Publication: Green Cities : Sustainable Low-Income Housing in Brazil
Loading...
Published
2011-05
ISSN
Date
2013-03-15
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
Housing development has direct and indirect impacts on the environment. Through its design, construction, and operation, housing represents a significant point of direct consumption of natural materials, water, and energy. Therefore, greenhouse gas emissions embodied in housing can be very significant. Moreover, in Brazil, civil construction is responsible for the largest percentage of solid waste volume generated in cities, resulting in additional environmental impacts. The housing sector also has substantial indirect environmental impacts associated with extended commuting distances from residents of housing developments and their resulting greenhouse gas emissions.The housing sector in Brazil offers substantial opportunities to improve enviromental performance. Housing developments, particularly large-scale low-cost programs, provide opportunities to minimize local and global environmental impacts through the use of energy efficient materials, design and construction guidelines, as well as performance standards. Many of these technologies and practices are appropriate to Brazilian conditions, and a number of them are already in use. Low-cost housing programs can be designed to incorporate sustainable materials and guidelines, with potentially large-scale impacts. With the launch of the Minha Casa, Minha Vida (MCMV) economic stimulus program to subsidize the construction of 1 million low-income housing units (and recent approval of a second round of subsidies for 2 million homes), Brazil is in a unique position to achieve the triumvirate of sustainable growth the social goal of reducing the national housing deficit, the economic stimulus goal of creating jobs in the construction industry, and the environmental goal of developing healthy homes and communities. Centralized funding sources like MCMV provide can be also used as models for other assisted housing programs and, potentially, market-rate housing developments as cities, developers and construction product manufacturers become more experienced in green housing technologies.Many green construction and technology programs are already in place. Brazil has a history of promoting programs and policies related to sustainable housing design construction and maintenance, such as product certification, supply-chain, research and development, and Green Building programs. The Selo Azul Program, launched by CAIXA in 2010 with the goal of promoting green housing development in Brazil, is particularly promising. Enhancements to current programs can greatly improve sustainability of housing sector. With increasing awareness on sustainable construction, there are currently major opportunities to promote the incorporation of green construction technologies, as well as hazard-resistant technologies for climate adaptation, within formal and informal low-income housing in Brazil. Based on a review of current practices at the national and international level, as well as on interviews with public and private sector practitioners, this Policy Note presents recommendations aimed at enhancing the sustainability of low-income housing approaches in Brazil, through the provision of high quality, energy-efficient housing with minimal environmental impacts.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2011. Green Cities : Sustainable Low-Income Housing in Brazil. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/12786 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Digital Object Identifier
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication City Development Strategy and City Assistance Programme : Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Volume 1(Kathmandu, 2001-01)In conformity with its objective of functioning as a local Government, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) sought the assistance of the World Bank for the preparation of a City Development Strategy (CDS) for Kathmandu. The various sectoral as well as integrated strategies presented in this document seem to be an overwhelming demand on KMC with its limited manpower and money. However, a CDS is essential if KMC is to focus its development potential. The optimism lies in political leadership, enabling environment and necessary support that will be rendered to KMC from civil society. The vision for Kathmandu stresses the need to develop the valley as administrative, cultural and tourism center. The strategy to move towards that vision through improvement in the overall situation of the KMC, however, is likely to be a long drawn struggle, yet achievable. The urban planning study strongly recommends that Kathmandu should be accorded special status as a capital city and large polluting and manufacturing industries should be discouraged immediately and if possible, re-location plans be drawn for existing industries in the near future. Alternatively, service and light industries should be promoted to replace the economic opportunities. Urban areas in KMC are not designated by a functional and occupational structure or contiguity criteria for managing housing and squatter settlements. Housing problems are a serious challenge in a situation where a historically planned city is fast transforming itself into a trade-cum-service center. On the other hand, it is encouraging to note that despite the absence of city specific policies and programs for housing, slums and squatters, the communities are highly organized and are gradually improving their conditions at their own costs, which show their potential for mobilization in participatory home improvement programs.Publication City Diagnostic Report for City Development Strategy : Kathmandu Metropolitan City(World Bank, Kathmandu, 2001-01)In conformity with its objective of functioning as a local Government, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) sought the assistance of the World Bank for the preparation of a City Development Strategy (CDS). The various sectoral as well as integrated strategies presented in this document seem to be an overwhelming demand on KMC with its limited manpower and money. A CDS is essential if KMC is to focus its development potential. The optimism lies in political leadership, enabling environment and necessary support that will be rendered to KMC from civil society. The vision for Kathmandu stresses the need to develop the valley as administrative, cultural and tourism center. The strategy to move towards that vision through improvement in the overall situation of the KMC, however, is likely to be a long drawn struggle, yet achievable. The urban planning study strongly recommends that Kathmandu should be accorded special status as a capital city and large polluting and manufacturing industries should be discouraged immediately and if possible, re-location plans be drawn for existing industries in the near future. Alternatively, service and light industries should be promoted to replace the economic opportunities. Urban areas in KMC are not designated by a functional and occupational structure or contiguity criteria for managing housing and squatter settlements. Housing problems are a serious challenge in a situation where a historically planned city is fast transforming itself into a trade-cum-service center. On the other hand, it is encouraging to note that despite the absence of city specific policies and programs for housing, slums and squatters, the communities are highly organized and are gradually improving their conditions at their own costs, which show their potential for mobilization in participatory home improvement programs.Publication City Development Strategy and City Assistance Programme : Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Volume 2(Kathmandu, 2001-01)In conformity with its objective of functioning as a local Government, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) sought the assistance of the World Bank for the preparation of a City Development Strategy (CDS) for Kathmandu. The various sectoral as well as integrated strategies presented in this document seem to be an overwhelming demand on KMC with its limited manpower and money. However, a CDS is essential if KMC is to focus its development potential. The optimism lies in political leadership, enabling environment and necessary support that will be rendered to KMC from civil society. The vision for Kathmandu stresses the need to develop the valley as administrative, cultural and tourism center. The strategy to move towards that vision through improvement in the overall situation of the KMC, however, is likely to be a long drawn struggle, yet achievable. The urban planning study strongly recommends that Kathmandu should be accorded special status as a capital city and large polluting and manufacturing industries should be discouraged immediately and if possible, re-location plans be drawn for existing industries in the near future. Alternatively, service and light industries should be promoted to replace the economic opportunities. Urban areas in KMC are not designated by a functional and occupational structure or contiguity criteria for managing housing and squatter settlements. Housing problems are a serious challenge in a situation where a historically planned city is fast transforming itself into a trade-cum-service center. On the other hand, it is encouraging to note that despite the absence of city specific policies and programs for housing, slums and squatters, the communities are highly organized and are gradually improving their conditions at their own costs, which show their potential for mobilization in participatory home improvement programs.Publication Building Regulation for Resilience(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2015-12-09)The global toll of human suffering and material loss due to disasters has led to growing public concern and expanded institutional response in the form of disaster relief and recovery assistance from individuals, governments, and intergovernmental organizations. Initial humanitarian concern has primarily been focused on dealing with the consequences of disasters. However, we must begin to address the causes of these events while ensuring the implementation of policies to reduce disaster risks or losses. Low- and middle-income countries will experience a doubling of their building stocks in the next 15- 20 years, and it is crucial to assure that this new construction does not recreate and expand the disaster vulnerability of the present. Priority must be placed on the production of safe and resilient cities, communities, and homes. While safer, code-compliant construction may add to initial construction costs, these investments can be balanced against the reduced loss of life and property in future disasters. The agenda provides the international community with an opportunity to leverage regulatory governance as a powerful means to shift the focus from post-disaster relief and response to proactive population protection, disaster prevention, and sustainable and resilient urban development.Publication The Asian Coalition for Community Action's Approach to Slum Upgrading(Washington, DC, 2014)This paper is a review of the experience of the Asian Coalition for Community Action (ACCA) Program operated by the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR). The objective is to examine what ACCA has accomplished in three years of operation (2009-2012) under a Gates Foundation grant. The review is based on field visits to three of the countries served by ACCA Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and discussions with community leaders from three other countries Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Numerous discussions were held with the ACHR leadership, staff from the Community Organization Development Institute (CODI) of Thailand, and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).1 In addition, a review was conducted of the literature prepared by and about ACHR, as well as a filtering and synthesis of the status of the cities and countries that made use of ACCA in terms of their broader economic conditions and local governance capabilities. Given that ACCA operates in more than 150 cities in 19 countries, this review is by no means an audited account of its activities.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Argentina Country Climate and Development Report(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-11)The Argentina Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) explores opportunities and identifies trade-offs for aligning Argentina’s growth and poverty reduction policies with its commitments on, and its ability to withstand, climate change. It assesses how the country can: reduce its vulnerability to climate shocks through targeted public and private investments and adequation of social protection. The report also shows how Argentina can seize the benefits of a global decarbonization path to sustain a more robust economic growth through further development of Argentina’s potential for renewable energy, energy efficiency actions, the lithium value chain, as well as climate-smart agriculture (and land use) options. Given Argentina’s context, this CCDR focuses on win-win policies and investments, which have large co-benefits or can contribute to raising the country’s growth while helping to adapt the economy, also considering how human capital actions can accompany a just transition.Publication Digital Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-03-13)All African countries need better and more jobs for their growing populations. "Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs" shows that broader use of productivity-enhancing, digital technologies by enterprises and households is imperative to generate such jobs, including for lower-skilled people. At the same time, it can support not only countries’ short-term objective of postpandemic economic recovery but also their vision of economic transformation with more inclusive growth. These outcomes are not automatic, however. Mobile internet availability has increased throughout the continent in recent years, but Africa’s uptake gap is the highest in the world. Areas with at least 3G mobile internet service now cover 84 percent of Africa’s population, but only 22 percent uses such services. And the average African business lags in the use of smartphones and computers as well as more sophisticated digital technologies that catalyze further productivity gains. Two issues explain the usage gap: affordability of these new technologies and willingness to use them. For the 40 percent of Africans below the extreme poverty line, mobile data plans alone would cost one-third of their incomes—in addition to the price of access devices, apps, and electricity. Data plans for small- and medium-size businesses are also more expensive than in other regions. Moreover, shortcomings in the quality of internet services—and in the supply of attractive, skills-appropriate apps that promote entrepreneurship and raise earnings—dampen people’s willingness to use them. For those countries already using these technologies, the development payoffs are significant. New empirical studies for this report add to the rapidly growing evidence that mobile internet availability directly raises enterprise productivity, increases jobs, and reduces poverty throughout Africa. To realize these and other benefits more widely, Africa’s countries must implement complementary and mutually reinforcing policies to strengthen both consumers’ ability to pay and willingness to use digital technologies. These interventions must prioritize productive use to generate large numbers of inclusive jobs in a region poised to benefit from a massive, youthful workforce—one projected to become the world’s largest by the end of this century.Publication World Development Report 2006(Washington, DC, 2005)This year’s Word Development Report (WDR), the twenty-eighth, looks at the role of equity in the development process. It defines equity in terms of two basic principles. The first is equal opportunities: that a person’s chances in life should be determined by his or her talents and efforts, rather than by pre-determined circumstances such as race, gender, social or family background. The second principle is the avoidance of extreme deprivation in outcomes, particularly in health, education and consumption levels. This principle thus includes the objective of poverty reduction. The report’s main message is that, in the long run, the pursuit of equity and the pursuit of economic prosperity are complementary. In addition to detailed chapters exploring these and related issues, the Report contains selected data from the World Development Indicators 2005‹an appendix of economic and social data for over 200 countries. This Report offers practical insights for policymakers, executives, scholars, and all those with an interest in economic development.Publication Lebanon Economic Monitor, Fall 2022(Washington, DC, 2022-11)The economy continues to contract, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. Public finances improved in 2021, but only because spending collapsed faster than revenue generation. Testament to the continued atrophy of Lebanon’s economy, the Lebanese Pound continues to depreciate sharply. The sharp deterioration in the currency continues to drive surging inflation, in triple digits since July 2020, impacting the poor and vulnerable the most. An unprecedented institutional vacuum will likely further delay any agreement on crisis resolution and much needed reforms; this includes prior actions as part of the April 2022 International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff-level agreement (SLA). Divergent views among key stakeholders on how to distribute the financial losses remains the main bottleneck for reaching an agreement on a comprehensive reform agenda. Lebanon needs to urgently adopt a domestic, equitable, and comprehensive solution that is predicated on: (i) addressing upfront the balance sheet impairments, (ii) restoring liquidity, and (iii) adhering to sound global practices of bail-in solutions based on a hierarchy of creditors (starting with banks’ shareholders) that protects small depositors.Publication Classroom Assessment to Support Foundational Literacy(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-03-21)This document focuses primarily on how classroom assessment activities can measure students’ literacy skills as they progress along a learning trajectory towards reading fluently and with comprehension by the end of primary school grades. The document addresses considerations regarding the design and implementation of early grade reading classroom assessment, provides examples of assessment activities from a variety of countries and contexts, and discusses the importance of incorporating classroom assessment practices into teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers. The structure of the document is as follows. The first section presents definitions and addresses basic questions on classroom assessment. Section 2 covers the intersection between assessment and early grade reading by discussing how learning assessment can measure early grade reading skills following the reading learning trajectory. Section 3 compares some of the most common early grade literacy assessment tools with respect to the early grade reading skills and developmental phases. Section 4 of the document addresses teacher training considerations in developing, scoring, and using early grade reading assessment. Additional issues in assessing reading skills in the classroom and using assessment results to improve teaching and learning are reviewed in section 5. Throughout the document, country cases are presented to demonstrate how assessment activities can be implemented in the classroom in different contexts.