Join CID this fall to learn from leaders who are driving change both locally and globally to build a thriving world for all.
By Mary Mei
CID’s weekly Speaker Series returns on September 13, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET, with former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, discussing urban regional governance for sustainable development.
Promoting Policy Changes to Advance Equality
López’s tenure as Bogotá's first female and openly LGBTQ mayor from 2020 to 2023 was marked by transformative policies that set new standards in gender equity and environmental sustainability. Before serving as mayor, López was a Senator of the Republic of Colombia from 2014 to 2018 and was the vice-presidential candidate in the 2018 election representing the Green Alliance Party.
A hallmark of López’s leadership in Bogotá is the introduction of the (Manzanas del Cuidado) program—a pioneering initiative designed to alleviate the burden on family caregivers by centralizing services such as professional, educational, and community support. Speaking at CID’s 2024 Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM24), López highlighted the critical role of care in the economy:
“Care is what allows the rest of the economy to work. With the care economy properly provided and equally distributed, it will enable other service sectors—which are the core of the urban economy in any city—to function effectively."
Claudia López Hernández
Unpaid care work is the largest job for women in Bogotá, with over 1.2 million women engaged full-time, accounting for 20% of the city’s GDP. López stressed the importance of “not only recognizing and redistributing, but reducing that overburden from the shoulders of women and giving them back the time and opportunities they need to thrive in life.”
Prioritizing Sustainability for Urban Centers
López's commitment to equity also extended to Bogotá’s public transportation system. Under her leadership, the city revamped its Master Plan and Sustainable Mobility Plan to prioritize gender equity, recognizing that two-thirds of public transportation users in Bogotá are women. Initiatives like ‘La Rolita,’ a public transportation system managed predominantly by women, were introduced to ensure safer, more inclusive, and environmentally friendly transit options.
In 2022, Bogotá was recognized globally for its sustainability efforts, winning the World Wildlife Fund’s sustainability challenge. López’s climate action plan set targets to reduce the city’s emissions by 50% by 2030, with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Central to this effort was the electrification of the city’s bus rapid transit fleet, aiming for half of the fleet to be electric by 2030.
Setting an Example for Global Change
López’s leadership has not only transformed Bogotá, but also set a precedent for cities worldwide. The Care Blocks model, for instance, is being replicated in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico, demonstrating the global impact of her policies.
As cities navigate the challenges and opportunities of our time, López’s insights offer valuable lessons in building inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous urban environments. Her upcoming talk promises to inspire and provide critical perspectives on the future of urban governance.
"Innovative Interventions in Advancing Gender Equity" panel discussion at GEM24 featuring Claudia López Hernández, Gary Barker, Latanya Mapp, and Professor Eliana La Ferrara. Moderated by Jennifer Moore.
Image Credits
Matt Teuten
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