Asunción is a rapidly developing city in Paraguay, and an important part of the city development is the planning of the use of the city land. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Paraguay (MADES) leads the project “Asunción green city of the Americas — Pathways to sustainability,” which makes sustainable use of the city land to be compatible with the city growth. The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Through this project, Asunción has shown that well-organized use of the city land is important for growth and for improving the quality of life for the residents.

In the midst of the pandemic, the project plans the use of the metropolitan area of Asunción not only for sustainability but also for public safety. For example, the number of bike lanes has been increasing worldwide because biking is a more sustainable way of transportation, as well as a safer means during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, additional transportation options means increased social distancing, which helps to reduce chances of coronavirus transmission.

In Asunción, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications plans to build a network of 600km-long bike lanes that connect the 11 cities within Asunción’s metropolitan area. The initial 61km lanes are currently being constructed. In alliance with the Urban Cyclists Association, this initiative is called “Cycling for Climate.”

To learn more about the transformation of Asunción into a sustainable urban environment and the “Cycling for Climate” initiative, visit:

1. https://www.py.undp.org/content/paraguay/es/home/projects/proyecto–asuncion–ciudad-verde-de-las-americas–vias-a-la-sust.html
2. https://pnudlac.medium.com/asunci%C3%B3n-green-city-of-the-americas-joining-efforts-with-citizens-for-urban-sustainability-5ef5175c7034

To see a video about Cycling for Climate (Pedaleando por el Clima), visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amK6uJa4H1I&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=PNUDParaguay