The housing crisis in Portugal serves to illustrate a problem that has implications beyond the borders of the country, shedding light on challenges that are faced by major European and global cities. The rise in housing prices, driven by real estate speculation, the growth of tourism and the influx of foreign investment, has made it increasingly challenging for many in the population, especially the middle and lower classes, to access home ownership or renting.

The digitalisation of work has opened the possibility for highly qualified professionals to consider where they would like to live, regardless of the physical location of their job. Cities like Lisbon and Porto have become increasingly attractive destinations, offering a good quality of life combined with a range of professional opportunities. Nevertheless, this phenomenon has placed additional strain on the real estate market, leading to rising prices and the displacement of residents to the outskirts.

The housing policies that have been adopted thus far have not been as effective as might have been hoped, and in some cases may even have had the opposite effect. It seems that measures such as strict rent control, poorly targeted subsidies and the massive construction of new housing without proper urban and infrastructural planning have not solved the problem, and in some cases may have made it worse. Perhaps it would be beneficial to reconsider these approaches, acknowledging their shortcomings and adapting them to reflect the current situation.

It may be worth considering rehabilitating vacant buildings as a viable and sustainable solution. By restoring existing buildings, we can explore ways to increase the supply of affordable housing, revitalise run-down urban areas and preserve historical and cultural heritage to promote more inclusive and sustainable cities.

Preface

Epigraph

Opening Notes

NRGI president and CEO Suneeta Kaimal spoke alongside UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, highlighting needed support to transition mineral-producing countries.

COP29: Suneeta Kaimal on justice and equity in transition mineral supply chains

Edmonton’s iconic river valley is home to multiple golf courses, but are these exclusive green spaces the best use of this land? How do golf courses intersect with biodiversity preservation and water conservation?

Learn about golf courses as land use in Edmonton with the University of Alberta’s Arshdeep Kaur and Damian Collins.

For more information check out these resources:

Golf as Land Use: The Case of Edmonton, Alberta
https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/e22a6925-51b2-46b3-9d12-944b58f7b58f

Opinion: Golf courses aren't a fair way to use Edmonton's river valley
https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-golf-courses-arent-a-fair-way-to-use-edmontons-river-valley

Golf Courses as Land Use in Edmonton’s River Valley with Arshdeep Kaur and Damian Collins

"A Major Miner Problem"
By Emily Dieckman
Published on Eos.org on 19 December 2024

Audio recording by Emily Dieckman

A Major Miner Problem

Un artista y polímata argentino, Kavhanna, presenta una propuesta audaz para revitalizar la economía de Argentina mediante la monetización de su vasta colección de arte intangible certificado, valorada en miles de millones de dólares. El documento critica la respuesta del gobierno argentino, que rechaza su oferta mientras tolera inversiones riesgosas como la criptomoneda $LIBRA, que resultó en pérdidas significativas para miles de inversores. Kavhanna argumenta que su propuesta, a diferencia de $LIBRA, está respaldada por estándares internacionales y podría estabilizar las reservas del país y atraer inversión extranjera. El texto expone la necesidad urgente de que Argentina adapte sus regulaciones para facilitar la monetización de activos intangibles y así evitar perder una oportunidad económica única. Más allá de las finanzas, el autor reflexiona sobre la subvaloración histórica de los genios y la necesidad de proteger su legado para el beneficio de la humanidad.

https://kavhanna.medium.com/el-estado-colapsa-en-su-custodia-kavhanna-eleva-el-patrimonio-a-estrategia-libra-expone-la-aca3022ecdca

Estado, Kavhanna, $LIBRA expone la fragilidad sistémica, y la riqueza intangible (ES)

An Argentine artist and polymath, Kavhanna, presents a bold proposal to revitalize Argentina's economy by monetizing his vast collection of certified intangible art, valued at billions of dollars. The document criticizes the response of the Argentine government, which rejects his offer while tolerating risky investments such as the cryptocurrency $LIBRA, which resulted in significant losses for thousands of investors. Kavhanna argues that his proposal, unlike $LIBRA, is backed by international standards and could stabilize the country's reserves and attract foreign investment. The text exposes the urgent need for Argentina to adapt its regulations to facilitate the monetization of intangible assets and thus avoid losing a unique economic opportunity. Beyond finance, the author reflects on the historical undervaluation of geniuses and the need to protect their legacy for the benefit of humanity.

https://kavhanna.medium.com/el-estado-colapsa-en-su-custodia-kavhanna-eleva-el-patrimonio-a-estrategia-libra-expone-la-aca3022ecdca

State, Kavhanna, $LIBRA exposes systemic fragility, and intangible wealth (EN)

On the show, we highlight projects in Uganda where clean cooking using renewable solar energy for industrial and residential-sized stoves is resulting in reducing reliance on scarce, expensive, and unhealthy firewood and charcoal biofuels by up to 95%.
The project advances many of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs.un.org), including good health and well-being, the right to education, gender equality, affordable energy, economic growth and decent work, sustainable cities and communities, taking urgent action on climate change, and building partnerships for peace and security.

Our guests are collaborating on a new build project at the Upper Nile Institute for Advanced Technology (UNIFAT) Primary School in Uganda. The project is funded by Philadelphia, PA based 501©3 Friends of UNIFAT and the Central New York International Rotary Club.
Ithaca, New York/Central New York Rotary District member Gertrude Noden and Ugandan Peter Odida Climate Change Educator are the Project Managers for this international collaboration.
Susan Kiuyi Rose is a physics and mathematics teacher, the Assistant Governor of Rotary Zone 6 Uganda and serves as the Education Officer for the Rotary Club of Soroti Central.
James Bwire is a Public Health Specialist and Researcher, a member of the Environmental Sustainable Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) Clean Cooking Task Force, and President Elect of the  Rotary Club of Busia District 9213.
Khalib Nyende is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vron Engineering with over a decade in the design, fabrication installation and user training of smoke free solar cooking stoves solutions. https://www.vronengineering.com/ 
The UNIFAT School community and youth educational workshops, tree planting and ribbon cutting is scheduled for May 20, 2025.  For more information contact www.wordsintodeeds.org

Uganda Solar Kitchens for Schools_4upload

This conversation covers the book, "Technocracy: The Hard Road to World Order" by  Patrick M. Wood," (https://amzn.to/44i1prQ) who argues that Technocracy, a system of governance by unelected scientists and engineers, is a historical and ongoing force behind seemingly disparate global issues. The author asserts that this movement, rooted in Scientism and Transhumanism, aims to transform economics, government, religion, and even humanity itself, replacing traditional Rule of Law with regulation and reflexive law. The text connects Technocracy to initiatives like Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, Smart Grid, and the actions of groups such as the Trilateral Commission and Council on Foreign Relations, suggesting a coordinated effort to establish a global, centrally-controlled society that monitors and manages all resources and individuals.

Technocracy - The Hard Road to World Order

Full and Fair Financing for Africa’s future

This story explores how sustainable development could be achieved through new models, more specifically passing from top-down commitments to a bottom-up delivery. The financing conversation must evolve to a local scale, and Resident Coordinators of the UN are playing a catalytic role in order to achieve this goal. Indeed, “the SDGs can be won at the last mile—but only if we start putting the first dollars where they matter most.”

Beyond Capitals: Financing the Frontlines of Sustainable Development

In the face of climate shocks and limited access to affordable finance, Jamaica isn’t backing down—it’s stepping up. With support from the UN, this Small Island Developing State is pioneering bold partnerships that are flipping the script on traditional development finance.

Jamaica’s Big Bet Turning Vulnerability into a Development Superpower

Guatemala is Rewriting the Rules of Inclusive Development

The audio is a debate on the urgency and method of globally implementing ethical alignment in AI, focused on the #UnityNet Wenelto project.
Speaker A strongly advocates for rapid, decisive action to scale community-driven digital storytelling platforms (#StoryPods, Virtual Voice of Community Network) in order to embed values like human dignity, cultural plurality, and ecological regeneration before AI advances past the point of control. Speaker B emphasizes practical complexities—technology infrastructure challenges, the need for genuine community ownership, integrating indigenous governance, and transitioning from donation-based funding to self-sustaining enterprises—that require slower, more adaptive implementation. Both agree ethical digital alignment is vital, but stress it must balance urgency with deep, ongoing community involvement, intergenerational cooperation, and realism about resource limitations.

UnityNet Wenelto Urgent Global AI Ethics

This article evokes the demystification of SDGs, observing the local scales of social empowerment.

2030 Is in Sight: 5 Myths About the SDGs and the Everyday Wins Proving Them Wrong

Transforming food systems and supporting environmental transitions in various contexts can be done with the right resources. UN teams on the ground contribute to the diffusion of equal rights for all. 

Keeping the Promise: From Commitments to Change on the Ground

At the closing of the Biennale Summit, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed addressed a distinguished international audience, emphasizing that today’s global challenges demand bold and transformative commitments. She called for greater coherence as the world prepares for the future moral imperatives of the Global Goals.

📖 Read her full remarks: https://bit.ly/4nwe431

UN Deputy Chief's remarks at the Biennale Summit

Miguel Rebelo (1993,Portugal) is an architect collaborating globally with other architects and artists. It's his belief that architects should act as social agents, proactively seeking solutions that enhance the quality of life within the built environment.

Bringing together the United Nations development system to deliver on the Global Goals for people and planet.

The Land Use Podcast is your home to discussion on a wide range of land use issues affecting public policy. If you're a landowner, planner, public official, conservationist, or involved in industry, we're a home for you! We are the Alberta Land Institute and based out of the University of Alberta.

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New tracks tagged #sustainable development