About 4,2 billion of us—more than half of humanity—live in cities today. By 2030, which is barely 11 years from now, this figure is expected to reach 5 billion. This rapid urbanisation is exerting a huge pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health, among other things. One of the key figures around cities today is that while the world’s cities occupy just 3 % of the Earth’s land, they account for 60-80 % of energy consumption and 75 % of carbon emissions.

In this episode, Anne-Sophie and Anna discuss how to build sustainable cities of the future and how to make the existing cities more sustainable. How we can move beyond the oil landscape. And finally, what threats climate change brings upon global cities. 

Guests:

• Carola Hein, Professor and Head of the Chair History
  of Architecture and Urban Planning, TU Delft, 
• Chloé Pahud, CEO & Co-founder at Civocracy, 
• Daniel Ringelstein, AIA, Director of Urban Design and Planning, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM).

For more stories on climate action, and to meet the changemakers, go to https://the-beam.com, check out @TheBeamMagazine on Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation using #TheBeamPodcast. 

The Beam Podcast is written by Anne-Sophie Garrigou (@GarrigouAnneSo) and Anna Siwecka (@OutwithAnna). 

Production and sound editing by Anna Siwecka. 

Theme music by Dr Hollywood.