The city of Medellín, Colombia, once notorious for its drug cartels, is now celebrated for fostering social inclusion through urban planning.
So how did it come to be a leader in sustainable urban development?
Following a string of forward-thinking mayors, the city’s electric trams, outdoor escalators and cable cars today connect the poorest neighborhoods to the city center as part of a transformation that is not only physical, but social.
Devex spoke with the current mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, on the sidelines of the Smart City Expo in Barcelona last November about the key to creating a more inclusive city and lessons that could be shared with other cities around the world.
“When we speak about innovative cities and smart cities, we also need well-informed citizens who make their own decisions,” he said. “A government is only successful if it’s joined by the citizens.”
Watch the video above to hear more about Medellín, its path to global acclaim, and the ongoing challenges that remain.
Over six weeks, Devex and our partners will explore what it takes to build a successful smart city, how climate resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure and technologies are being implemented, and how actors in the global development community are working together toward common goals and engaging local communities in an inclusive way. Join us as we examine what it takes to create our smart cities of the future by tagging #SmartCities and @Devex.
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► Taking the smart route to inclusive, sustainable and connected cities
About the authors
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is a journalist and editor, primarily focusing on climate change, migration, humanitarian crises, and human rights. She was previously an Associate Editor at Devex, where she managed the op-eds section and led a project covering climate resilience in small island developing states. Helen was also features editor at World Politics Review, and editor and writer at the environmental think tank WRI, as well as editing for The New Humanitarian. She lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.