Through the course of reading, researching and writing for this blog, I’ve come to realise that nature-societal relations, though not explicitly mentioned in formal documents or policymaking, are the foci of urban planning and an integral form of Rio’s global significance. However difficult it may be to appease everyone with the right policy, it has…

This series of posts have explored a number of urban issues through a UPE lens, including studying the metabolism of waste and water. Berlin’s aims to configure this metabolism to be as circular as possible shows their strong ambition and forward-thinking outlook to promote sustainability. Although I didn’t explore this idea in the posts, Berlin’s…

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the extent of Rio’s deeply embedded socio-political problems. Initially, COVID-19 was thought of as a disease affecting only those in the asphalt, emphasising the stark contrast between cariocas who could afford to travel and live luxurious lives to those living in the hill. However, coronavirus does not discriminate against a…