Penn IUR, CEBRI launch “Sustainable Urban Development: Governance, Finance and Politics” book at U20 Rio Summit

RIO DE JANEIRO—The Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) and the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) launched a new publication, Urban Sustainable Development: Governance, Finance, and Politics, on November 15, during the U20 Rio Summit that is meeting in advance of the G-20 leaders meeting, November 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The book is a collaborative effort between the (CEBRI) and the City of Rio de Janeiro. The editors are Pedro Vormittag (Chief of Staff to State Congressman Eduardo Cavaliere at Rio de Janeiro’s State Legislature and CEBRI) and Marianna Albuquerque (Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Defense, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IRID-UFRJ) and CEBRI) along with Eugénie L. Birch, Penn IUR Co-Director and Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research and Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design. 

In addition to Penn IUR, the book includes contributions from the Rio G20 Committee, Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), Columbia Global Center Rio de Janeiro, Inter-American Dialogue (IAD) and Atlantic Council. 

“In the context of an escalating climate crisis, urban sustainable development is emerging as a critical issue,” write Vormittag and Albuquerque. “As cities grow at unprecedented rates, the demand for innovative approaches to environmental sustainability, social justice, regulatory frameworks, and economic vitality becomes even more pressing.”

The volume highlights the central role that cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, played during the Brazilian presidency of the G20 and the need to broaden the global discourse on sustainable development, deepening the focus on its urban and local dimensions.

The publication addresses conceptual debates on multi-scalar governance, the role of local governments and financial mechanisms for green initiatives. With more than 20 chapters and contributions from academics, government leaders and experts in sustainable finance, the book offers a comprehensive and practical view of the challenges and solutions for sustainable urban development. 

Birch offers a historical reflection on Rio de Janeiro’s recent trajectory as a global city. Penn IUR Visiting Scholar Mauricio Rodas, former Mayor of Quito, introduces the Green Cities Guarantee Fund to unlock financing for sustainable urban transformations.

Aligning with the G20 2024 agenda, the book aims to enrich the global dialogue on sustainable urban development. 

“As cities around the world face extreme challenges, we hope this book can serve both as a playbook and inspiration for cities looking to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and address climate change," said Birch.

To read the book, download the PDF or read it online.