Figure 1.2: Location and surroundings of Toronto, Canada
If the city’s population grows in line with forecasts, Mandlakazi will continue to face a range of climate-related challenges over the coming decades. Some of these will undermine its ability to address the impacts of climate change and rapid urbanization. Our challenge will be working with different stakeholders to establish public and public– private partnerships to secure long-term investment with strong returns and public benefits, such as land tenure security, resilient social and critical infrastructure, and improved access to basic services and housing.
But what about the global pandemic, David? How has COVID-19 affected and changed your city?
David: The pandemic has laid bare the stark inequality in North American cities. COVID-19 has brought to the surface the deep vulnerabilities and inequities that exist in our urban ways of life. Across North America, the issues of systemic racism, sexism, inequality and unequal access to basic health care are all driven by the same institutional and economic failures. Moreover, these drivers of social injustice are the same as those behind pandemics and environmental breakdown. They underscore the extent to which we are all connected, dependent on each other and on a safe and healthy planet.
This situation is typical of North American cities. Climate change means they are likely to experience more coastal flooding, droughts, intense heat waves, more intense rainfall, higher storm surge levels and hurricane wind speeds.
As in every city in North America, certain groups in Toronto – referred to as “climate vulnerable populations” – are at risk of being more severely affected by extreme climate events, partly due to increasing income inequality. Although Toronto is prosperous and growing, the city is also economically divided: higher-income neighbourhoods are better served with more access to essentials like housing, transit and public services, resulting in less poverty and better health outcomes for residents.
But enough about Toronto. Besides undergoing a process of urbanization both within Mandlakazi and across Mozambique, what are some of the particular challenges you face, Maria-Helena, especially those related to the environment and the climate emergency?
Maria-Helena: The biggest challenges holding the city of Mandlakazi back are budgetary constraints, poverty, infrastructure conditions, poor housing and weak solid waste management. Like many small and medium Mozambican cities, the city suffers from governance issues, including a lack of transparency and accountability.
Due to its geographic location, Mozambique is very exposed to natural hazards and the impacts of climate change, such as floods, cyclones and rising sea levels. However, changing rainfall patterns are also likely to reduce the flow of rivers in Mozambique, in turn leading to a decrease in the availability of surface water and soil water recharge, impacting groundwater resources and the water table of wells.
When the pandemic is over, we need to rethink urban design, planning and management and our relationships to urban systems. I am excited that this new GEO for Cities report will show city decision makers how economic stimulus responses to COVID-19 at all levels of government must be focus on green and just solutions and promote sustainable and resilient urban planning, focusing on areas such as upgrading slums, clean energy, energy efficiency and healthier mobility, including mass transit, walking and cycling. Of course, all this can only be achieved if we stop investing public money in fossil fuel technologies and redirect it to renewable energy plans and projects.
I really hope that the innovative action we take now to recover from the COVID-19 crisis will be guided by the long-term goal of building thriving, inclusive and environmentally sustainable communities. Now more than ever, we need to upskill and reskill workforces to promote access to good jobs in the growing green economy and lift up and support city workers to deliver resilient and sustainable public services for all, especially to our most vulnerable. Prioritizing a green and just recovery that is consistent with limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5°C could create 50 million quality green jobs by 2025, prevent 270,000 premature deaths from poor air quality and save $1.4 billion in health costs from reduced hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases across all C40 cities between 2020 and 2030. Economic stimulus packages and investments must point the way to cities in which all citizens have access to security and opportunity, and they must put health at the heart of urban life.
Tell me, Maria-Helena, how has the global pandemic affected Mandlakazi?
Why GEO for Cities, Why Now? 15
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