The world’s population is growing and concentrating in cities. This is a process that started with the industrial revolution two hundred years ago and is still on-going in an intense way. A 2011 UN report on human settlements estimates that 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities by 2050. In this context, cities need to develop an economic and environmentally sustainable growth in order to improve the quality of life for all. Cities will have a major role dealing with the fundamental challenges of the 21st century: climate change and other environmental threats; high consumption of non-renewable resources; economic development; growing populations; and ageing infrastructures. Continue reading →