International Streets: Combatting Emissions in Medellín

By Urban Design Forum

Mar 10  |  Culture

Join Urban Design Forum for a discussion with Carlos Cadena-Gaitán, Louise Yeung, and Shachi Pandey on creating climate-resilient streets in Medellin, Colombia.

In 2021, Medellín premiered the first Zona Urbana de Aire Protegido (ZUAP), or low-emission zone. As the first of its kind in Colombia, this new program looked to dramatically reduce air pollutants by restricting private car traffic from the city’s center. Coupled with major investments in green corridors, expansion of bike lanes and electric buses, Medellín has made strides to become the preeminent “eco-city” of Latin America.

For his presentation, Carlos Cadena-Gaitán will share the successes and challenges of leading the creation of the first low-emission zone as Medellín’s Transport Secretary, followed by a discussion with New York City Comptroller’s Office’s Louise Yeung and MUD Workshop’s Shachi Pandey.

How can cities combat the climate crisis by revolutionizing the use of the street?

Carlos Cadena-Gaitán is a multi-award winning urban sustainability expert; former Transport Secretary of Medellín, Colombia; full-member of the State of Antioquia Scientific Committee for the Climate Crisis; and a former consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank and UN-Habitat. He currently serves as Assistant Professor at EAFIT University in Medellín, and as director of two applied research projects: the GIZ-funded National Active Transport Strategy for Colombia, and the Climate Governance scheme for Metropolitan Medellín. Carlos obtained a Ph.D. from Maastricht University and is a regular media contributor in national press and TV on climate governance, and transport planning.

Louise Yeung focuses on transforming social and physical infrastructure to address the climate crisis. Most recently, Louise was the Director of Resiliency for the City of New York, where she worked to reduce emissions and strengthen resiliency of the city through renewable energy and flood protection infrastructure projects. Strengthening channels for public engagement in decision-making processes is a continuous theme in her work, whether through city planning or youth advocacy in UN climate negotiations. Louise’s past experience includes policy research and analysis on environmental governance and community-based natural resource management at the Environmental Law Institute.

Shachi Pandey is the Founding Principal of Metropolitan Urban Design (MUD) Workshop, an urban design practice that focuses on interdisciplinary public design and development projects in and around NYC. Shachi is also an adjunct professor at Columbia’s GSAPP and Hunter College, and VP of intergovernmental affairs at American Planning Association NY chapter.

The Urban Design Forum promotes conversation between invited civic leaders, designers, developers and advocates. Our digital programming is open to the general public. Forum Fellows are encouraged to invite additional guests to participate. Learn more about becoming a Forum Fellow.