Projects and Events
Africa is urbanizing at an incredible pace, much faster rate than many other regions in the world. It is a timely moment to study the process of African urbanization and to implement a strategy for this new urbanization. CSUD chose to articulate this project around the following question: how to provoke a policy change toward urban areas at the national government level, through local authorities? This question is the core of CSUD’s work in Nairobi, particularly though the pilot urban planning project in Ruiru, Kenya, to influence a transport policy at the metropolitan scale of Nairobi region. Ruiru is a satellite city of Nairobi and CSUD believes the important work in Ruiru will ultimately lead to the creation of an urbanization template with a social element for other African cities, thus establishing a context for studying the larger urbanization process in the Global South. more about this project...
From December of 2007 through the spring of 2008, The Center for Sustainable Urban Development partnered with The Urban Design Lab at the Earth Institute and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a community-based group in West Harlem, to conduct a study of the potential impacts of PlaNYC’ 2030’s proposed congestion pricing plan on the neighborhoods of Northern Manhattan. The resulting report, titled “Northern Manhattan and the Congestion Pricing Plan: A Comprehensive Look at the Citywide Plan from a Community Perspective,” provided original research and recommendations to address both the concerns of Northern Manhattan communities as well as the potential to access possible opportunities that could be derived by the plan. The report was widely distributed to policy makers and the public. Read the Congestion Pricing report.
Rockefeller Foundation and CSUD Convene Global Urban Summit
This year marks the first time in history that half of the world's population lives in urban regions. By 2030, this proportion is expected to climb to more than 60 percent. In an effort to highlight innovative solutions to the complex urban challenges resulting from this major demographic transformation, the Rockefeller Foundation, along with the Center for Sustainable Urban Development (CSUD), part of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, sponsored a month-long series of themed conferences in July, 2007. more about this project.
In 2002, Secretary-General Kofi Annan called upon development experts from around the world to develop concrete action plans to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Columbia University professor Elliott Sclar co-chaired Task Force 8, which was charged with MDG 7–Ensure Environmental Sustainability–Target 11: “To achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers By 2020”. read article...
Better Air Quality for African Cities
Urban air pollution in African cities is emerging as a key threat to health, environment, economy and quality of life of millions of Africans as the levels of urbanization, motorization and economic activity increase. Air quality levels are deteriorating and to raise awareness and develop a framework for action to address the growing problem, a regional conference was organized at UNEP's headquarters in Nairobi in late July. Patrick Kinney (pictured at right), a professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and CSUD researcher, gave a presentation on the health impacts of major air pollutants. view presentation flash ...more about the conference | pdf
Sustainable South Bronx (SSB) New Roof Demonstration Project
With funding from Majora Carter, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx, Joyce Rosenthal will work with graduate research assistants to assess the benefits of cool roof development in the South Bronx. The project will evaluate passive rooftop cooling technologies that may have multiple advantages in conserving peak electrical load by reducing need for air conditioning during hot days; improving air quality by reducing the formation of ground-level ozone; and improving public health by reducing summertime heat stress during hot days and heat waves. more about this project...