The world is constantly changing. Going through periods of growth and through periods of crisis, it is always evolving and adapting. The current health crisis is affecting the way we live, work, shop and interact. It is bringing forward the changes that were already underway under the disruptive impact of technological evolution, climate change and demographic shifts.
The pandemic has exposed our cities’ weaknesses, such as inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding, inequality, energy inefficiency and low-quality housing. And this has been mainly an urban crisis with more than 95 per cent of cases in cities. The fear of contagion through the dense urban fabric threatens the attractiveness of cities, which now need to prove that they are resilient, can recover and are able to protect their citizens from future shocks.
The concept of city resilience is not new. Green and sustainable development, equality, access to affordable housing, wellness and security are some of the core priorities for cities that are aiming to attract and retain highly productive and creative people who will drive long-term economic growth and prosperity.
The current crisis will intensify these efforts and will eventually lead to better cities. According to the World Economic Forum, nearly two out of three people across Europe say they don’t want to return to pre-pandemic levels of air pollution.
Leaders of major cities have set the goal for a better, more sustainable, more resilient and fairer society. Milan for example is driving a people-centred, urban development: the 15-minute city, ‘offering services and quality of life within the space of 15 minutes on foot from home’. Paris is also planning to become a 15-minute city in order to reduce the use of cars and cut down CO2 emissions.
Mayors across the world have established the C40 Global Mayors Covid-19 Recovery Task Force and are calling on national governments and international and regional institutions to collaborate in order to build a more inclusive future for all.
The role of cities will remain important. Creativity, innovation, developing ideas and productivity can only be generated through the dense networks of likeminded people and close proximity of businesses. This is why the large metropoles of the world have acted as magnets of talent over the past years and have become hubs of economic, cultural and educational output.
According to Oxford Economics this trend is not expected to recede. The forecasts show that over the next 10 years the working age population of most European capitals will continue to rise: Stockholm by 14.7 per cent, Copenhagen by 9.9 per cent, London by 9.2 per cent, to name only a few examples.
Competition between cities will further intensify. Achieving resilience is the prerequisite for attracting highly skilled, highly productive and mobile people, for nurturing innovative and growing businesses and for offering investment opportunities to capital.