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This English language booklet summarizes the updated findings of the Cuba Housing Profile, of which a shortened summary version has been published by UN-HABITAT in 2014 in Spanish language. This English Version goes more into detail, and includes two final chapters with an analysis of observed deficiencies, and another chapter of good solutions, which can tell a lesson to the capitalist world. Another innovative feature of this publication is a history chart beginning with the Cuban Revolution, visualizing Global political tendencies and events; Innovations in Cuban housing policies, The changing economic paradigms of the country, and the rise and fall of housing production in Cuba within the different sectors., FULL REPORT IN SPANISH see: https://zenodo.org/record/5801730#.ZFkPIXbP3MU

This paper summarizes the results of a research project in order to identify, evaluate and communicate European sustainability advances in the field of urban renewal. A detailed desk-top research included the evaluation of 68 case studies all over Europe and assessed the achievements in terms of climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation, ecological ventures, economic sustainability and social conviviality. The report was distributed among the Chinese partner municipalities, but also presented in a number of scientific conferences in Europe and outside., Original research was funded by the EC-LINK project by the European Commission

In preparation for the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Meeting (COP21) in Paris, the government of China has announced that its GHG emissions will peak in 2030. Equally, it is committed to reduce by 2030 by 60-65% the intensity of its carbon usage in relationship to its gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 2005 levels. It will take on the responsibility to increase substantially its forest cover, and will ensure that by 2030 some 20% of its energy requirements will be covered by renewable energy. China���s activities to create eco-cities must be seen as part of its contributions to low-carbon development with aim to mitigate climate change. Among the various support mechanisms which exist, to support low-carbon development, the Ministry of Housing, and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD), is being supported by the European Union (EU) through the Europe-China Eco-Cities Link Project (EC Link)., EC-Link Position Paper prepared for EC-Link Working Papers: edited by Florian Steinberg and Li Chunyan

In revolutionary Cuba, the state theoretically assumed responsibility to guarantee adequate housing to everybody. This was one of the promises of the revolution, but could only be fulfilled in parts due to the limited state resources and a general bias towards industrial investments of all socialist governments at the time. Therefore, during the first 20 years after the revolution, the state was only able to one fourth of all new constructions, while the rest was erected by the residents themselves (but with some state assistance - especially in rural areas). However, with the US blockade following missile crisis, industrial production came to a standstill, and the now idle labour force was diverted to house building activities with the assistance of the state. This innovative approach, known as the Micro Brigades, eventually contributed to more than 10% of the entire housing stock (also including all historical housing units). Although different other self-help housing schemes continue to exist until today, the Micro Brigades - which do not require substantial imports of material - represent the most innovative and effective house building program in Cuba, if not universally., First published in 1992

At first sight, in looking at the absolute number of houses built by MINVAH since 1979, ormeasuring the problems of increased squatter settlements in Managua over the last four years,Nicaraguan housing policies do not suggest a great achievement. However, we must bear inmind that the Nicaraguans chose to put the main emphasis on non-physical improvements inhousing provision and on social services in general, in order to benefit the largest number ofpeople with the limited resources which were available. Within the wider field of socialexpenditure, housing was assigned the third priority after health and education. Since 1981 the housing deficit has grown by 17,000 units annually (Ruchwarger, 1987:170).The declining output in government shelter projects and the overall worsening of housingstress in Nicaragua must be attributed in the first place to the escalating war in the country,which has been imposed on the country by the Reagan administration. This has drasticallycurbed the disposable budget for any housing construction. At the same time, the influx ofrefugees fleeing the ever present threat of contra devastations and genocide has frustrated thedecentralization policy and produced a chaotic situation in the cities where too many people have sought new homes. It may be true that not all problems encountered in the Nicaraguan housing system can beexplained by the war. Due to the poor teaching facilities prevalent in the prerevolutionaryperiod and the brain drain in response to the poor income opportunities, the level ofprofessional and academic skills has been restricted - a condition affecting public authoritiesin particular when they seek to fill vacancies (because of the low wage levels they offer).There are additional concerns of coordination and competition between different ministriesand other state institutions, which need years to sort. Certainly, these restrictions are endemicin most parts of the developing world, but they tend to be even more severe in periodsfollowing a political overthrow. Fortunately, the popular character of the Nicaraguanrevolution set the foundations for a well-organized grassroots participation, and frequently the local community was able to offset many of the limitations coming from a more centraleconomic or administrative level. This learning experience, which might not have beennecessary under more peaceful conditions, will certainly help to build up a real grassrootsdemocracy once the war has been overcome in Central America. In spite of the many problems discussed, the housing policy implemented by the revolutionarygovernment in Nicaragua favourably contrasts with conditions typical in other Latin Americanor Third World countries. It should be pointed out that 90 per cent of all state housinginvestment directly favours low income groups-- a figure which wouldbe difficult to encounter in any truly capitalist country, including the industrialized world.However, an even more remarkable and truly revolutionary achievement for the majority ofthe population is the free access to land and basic services, as provided within theurbanizaciones progresivas program in urban areas. In rural areas the Agrarian Reformrepresents a similar approach, since land titles are also distributed to small farmers free of charge, and housing is explicitly considered a productive (and not consumption) investment.By adopting these two principles, other Third World countries would be able to solve at leastpart of their housing problem, but this would also imply sacrificing certain "freedoms"currently enjoyed by landed and finance capital and represent a step towards a mixedeconomy.