Sustainable Andean-Amazonian Cities

We will present information on the growth factors of AndeanAmazonian cities across South America, the impacts on the urban infrastructure and the challenges they face to make the most efficient and environmentally sound use of their territory, in a context in which national government attention has not been sufficient, highlighting the need for subnational governments to take action. In Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, many Andean and Amazonian cities have not yet reached the size of coastal and capital cities, but they have the potential to become strategic in each country. It is important to enhance an adequate urban planning specific to these cities, because they are in a region of the world that holds a great amount of the planet's biodiversity and carbon storage. Their vulnerability to climate change, and the role they play in its mitigation, should ensure these territories are considered a priority in our Governments’ new urban agenda. We aim to identify strategies and mechanisms from subnational and local initiatives. We will present the case of Ibagué, an Andean-Amazon city in Colombia that is promoting the relation between the ecosystem services and their land planning toward its sustainable development in line with the UN’s SDO. Similarly, from Loreto, largest region in Peru, we will present the various planning instruments it has developed to switch their oil-based economy toward a sustainable development based on green growth strategies. From Ecuador, we will present the regional study done in Pañacocha’s Millennium City, an initiative that aims to provide Amazon communities with a smart design that responds to all the basic needs of its inhabitants. Also from Ecuador, we will discuss the challenge of providing affordable housing for different indigenous peoples while preserving their environment, showcasing their traditional architectural styles and taking into consideration their unique amazon identity.