REUTERS IMPACT – Experts Highlight the Importance of Reimagining City Design in Addressing Climate Change

By Andrea Januta

Addressing climate change will necessitate a rethinking of urban planning and design, as discussed by participants at a recent conference focused on sustainability.

Sadie Morgan, an architect and chair of the Quality of Life Foundation, emphasized the collective responsibility to minimize resource consumption. "We just have to be open to new ways of living," she stated, highlighting the need for innovative approaches in urban environments.

In the design of new buildings, architects should consider the deconstruction and recycling potential at the end of a building’s lifecycle. Additionally, city planners should strive to create more community spaces that encourage social interaction without relying on cars.

However, significant changes in urban mobility and land use cannot be solely driven by architects; they require collaboration with policymakers, according to Morgan.

Currently, about 56% of the global population resides in urban areas, which contribute roughly three-quarters of worldwide CO2 emissions. Key contributors to these emissions include vehicles, construction activities, heating and cooling systems, and lighting.

The role of cities in combating climate change is becoming increasingly vital, with projections indicating that over two-thirds of the population will live in urban areas by 2050.

Architect and urban planner Stefano Boeri advocated for the importance of population density for sustainable city development but warned that density must be accompanied by diversity to avoid creating stagnant environments. He stressed that urban planners should promote a variety of functions and cultural experiences as cities grow.

Boeri also pointed out the crucial integration of nature into urban design, stating, "Living nature is not something that exists separately from our lives; we need to redefine our relationship and establish a new balance between human existence and the natural world."