BLOGS
OUR WRITINGS ON URBAN MATTERS
Find here a collection of blogs, articles and commentaries written by members of our team. These express our views in a wide range of issues related to urban matters and the way cities function (or not).
Topics include for example: human rights in the city, gender equity, the production of space, urban sustainability, international development, public and private infrastructure, transition dynamics, etc.
Latest Posts
The United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) 2026 Congress in Tangier, Morocco
Photo taken by Alejandra Rivera at the UCLG Congress opening ceremony June 23, 2026 Reflections
Reflections from the Conference “Degrowth: bridging green and just in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)”
By Alejandra Rivera, international urbanist and founder of Urban Matters and Adam Kiedrowski Chief Specialist
Reflections from the Economy for the Common Good International Conference (ECGIC 2026)
In this blog I explore what is the Economy for the Common Good and share key takeaways from the ECGIC 2026 conference: Four Keynote Perspectives on Economic Transformation and the work of a constellation of actors working on the field.
Safeguarding the Right to Housing Under Climate Change
Understanding Climate Resilient Housing and the Right to Housing
4CITIES Alumni Spotlight: ALEJANDRA RIVERA
According to Vanity Fair, “the Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized
Human Rights compliance: From moral to legal obligation
A review of a discussion generated by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) in a series of webinars “On The Forthcoming EUs Directive on Human Rights Due Diligence
COP27 Reflections: Human Rights are Increasingly on the Built Environment and Climate Action Agendas
Alexandria, Egypt. November 2022. Alejandra Rivera Alejandra Rivera represented the IHRB’s Built Environment programme and
COP27: New narratives of the just transition?
A conversation between Alejandra Rivera, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) Built Environment Team and Charis
From Student to Social Innovator- Interview to 4CITIES
Alejandra Rivera leading a working session at the ISOCARP Young Planning Professional workshop in Kocaeli,
To publish or not to publish? That’s not the question!
Throughout our academic careers and 4CITIES it becomes increasingly appealing to have our work and
Social Innovation Summit
This writing is about the internal struggle we sometimes face about doing or not doing
Spread stories, not the virus
By Job Zomerplaag On Monday, 9 March, universities in Madrid closed overnight due to anti-coronavirus
Contributionism: Reimagining value in urban economies
In rainy Brussels, December 2017 as part of my ‘Urban Geography’ class under the 4CITIES
A “Just Transition” from a human-rights perspective
The way urbanisation has taken place in most cities has taken a toll on the environment, workers and local communities. Basic human rights in cities have not been protected nor respected.
We must be smarter than that
Reactions to Global Witness report: “Myanmar’s poisoned mountains: The toxic rare earth mining industry at the heart of the global green energy transition”