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By Laia Ortiz
Barcelona, 23. Oct, 09:11
Despite rising employment levels, the poor quality of jobs coupled with a critical shortage of affordable housing and lack of tools for redistribution of wealth are leading causes of poverty and social exclusion, threatening equal opportunities across Europe.
Nowhere is this more visible than in urban areas.
Barcelona deputy mayor Laia Ortiz: ‘As the closest level of government to citizens, we understand what people need and how to ensure cities are equitable and inclusive places to live’ (Photo: Fundacio Pere Tarres)
It is in cities that new forms of poverty and new groups of people facing vulnerability, like the working poor, are first seen.
Global strategies such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the EU’s Pillar of Social Rights are powerful tools to address these challenges, but they will only succeed with the support of cities as active agents of social change.