By 2050, 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities. To accommodate such a huge shift in urban life will require a transformation in how we interact with our fellow citizens at a city level.
In this Devex video William Cobbett, director of Cities Alliance, discusses how new and innovative responses to urban challenges are vital for the future.
To map out a strategy for sustainable urban development — dubbed the New Urban Agenda — United Nations member states are building on last year’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate change agreement.
One of the most important questions that should be asked and answered, said Cobbett, is about the role of cities in contributing constructive solutions to the global agenda.
“The best starting point internationally would be to improve both the quality and the sharing of information and data,” he said, in order to plan a city of the future.
Watch the video above for more on the importance of usable data to be able to make equitable decisions, and how creating a constitutional, legal and policy framework could empower city and subnational governments to share responsibility.
What do you want to see on the #NewUrbanAgenda? Over the next six months Habitat for Humanity, Cities Alliance and Devex will join forces to explore the future of our increasingly urbanized world in the run up to Habitat III in October. Spread the word, share your views below or tag @devex and #NewUrbanAgenda.
About the author
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is a journalist and editor, primarily focusing on climate change, migration, humanitarian crises, and human rights. She was previously an Associate Editor at Devex, where she managed the op-eds section and led a project covering climate resilience in small island developing states. Helen was also features editor at World Politics Review, and editor and writer at the environmental think tank WRI, as well as editing for The New Humanitarian. She lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.