Habitat Norway invites to an online screening of the PUSH documentary and presentations by the members of Habitat Norway at Bergen SDG conference 2021 – Day Zero.

NOT THE ROARING TWENTIES, EXACTLY?
THE SECOND HOUSING CRISES, COVID-19 AND THE SDGs TOWARDS 2030

About the event:

Globally, we are in the midst of this century’s second housing crises. It comes in addition to an existential climate threat. The first crises in 2008 had its roots in the financing of private houses in the US. It spread all over the world through a consistent global finance system.

For the poor, existing housing resources consequently becomes overpopulated lacking basic services like water and sanitation. Most extreme situations like this we find in Gaza and major long lasting refugee camps. Also, homelessness is growing rapidly, also in so-called rich countries.

Photo by Skull Kat via Unsplash

Obviously a redistribution of the housing stock can improve this situation. A few political initiatives are taken, but the overall picture is still an increasing capitalisation of homes and property in most countries in the world.

The housing crises, is also promoted by the COVID 19 pandemic. Inadequate housing conditions are decisive for contagious spread and is critical for individual vulnerability. Conditions will not improve for the 200 million marginalized people that the World Bank during the coming two years estimates will be pushed into extreme poverty because of the pandemic.

In some areas, housing construction, could however, if controlled by local inhabitants, release social change, reduce spread of contagious diseases, and also contribute significantly to de-carbonisation. Globally, the building sector represent 40% of energy related carbon emissions.

To focus the struggle for the SDGs on housing is important because it relates to and can mobilize everyone. Such advocacy will be rooted in neighbourhoods where people live. It would promote a broader approach to the SDGs with focus on public services, culture, sports and home-based employment.

Program:

• Erik Berg,  Chair, Habitat Norway
  – Introduction: “Planet of cities”, housing, COVID 19 and the SDGs
• Screening of “PUSH” the documentary (60 minutes)
• Fredrik Gertten, the director of PUSH
  – Comodification of Housing – global effects and remedies. Why a “Shift”?
• Odd Iglebæk, Journalist and Architect
  – The Norwegian Pension Fund Global – Investing in Evictions?
• Ellen S. de Vibe, former Chief of Urban Planning, Oslo
  – Affordable Housing during “Corona”- social approaches for the future
• Conclusion

Find the event on Facebook!