urp3001 looking towards the future of world urban development, cities of the global south will:

For example, more than 50 percent of the buildings to support the 300 million more city dwellers in China by 2030 are yet be built. However, we must act now and take full advantage of the fact that much of our cities and infrastructure is not yet in existence, particularly in the developing world where urban growth is fastest. Our cities can be the cornerstone of the green circular economy, supporting resilient societies and inclusive communities with universal access to public services and economic opportunity. Seventy percent of the world - 7 billion people - will be living in urban areas by 2050. There is no doubt that sustainable cities are central to this vision. That is the simple but powerful “ Vision 2050” that the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, or WBCSD, has for the future of humanity. Nine billion people living well within the limits of the planet by mid-century. Here’s what we heard:ĭirector of sustainable cities with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Will we design a future where driverless cars zip around under skyscraping vertical gardens in hyperconnected, energy efficient “smart cities”? Or will we be trapped in endless traffic jams while pollution overwhelms remaining green spaces and infrastructure crumbles?įor this second installment of our Envision 2050 series (read the first here), Ensia turned to five visionary urban planners, designers and architects for their views on what they would like cities to be like in 2050 and what it would take to get there. A yearlong series imagining tomorrow’s human systems through the eyes of today’s experts

Urp3001 looking towards the future of world urban development, cities of the global south will: