Leveraging Property Taxation to Strengthen Land Management and Sustainability

The session explored the transformative potential of property tax reform as a tool to enhance urban resilience to climate change and improve land management. Historically, debates on property taxation have been disconnected from land governance and urban climate strategies, representing a missed opportunity to address these challenges synergistically. Drawing on recent experiences supported by the Local Government Revenue Initiative (LoGRI), the session presented strategies that integrate property tax reform with urban resilience and sustainable land management. Key insights focused on three interconnected themes. First, examples of successful reforms in lower-income countries highlighted the value of simplified, transparent, and fair property taxation, which can increase accountability and civic engagement. Second, the session explored how linking property tax collection to local climate resilience investments—such as flood mitigation, improved sanitation, expanded green spaces, and better public transport—can generate broader benefits for urban communities. These strategies demonstrated how targeted investments, funded by tax revenue, can directly support environmental and social sustainability. Third, discussions examined how the new data generated from property tax reforms can be leveraged to enhance land management, urban planning, and land registration. This approach encourages a closer relationship between property tax initiatives and land management reforms, moving away from the traditional separation between the two areas. The session advocated for a holistic property tax reform strategy that aligns with broader goals of urban resilience and effective land governance. By integrating taxation with environmental and planning priorities, these reforms aim to create more equitable and sustainable urban spaces, underscoring the importance of data-driven, inclusive approaches to property tax and land management for long-term resilience and sustainability.


This resource has been made available by the organizers of the World Bank Land Conference under the following disclaimer.