Building Sustainable Cities: AUC and BIAS-AME Host Spring School on Green Urbanism in the Arab World

The school was co-organized by The American University in Cairo's "Pathways Beyond Neoliberalism" project and the Built Environment Institute for Applied Studies – Africa and the Middle East (BIAS-AME).

A central theme of the spring school was the tension between market-driven green initiatives and their potential to worsen existing inequalities. Discussions explored how environmental problems, colonialism, real estate investment and governments focused on free markets often combine to increase inequality and worsen the climate, green cities and plans for sustainability. 

Each day of the program focused on a specific theme. These ranged from environmental orientalism and financialization to grassroots climate adaptation strategies and interdisciplinary research approaches. Researchers and experts like Hamza Hamouchene, Dalia Wahdan, Noura Wahby, Wael Gamal and Salma Belal led the sessions. Participants also got hands-on with practical exercises on stakeholder mapping, understanding their position in research and case studies based on real cases. A public webinar by Public Works Studio further broadened the conversation on Lebanon Between War and Reconstruction. 

The spring school concluded with participant presentations, an open Q&A session and a certificate ceremony, marking the end of a week of intense intellectual exchange. As participants return to their respective research projects, communities and institutions, they are now equipped with tools and expanded networks to contribute to the development of more equitable and ecologically responsible urban environments across the Arab world and beyond.