Diane Davis Leads Discussions on Urban Sustainability in São Paulo

Professor Diane Davis,co-chair of the Mexico Studies Program at Harvard’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), delivered the keynote address at Martius Revisited II: Sustainability in Times of Southern Urbanisms. From Mexico City to São Paulo, a symposium held at the University of São Paulo (USP) on November 21, 2024. Organized by Laura Kemmer for the Martius Chair for Sustainability and Humanities (DAAD-USP), the event brought together experts to examine the ecological and social challenges shaping urban development in southern cities.

Professor Diane Davis delivered a keynote address titled “The Invisibilization of Nature, Power Assemblages, and the Production of an Ecologically Unsustainable Metropolis: Spatial Imaginaries of Mexico City from Past to Present.” In her talk, Davis examined the historical and political forces that have shaped Mexico City, focusing on how power structures and urban planning models have contributed to its ecological unsustainability. Drawing on her extensive research on urbanization and governance in the global south, she stressed the urgent need to rethink sustainability efforts in cities where social inequalities and environmental challenges intersect.

The symposium also featured a keynote by Professor Fraya Frehse from FFLCH USP, who explored sustainability through the experiences of São Paulo’s homeless populations, highlighting the insights gained from their interactions with urban public spaces. Moderated by Laura Kemmer and Dr. Frank I. Müller, the discussions delved into broader themes of urban sustainability, colonial legacies, and the everyday practices that shape nature-culture relations in southern cities.

“Martius Revisited II” is part of a series organized by the Martius Chair to reassess ecological thinking and sustainability considering contemporary challenges. The final event in the series, scheduled for March 2025, will address planetary health at USP’s Institute of Advanced Studies. 

The symposium highlighted the pressing need to rethink sustainability in the context of southern urbanisms, offering a platform for interdisciplinary discussions on the ecological and social challenges shaping cities like Mexico City and São Paulo. By examining the intersections of power, inequality, and environmental pressures, the event provided valuable perspectives for addressing the complexities of urban development in the global south.