This volume is the 10th in a series of books that focus on the practice of Urban Environmental Management (UEM) in developing countries. Such cities face more immediate problems than those in the developed world and have fewer resources to deal with them.

This study is the report of a graduate studio that took place at the School of Planning, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati, USA from August through December 2023. The objective of the studio was to prepare students to work overseas in data-poor environments as professional consulting planners.

The 17 domestic and international students operated in sector-level teams preparing a 5-year Environmental Plan for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With more than 84% of Brazil’s population living in cities, it is the 2nd most populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the 6th most populous city in the Americas.

Part of Rio de Janeiro is designated as a World Heritage Site. Nevertheless, it is plagued by poverty and serious environmental problems of poor air quality, transportation congestion, water pollution and inadequate sewage and sanitation infrastructure among them.

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