as in the hardest hit sectors,To safely adhere to coronavirus physical distancing and hygiene guidelines, everyoneneeds access to adequate housing.14 Yet theglobal urban housing crisis forces around 1 billion people or 24 percent of the world’s urbanpopulation to reside in slums and informalsettlements,15 exacerbating the impact of thepandemic. With limited or no income duringlockdowns, the urban poor in all countriesface risk of eviction, while overcrowding inlow-quality housing increases the risk of rapidsuch as tourism, hospitality, and services.transmission. Housing considerations mayDeep-rooted inequalities, including where into violence and abuse. Since the pandemica city a person lives and works and a person’sbegan, levels of gender-based violence havegender and age, can lead to the pandemicincreased at alarming levels in all regions. Withhaving a disproportional impact on groupsmobility restricted, unemployment and povertythat were already in a situation of greater vul-rising, the ability of women to flee an abusivenerability.8 Meanwhile, there is evidence thatsituation has become even more constrained.456789101112131415also be increasing the vulnerability of womenWorld Bank, “Urban Development”, 20 April 2020, available at t/overview.International Labour Organization (ILO), ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the World of Work, fifth edition, 30 June 2020.ILO, “COVID-19 crisis and the informal economy: Immediate responses and policy challenges”, available at https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed cms 743623.pdf.United Nations, “Policy Brief: The World of Work and COVID-19”, available at https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/the world ofwork and covid-19.pdf.Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD), “OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19)”, 13 May 2020, available at ities-policy-responses-fd1053ff; and Jillian Du, Robert King and Radha Chanchani,“Tackling Inequality in Cities is Essential for Fighting COVID-19”, 14 April 2020, available at ality-cities.United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “Research Brief: The impact of COVID-19 on Organized crime”, avialbale at covid/RB COVID organized crime july13 web.pdf.Gaurav Bhardwaj and others, Cities, Crowding, and the Coronavirus: Predicting Contagion Risk Hotspots, Washington, DC: World Bank,2020, available at 3648.UN-Habitat, “UN-Habitat Guidance on COVID-19 and Public Space”, June 2020, available at un-habitat guidance on covid-19 and public space.pdf.United Nations, “Policy Brief: The World of Work and COVID-19”, available at https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/the world ofwork and covid-19.pdf.Gaurav Bhardwaj and others, Cities, 2020.Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “COVID-19 Guidance Note: Protecting residents of informalsettlements”, 23 April 2020, available at https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Housing/SR housing COVID-19 Guidanceinformal settlements.pdf.Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: Report of the Secretary-General, available at ments/26158Final SG SDG Progress Report 14052020.pdf.POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 IN AN URBAN WORLD 3
Public transport systems around the worldparticularly among populations already facinghave seen ridership and revenue plummetsocio-economic stress due to marginalization.19and have been forced to cut services. ThisWhile pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissionsis a worrisome trend considering that beforehave fallen sharply during the pandemic whenthe pandemic, only around half of the world’scountries halted their economies to contain theurban population had convenient access tospread of the virus, these environmental gainspublic transport.16 Declining ridership due toare expected to be temporary if economiesCOVID-19 – if not halted and reversed – couldreopen without policies in place that preventjeopardize the transition to safe and sustain-air pollution and promote decarbonization.able transport for all, and constrain effortsto tackle climate change and air pollution.Meanwhile, the current pandemic is acceler-Several cities have encouraged biking andremote work, and virtual delivery of essentialwalking as safe alternatives to public transportservices. This transition to digital life has cre-during the COVID-19 outbreak, enabling new userated an uncertain future for city infrastructuregroups to take advantage of the affordabilityand buildings, as demand for office space andand health benefits of these forms of transport.housing could subsequently decline. Urban seg-The success of these initiatives may encourageregation and migration could also acceleratecity governments to convert more roads foras people at higher income levels look for newsimilar purposes, further improving mobilityways of living and working outside the city inand safety. There is also an opportunity in thisresponse to the pandemic. If associated with anmoment to relook at public transport from a gen-increase in urban sprawl and income, racial andder perspective, taking into account protectiongender inequalities, migration away from citiesconsiderations, where main arteries and routescould undermine vital efforts to achieve theflow and how these factors impact time spentSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), protectmoving between schools, care facilities, marketsbiodiversity and address the climate crisis.2017and other essential facilities that are often on theating trends such as digitalization, shifts toperiphery rather than on main transport routes.There is an urgent need to rethink and trans-Several new scientific studies suggest that poorand potential future pandemics, and to recoverair quality is correlated with higher COVID-19better, by building more resilient, inclusive andmortality rates. For example, a small increase insustainable cities. We know that this is possi-fine particulate matter has been associated withble. The rapid shifts in society due to COVID-19an 8 percent increase and up to 21.4 per centpresent a powerful lesson that society is capableincrease in death rates in the US and theof near-overnight transformation that is neededNetherlands, respectively. New evidence alsoto confront our most urgent threats, such as thepoints to impacts on pregnant women andclimate and pollution crises that threaten thenewborn babies as well as maternal mortality,very viability of cities. Indeed, previous disease18form cities to respond to the reality of COVID-1916 Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: Report of the Secretary-General, available at ments/26158Final SG SDG Progress Report 14052020.pdf.17 UN-Women, COVID-19 and Ensuring Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls, 2020, p. 6.18 Wu and others, “Exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States: A nationwide cross-sectional study”, medRxiv2020.04.05.20054502; and Cole and others, “Air Pollution Exposure and COVID-19”, IZA DP No. 13367, available at http://ftp.iza.org/dp13367.pdf.19 Christopher Flavelle, “Climate Change Tied to Pregnancy Risks, Affecting Black Mothers Most”, New York Times, 18 June 2020, availableat -change-pregnancy-study.html.20 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2016/goal-11.4 POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 IN AN URBAN WORLD
outbreaks – such as the flu pandemic (1918) Understand inequalities and commit to dis-and localized epidemics of tuberculosis andaggregated data gathering and utilisation:cholera – have driven several positive urbanSpatial mapping and analysis of inequalitiestransformations – such as the introduction ofat urban and neighbourhood levels and dis-sewage systems, public parks, and housing reg-aggregated by gender and age could be con-ulations to improve sanitation and reduce over-ducted to assess health, wealth and wellbeingcrowding. Today, local and regional governmentsin order to reshape national and local develop-are already demonstrating an impressive arrayment policies, in particular in deprived areasof innovative solutions that can address struc-and slums and at the most local of levels.tural weaknesses exposed by the pandemic. Provide safe shelter for all and consider aAddressing COVID-19 in an increasingly urban-moratorium on all evictions: Temporary shel-ized world requires a focus on how urbanizationters could be provided to enable those livingshapes impacts, responses and longer-termin overcrowded or unsafe conditions to phys-recovery. Responses that are siloed or short-ically distance or safely self-isolate, wheresighted, focusing on quick fixes, could worsenneeded. All residents, regardless of migra-and entrench impacts laid bare by the COVID-19tion status or formality of dwelling, needpandemic. Meanwhile, many of the short-termto be protected from evictions during theresponse measures will need to be maintainedCOVID-19 crisis and from essential servicefor some time, even when the initial outbreakdisconnections. Domestic violence sheltersappears to have been contained, given the riskshould be declared as essential services andof secondary waves of infections. Long-termwhere they are full or have insufficient spacepolicy choices by national, regional and localowing to distancing measures, alternativegovernments are needed to build our resilienceaccommodation should be made available.against future pandemics, including climaticand economic hazards and shocks, while safe- Make large-scale public investments inaffordable and adequate housing and slumguarding human rights, sustaining peace andstrengthening our ability to achieve the SDGs.upgrading to ensure that marginalized groupsRealizing these potential gains willical and mental health during the pandemichave access to shelter that facilitates physand beyond. Future-proof investments torequire intensified commitmentsensure extension of adequate water andand action in three key areas:1) TACKLING INEQUALITIES ANDDEVELOPMENT DEFICITSsanitation coverage are also needed. Ensure that public services are uninterrupted, equally accessible for the urbanNational and local government efforts to pro-poor and other vulnerable groups and pay-tect the most vulnerable groups during thements in default forgiven or deferred: Thisimmediate response phases are crucial, asis particularly important for services thatare recovery measures that reduce urban ine-are crucial for effectively coping with thequalities, strengthen human rights and bolstercrisis – such as water, sanitation, waste col-the resilience of vulnerable groups to futurelection and electricity. For individuals andshocks. Against this background, priority actionscommunities that currently lack access tothat policymakers could make – in consulta-such services, it will be important to providetion with relevant stakeholders – include:immediate access – for example in the formPOLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 IN AN URBAN WORLD 5
of handwashing stations. Equally improvedOF LOCAL ACTORS, PARTICULARLYhoods will also facilitate telecommuting andLOCAL GOVERNMENTShome education while schools are closed. 2) STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIESinternet access in poor urban neighbour-Ensure equitable access to health supplies,facilities and resources and support theurban poor and vulnerable groups with freeor low-cost access to face masks, testing,and treatment. Coordination and collaboration should be promoted amongst hospitals to ensure that the burden of COVID-19treatment is distributed effectively to avoidhospitals in deprived affected areas frombecoming overwhelmed when those inNational governments could promote moreinclusive, collaborative and responsive governance across jurisdictions and levels ofgovernment. National stimulus packages thatmaximize support for tailored subnationalresponses, and that boost local governments’budgetary capacity, can help to addresssome of the constraints that local governments face. Priority actions could include: ernment and subnational jurisdictions:less hard-hit areas have spare capacity. Inclusive, participatory, multi-level governance are at the heart of local responses, andGuarantee equitable distribution of vac-collaboration between all levels of govern-cines: Cities are crucial distribution centresment needs to be institutionalised, providingfor vaccines, and as such could play a cru-consistent engagement with all residents,cial role in ensuring that such distributionparticularly marginalised and vulnerableis equitable. Local governments can helpgroups. Where there are low levels of wom-to ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine, whenen’s formal representation in governancedeveloped, is available to poor and vulnerablebodies, temporary structures such as a citygroups free of charge or at a very low cost.21 level COVID taskforce with gender balancedrepresentation, should be considered.Ensure the most marginalised communities and individuals play leadership roles inimmediate response, design and planningEnsure collaboration across levels of gov- Enhance local government budgetary capacity with policy measures and dedicatedefforts: The most vulnerable and marginal-funds in stimulus packages: Stimulus pack-ised communities, including slum dwellers,ages and policy measures could be adoptedpeople suffering from homelessness, inter-that boost local and regional governments’nally displaced persons, people with disabili-ability to sustain critical public servicesties, women and girls, migrants and refugees,and raise and control their own financesshould be engaged as response leaders and(for example, through local taxes, chargespartners to ensure that response measuresand fees), while also taking into accountare designed with their needs in mind.the need to prevent additional financialpressure on poor and vulnerable groups. Promote accountability and transparency:Evidence-based accountability mechanisms21 World Health Organization (WHO), “COVID‑19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan: operational planning guidelines to support country preparedness and response”, 22 May 20202, available at 20).pdf.6 POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 IN AN URBAN WORLD
on the implementation of COVID-19 pol-socio-economic vulnerabilities, leverage dataicies could be enacted for all levels offor urban planning and adopt climate investmentgovernment, in a manner that allows formeasures. For instance, financial assistancedirect feedback from communities.programmes and direct stimulus funding forEnsure communication campaigns reachall urban communities: Effective and coherent communication engagement strategies could be prioritised with a view tobuilding public trust in COVID-19 responseand recovery efforts at all levels of government, taking account of literacy, languageand access to technology barriers. Support local governments in avoidingdisruptions of essential public services:Sufficient financial resources and revenue-raising capacity need to be ensured tosustain critical public services (e.g. water,sanitation, transport, education, electricity). Essential services should also includedomestic violence shelters and other protection services. Policies and st
4 POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 IN AN URBAN WORLD Public transport systems around the world have seen ridership and revenue plummet and have b
Urban Design is only is 85; there is no application fee. Further information and application form see the UDG website www.udg.org.uk or phone 020 7250 0892 Urban Degsi n groUp Urban U Degsi n groUp UrBan DesiGn145 Winter 2018 Urban Design Group Journal ISSN 1750 712X nortH aMeriCa URBAN DESIGN GROUP URBAN DESIGN
The present bibliography is a continuation of and a complement to those published in the Urban History Yearbook 1974-91 and Urban History from 1992. The arrangement and format closely follows that of pre- . VIII Shaping the urban environment Town planning (and environmental control) Urban renewal IX Urban culture Urban renewal Urban culture .
COVID-19 Mental health impact COVID-19 Impact on Sleep COVID-19 Positive Impacts University of California, San Dr. Ariel J. Lang ajlang@health.ucsd.edu ID: 21877 COVID-19 Household Environment Scale (CHES) - English COVID-19 Household Environment Scale (CHES) - Spanish COVID-19 Social Distancing and Symptoms COVID-19 on Family .
Renaissance Cities/Towns Baroque Cities/Towns Post Industrial Cities/Towns Modern Period 3 Elements of Urban Design and Basic Design Elements of Urban Design Urban Morphology Urban Form Urban Mass Urban/Public Spaces Townscape Public Art Some Basic Urban Design Principles and Techniques. Unit-2 4.
Key words: urban square, public square, plaza, urban space, public space, common space, super-organism . Abstract . This essay introduces rules for building new urban squares, and for fixing existing ones that are dead. The public square as a fundamental urban element behaves both as a node and as a connector of the urban fabric.
GCSE Geography Paper 2 Section A: Urban issues and challenges (Rio and Bristol) Urban planning to improve quality of life for the urban poor (Favela Bairro) Urban regeneration project in the UK (Temple Quarter, Bristol) Urban sustainability and Urban Transport Strategies Section B: Development, causes and consequences of uneven development.
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URBAN AUTHORITY AREAS, ESTABLISHMENT AND VARIATION OF AREAS OF URBAN AUTHORITIES A- Establishment 5. Power to establish urban authority. 6. Content of establishment order. 7. Procedure for establishment of urban authority. 8. Certificate of establishment. 9 Content and effect of certificate. Variation of area of urban authority.
