TREND 03Green, resilient cities: on the agenda more than ever -

Revealing the links between the environ- ment and human health, together with the fragilities of a globalised economy, Covid-19 has also made questions about the future of cities even more urgent.

In the age of lockdowns, politicians, opin- ion leaders and residents have all re- examined what they expect and need from their cities:

reinforcing the resilience and adapt- ability of cities to extreme events (weather, pandemics etc.) by investing in services and infrastructure;

TR EN

DS

55%

3%

2/3

70%

of the world s population (68% by 2050)

levels of fine particles, carbon dioxide and ozone

generally above the thresholds set by

the WHO

of the Earth s surface

of energy needs

of CO2 emissions

HEALTH

ENERGY

CARBON

Source: World Economic Forum, WHO

POPULATION

AREA The footprint of cities

accelerating the greening of cities by improving air quality, reducing levels of artificial land cover, developing urban agriculture etc.

Central to economic activity, cities also want to influence the green recovery .

Brought together by the international C40 network, 96 cities committed to fighting climate change including Montreal, Seoul, Paris, New York, Melbourne and Mexico City have created the Global Mayors Covid-19 Recovery Task Force to guide our [recovery] efforts to develop a new normal one that is greener, health- ier, and more prosperous for everyone.

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