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25 experts from 20 Cities on 5 continents involved in the first qualitative international study
on the impact of COVID-19 on the Cities of the World

The COVID-19 crisis has had significant impacts on public health, on the lives of millions of people, and on the economic development prospects at all levels, international, national and local. All over the world, cities have been at the forefront of the crisis, as first respondent to the needs of the population, as managers of the exceptional regulations needed to overcome the situation and as promoters of the reopening and relaunching of the economic and social life. The effects of the crisis will be felt for a long-time, and this will require innovative responses that will see cities as protagonists.

To initiate a reflection of these trends, an International Survey has being proposed, to discuss the short-term and medium-term impacts of COVID-19 (2-3 years) in large cities/metropolitan areas.

In order to get a deep understanding of the impacts, 12 areas that play a crucial role in urban economies have been selected by the promoters and analysed in the study:

  • access to services and goods
  • transportation
  • public spaces
  • tourism
  • culture
  • housing and social services
  • health services
  • work organization
  • production systems
  • consumption
  • urbanization
  • governance

25 experts in Urban Planning, Economics, Architecture, Social Sciences from all over the world participated in the survey and contributed to this innovative qualitative research. Their answers draw an intricate map of impacts and priorities of the global urban world.

The panelists elaborated and assessed over 200 statements reflecting the situations of some 20 global cities. It allowed them to identify the characterizing elements of a new urban global policy for recovering from Covid-19 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015.