CITIES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

COMMUNITIES BRING CITIES TO LIFE!

Let's Green Our Cities - Cityscape of Bogota. © Starcevic / Getty Images

What is Urban Justice?

More than half the global population now lives in cities. As massive, growing arenas of culture, politics and resistance, cities are the centre of crucial events and decisions that affect the whole planet, not only because of the increasing impact of climate change, especially on the most marginalised, but through the transformations being driven by communities and urban movements.

Greenpeace’s Urban Justice is a story about people’s collective power in and around cities. It’s about the urban side of nature and how diverse forms of life can support each other to thrive in cities.

Join us in making cities all around the world a safe, resilient and sustainable vision for our shared future!

Fruit Vendor in Davao City. © Jilson Tiu / Greenpeace

To commemorate #WorldCitiesDay on 31st October, Greenpeace International together with Clima e Mobilidade and the UMI Fund have launched an interactive, crowdsourced map providing information and resources for grassroots groups, organisations, and movements working on #UrbanJustice related issues across the world.

The Global Poll results are in!

47%

Less than half of people asked feel safe from extreme weather events.

46%

Cited traffic congestion an issue affecting daily life, health, and well-being.

42%

Perceived air pollution as one of the biggest environmental problems.

As temperatures break records in cities like Sao Paulo and Manila and air quality declines in Jakarta and Delhi, on average less than half of people feel safe from extreme weather events, according to new Opinion Poll commissioned by Greenpeace International in seven major cities across the Global South.

Presented in the context of the upcoming UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the poll found that when asked about the biggest problems in their cities, the top two responses given are commonly linked to climate change: traffic congestion (46%) and air pollution (42%). Other top answers include crime and violence (42%), corruption (40%), unemployment (34%) and the increasing number of people moving to cities (34%).

World Bicycle Day in Jakarta. © Nugroho Adi Putera / Greenpeace
Projection Activity for World Habitat Day in São Paulo. © Diego Baravelli / Greenpeace

Despite the adverse context, over half of the urban residents consulted (56%) are optimistic about the future and believe that their city could become their “dream city”. At the same time, the poll shows that the safer people feel from extreme weather events, the more optimistic they are about their cities becoming their “dream city”.

Based on the poll results, this ‘Visual Utopia’ animation depicts what the people of Nairobi envisioned for their dream city:

Animation produced by Jan Kamensky, featuring artwork from James Mbuthia.

Urban Stories

All around the world, communities are proving that the solutions already exist, and are actively transforming cities for the better.

From Bangalore to Bogotá, and from accessible mobility to sustainable waste management systems, communities are working towards safer, cleaner, more inclusive cities.

Kusum Lata and Other Residents in India. © Greenpeace / Vinit Gupta

The future of transport in India

Free public transport for women in Delhi?
It works.

People powering clean rivers

The people of Recife in Brazil aren’t waiting for the government to give them clean rivers – they’re doing it themselves.

40 years of taking pride in her city

Join Flor Alba for a day of making Bogota a cleaner place for everyone.
Cecep Supriyadi

Jakarta, Indonesia

“We hope that environmental pollution caused by these companies will no longer exist, and residents will live healthier, safer, more peaceful and prosperous lives, that’s all.”

Cecep Supriyadi, Citzens Forum against air pollution, Jakarta, Indonesia

Portrait of Sarah Marques do Nascimento, Recife, Brazil

Recife, Brazil

“Just by existing in this city we already contribute a lot. Our contribution is to live, to face, to resist.”

Sarah Marques do Nascimento, Social Educator, Recife, Brazil

Portrait of wastepicker Flor Alba Garcia in Bogota. © Greenpeace / Diana Rey Melo

Bogotá, Colombia

Flor Alba García Pérez (55) has been a waste picker for more than 40 years, following the family legacy in doing this work. By doing so, she has not only reduced polluting emissions from waste, but has also fought for the dignity of her profession and that of almost 60,000 other waste pickers in Colombia.

Most urban issues are linked to climate change

Taking Action around the World