How to build a safe, workable world of cities
Urban areas seek cash, tech to support plansfor a greener future
As 1.4-million people move to cities each week, local abilities to keep residents safe can become strained, the UN secretary-general has warned. "The answer is to build resilience to storms, floods, earthquakes, fires, pandemics and economic crises," said Antonio Guterres in a message for World Cities Day on Wednesday. Cities are already pressing on with that work, he said. Bangkok has built underground tanks to store excess rainfall and prevent floods, while Johannesburg inhabitants are joining in efforts to improve public spaces. As urban areas sucked in 55% of the planet's population - a figure UN estimates say will rise to 68% by 2050 - the need to find new ways to cope with modern-day pressures such as climate change has become more acute. But it involves far more than dodging disasters, experts said. "Investment in resilience isn't just about avoiding losses and keeping bad things from happening, it's about catalysing growth and opportunity," said Marc Forni, lead specialist f...
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