Workshop: Urbanising landscapes and traditions of change in Africa and beyond
A workshop organised by the Aarhus IHOPE Hub, jointly hosted by Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet), Centre for Environmental Humanities (CEH) and the MCH Programme, Aarhus University
Info about event
Time
Location
UrbNet, AU Campus Moesgaard, Moesgaard Allé 20, 8270 Højbjerg, 4230-232
Extreme climate risks are now recognised as the most severe threat to fast-growing cities across the globe, and especially in Africa. As most world governments commit to reduce carbon emission at COP24 (2018), the role of science and research appear polarised between the scepticism of fossil fuel-dependent economies and the zealous but discordant efforts of climate change mitigating actions. In fast-urbanising economies, this missing link between data science and policy planning often translates into development initiatives that are designed to deliver sustainable responses to climate change global trends but fail to account for the social, economic and ecological impacts of localised climate extreme and anomalies. One might cite, for example, the impact of hydropower industry, which has become a major focus of climate-smart development strategies in emerging economies of the global south. Whilst supplying renewable energy to megacities, the building of hydropower plants also means reshaping the hydrology of entire regions, resettlement of people, and annihilation of long-established built environments. A similar degree of controversy is hampering efforts to model food security and heritage protection, especially in Africa, facing the fastest and largest transition from rural to urban living.
In an attempt to foster an interdisciplinary discourse, the Aarhus Hub of IHOPE will host a workshop to consider social and environmental implications of fast urbanisation phenomena and increasing climate change sensitivity in Africa and beyond. Participants will offer perspectives and case studies on:
- Urban services and systems for producing and sustaining water and food security in the face of demographic growth and climate chance sensitivity;
- Urban spaces and strategies for developing and maintaining resilient built environments and landscape infrastructures;
- Urban cultures and what ‘city’ and urban living mean in different socio-cultural contexts.
Click here to see the full programme.
All are welcome. Please RSVP via email to Frederica Sulas (sulas@cas.au.dk). Last minute attendants are welcome to show up on the day without registration.
IHOPE (Integrated History and Future of People on Earth)