Latest updates on IIHS’ work and events

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In a world of disruptions and seemingly endless complexity, cities are the future of humanity.

Knowledge Gateway

This study examined freshwater snails in an urbanised area of tropical India across different habitats.

Publics@IIHS

Panel on water and water systems in the urban. 16 December 2024,
6:00 PM IST.

Explore courses from IIHS’ Digital Blended and Capacity Development Programmes
5 September 2024

Course on

Reimagining Education for Equity: Interrogating Policy and Practice

This 5-week online course explores the role of education in achieving sustainable development goals and societal change. It focusses on creating inclusive, equitable learning environments that empower individuals and communities to address real-world challenges and drive transformative impact.

13 May 2024

Course on

Net-Zero Building Fundamentals

Developed by IIHS and AEEE, this 12-week online course equips building professionals and students with key insights into energy performance, passive design, thermal comfort, financial feasibility, and water sufficiency. Gain the skills to design low-carbon, high-performance, and net-zero buildings.

5 September 2022

Course on

Shaping Urban Futures

Launched on Coursera, this new online course is a collaborative effort of five global institutions including IIHS. Designed as a self-paced, 6-week course, it addresses the most pressing challenges faced by humanity in the 21st century by considering how cities can become sustainable.

19 July 2022

Course on

The Art and Science of Economic Policy

IIHS, in collaboration with Coursera, has launched its latest digital blended learning programme. The 5-week self-paced course helps learners understand the why, when, what and how of economic policymaking through a combination of concepts and ideas, cases and examples and thought-provoking discussion questions.

20 July 2021

Course on

Housing Justice: A view from Indian Cities

This course offers a diagnosis of what housing justice looks like as well as the modes and practices that can move us towards it ranging from activism and direct action to public policy and participatory governance.

18 May 2021

Course on

Writing and Dissemination – Grey Literature

If you are a researcher, academic, student, development sector professional or a practitioner who is keen to reach the research-based knowledge you have created to a wider audience, this course is for you.

15 Nov 2016

Course on

Sustainable Cities

The course will be of value to anyone who is interested in learning about how cities function, the modern urban challenges that are emerging in the context of recent history and how these challenges can be addressed through a multidisciplinary approach.

Stay updated with the latest news from, and events at IIHS

LATEST TWEETS

iihsin Indian Institute for Human Settlements @iihsin ·
10h

Thank you for submitting to the Special Issue on Informality and Climate Change in Global South Cities. Shortlisted abstracts will be notified by 31 January 2025.

#CallForPapers #SpecialIssue #Urbanisationjournal

@BazazAmir @SagePubIndia @_chandnisingh @JagdishKrishna8…

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iihsin Indian Institute for Human Settlements @iihsin ·
22h

Take a look at IIHS press features in the last week to explore the vital role of libraries in fostering social justice, inclusivity, and cultural memory through initiatives like the Bengaluru Public Libraries Walk.

The Bengaluru Public Libraries Walk was conducted in…

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iihsin Indian Institute for Human Settlements @iihsin ·
20 Dec

Today is the last day to submit to the Urbanisation Special Issue on Informality and Climate Change in Global South Cities. Send your extended abstracts to submission@urbanisationjournal.com.

Visit https://bit.ly/3OYTCrE for more details.

@BazazAmir @SagePubIndia…

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LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEOS

IIHS hosted a panel discussion with Joyeeta Gupta, Distinguished Professor, Climate Justice, Sustainability and Global Constitutionalism; Aromar Revi, Director, IIHS; Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Dean - IIHS School of Environment and Sustainability; and Kavita Wankhade, Associate Dean – IIHS School of Systems and Infrastructure.55 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban regions, with urbanisation rapidly increasing in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa (UN, 2018). As we move towards an increasingly urban planet, urban regions and their governments need to avoid getting locked into development pathways that put an increasing pressure on their natural and economic resources and may not be sustainable in the long run. Often, cities and urban regions rely intensively on natural resources, like water, from beyond their physical footprints, often with far-reaching consequences that impact their ability to transition to sustainable development pathways. This is also further compounded by unequal access to natural resources such as water. Urban regions across the world therefore have populations that are increasingly vulnerable as the benefits of development are highly unequal across socio-economic classes. Access to water-related services and linked economic activity are deeply enmeshed with poverty, informality, sub-optimal technical arrangements and high relative costs that are often borne disproportionately by marginalised groups.Drawing on research and policy work globally across a range of social, political, and economic contexts, this panel focussed on challenges that urban regions face particularly in the context of water and water systems and explored potential mechanisms to enable transitions to sustainable and just futures.
Publics@IIHS | Transitions to Sustainable Futures: Urban and regional water systems
Aromar Revi, Director, IIHS in conversation with Vijay Kelkar, Padma Vibhushan, former Chairman of 13th Finance Commission, and former Finance Secretary, Government of India.They discuss how Urban governance and the delivery of public goods and services can be enhanced by increasing the financial autonomy of, and directing more resources to, the third tier of governance in both urban and rural areas. Better political representation and empowerment of urban managers are required for efficient governance. Creating formal representation for mayors and local leaders in state-level bodies and training a cadre of skilled professionals and political leaders at the local level could strengthen urban governance. Strengthening the 74th Constitutional Amendment will help cities manage their resources better, tackle prevailing and emergent challenges effectively, and ensure that they have the required leadership for professional and accountable governance. Achieving a ‘meta balance’ between states and regions is crucial for encouraging political inclusion and ensuring fair representation in urban governance. Crosssectoral integration and cooperative federalism will ensure coordination across sectors and promote holistic, effective and long-term urban development policies.
UPD 2024 Fireside chat with Vijay Kelkar: India’s Urban Governance – Past and Future
Aromar Revi, Director of IIHS, opened the keynote address of Urban Policy Dialogues 2024 by introducing the recent IIHS publication, “Accelerating India’s Climate Transition: Pathways to the 1.5°C Goal.” The report highlights adaptation and mitigation options in India, focusing on synergies and trade-offs with the SDGs. Aromar emphasised the urgency of deep decarbonisation – 50 per cent CO₂ reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050 – as global temperatures are projected to rise by 2°C within 6 years. Addressing India’s triple development challenge, he stressed the importance of aligning economic aspirations with low emissions and resilience through systemic, cross-sectoral approaches tailored to local contexts. Examples from Tamil Nadu and Bangalore, such as solar PV plants, high-performance buildings, the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP) by IIHS, were showcased as successful localised strategies. He highlighted the need for integrated development plans across energy, infrastructure, ecosystems, industry, and societal transitions. Key enablers include multi-level governance, institutional capacity, and technological innovation. Overcoming siloed approaches and fostering inclusive, context specific solutions are essential for advancing India’s climate goals.
UPD 2024 Keynote Address: Accelerating India’s Climate Transition
More than just games, the ‘Play’ course in the IIHS Urban Fellows Programme fosters camaraderie, strategic thinking, pushing of boundaries, and a deeper understanding of urban spaces. Join the Urban Fellows on a journey where learning takes the field! To know more visit: https://urbanfellows.iihs.co.in/
Urban Fellows Programme 2024-25 | Play Module
The November edition of IIHS City Scripts featured author Sadaf Wani discussing her book, City as Memory: A Short Biography of Srinagar, with author and editor Tanuj Solanki. In the book, Wani explores the beating heart of the city through stories of personal remembrance and scholarship. She uses the framework of memories to structure each chapter differently, mapping a nostalgic, intimate portrait of Srinagar.
City Scripts | Author in Conversation | City as Memory: A Short Biography of Srinagar by Sadaf Wani
The city unfolds its stories, layer by layer. Urban Fellows connect classroom knowledge with real-world experiences through a Heritage and Eco Walk covering diverse parts of the city. Watch how Fellows build shared narratives of the urban experience, each through their own unique lenses.To know more about the Urban Fellows Programme, visit the link in bio.#UFP #UFP2024-25 #UrbanFellowsProgramme #IIHS #krmarket #avalabetta
Heritage and Eco Walk with Urban Fellows 2024-25
The second edition of City Scripts - An Urban Writings Festival delves into urban life through a range of thought-provoking sessions and perspectives. From addressing sustainability and equitable development to exploring the emotional and social fabric of cities, the festival provides a comprehensive view of contemporary urban issues through the lens of art and writing.
Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb
The second edition of City Scripts - An Urban Writings Festival delves into urban life through a range of thought-provoking sessions and perspectives. From addressing sustainability and equitable development to exploring the emotional and social fabric of cities, the festival provides a comprehensive view of contemporary urban issues through the lens of art and writing.
Author in Conversation: Mumbai

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