Resilient cities, resilient lives learning from the 100rc network

We are living in the century of cities. As important political centers, major engines of innovation, and magnets for both our world’s richest and our most in-need, cities stand at the forefront of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Today, over 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion due to reach nearly 70% by 2050. Cities are not only where a majority of us live, they are also the foci of the world’s economy, generating 80% of global GDP. The density and scale of cities amplify urban economic productivity and reduce an individual city resident’s environmental impact, while elevating living standards across the board. But cities also face significant challenges. Mass migration, climate change, aging infrastructure, technological change, and widening social and economic inequities all disproportionately impact our urban centers. Today, over 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion due to reach nearly 70% by 2050. These global pressures affect individuals and systems at a local level and on a day-today basis. While presidents and prime ministers slowly navigate national and international politics to reach consensus on solutions, the demands, expectations, and urgencies from city residents mean that mayors and city leaders do not have the luxury to wait for others to bestow on them solutions to the daily problems their residents face, and so they are defining their own trajectories and making investments that will provide tangible benefits. The visions cities have for their futures – their decisions on what to build, how to build it, who to build it for, and what to prioritize politically – will reverberate globally. Cities represent an unparalleled opportunity for leveraging innovation and creative planning to combat global challenges and make meaningful improvements in the lives of billions of people.

source :

https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/downloadable_resources/UR/Resilient-Cities-Resilient-Lives-Learning-from-the-100RC-Network.pdf