Cities put pressure on the planet

He summarises the hold cities have on our future with four numbers: “Cities only cover 2% of the planet’s surface but contain 55% of the global population, are responsible for 75% of energy consumption and account for 80% of carbon emissions.”

The problem posed by cities could get worse before it gets better – the World Bank predicts that the urban population will increase by a further 2.5 billion people by 2050. A mix of private and public investment is crucial for sustainability, with the World Bank saying investing in cities is the key to a more resilient future. Similar views are expressed by the C40 global network of city mayors, which encourages investment that supports the transition to a greener economy and more equitable society.

Tech-driven change

Where should investment in cities be directed? Inevitably, technology holds many of the answers. “Today is an interesting time for cities. The Internet of Things and use of data is changing the way we understand, design and live in cities,” says Carlo. “All of the technologies that have changed lives in the last 20 to 30 years are entering the physical space of the city – how we navigate through them, shop in them, work and meet people.”

Take mobility, where electric and autonomous vehicles are set to dominate city streets. “Traditionally, cars have been four or five-seaters and usually owned by families. Now, you can access cars on demand and micro-mobility is emerging using one or two-seat vehicles. Data is going to be one of the biggest forces for changes in mobility,” he says.

Disruptive thinking is transformative

Rapid change is being driven by radical thinking. “There are two types of innovation: incremental and disruptive,” says Carlo. “We are at a moment in the development of cities where there is a big disruption, driven by data, digitalisation and artificial intelligence. We are seeing a quantum leap in how we think about urbanisation.”

Attention is focused on the ‘smart city’, but Carlo doesn’t find the phrase particularly helpful. In fact, he thinks it is a “inadequate” term. “It makes a city sound like a computer,” he remarks. “The important thing is not smart cities but having smart citizens. We need to empower people to do what they want to do in a better and more sustainable way.”

He is keen for the growing global community of researchers working on transforming cities to share its results with the broader public. “It should not be technocrats or researchers who decide what is a good city. Let the people decide what type of cities they want to live in.”

For that reason, Carlo tries to steer clear of debates on what the city of the future should look like. “I try not to predict what the future city will be. It is something that is built gradually and which changes because people continuously come up with great ideas about what it should look like.”

Future vision for cities

Rather than smart cities, Carlo refers to sensible cities. He explains what he means with reference to disruptive ideas currently being trialled around the world. His enthusiasm is clear as he runs through examples of mobility innovations in Singapore, a focus on sustainability in Copenhagen and Helsinki, citizen participation activity in Boston and Milan’s priority of bringing nature closer to people.

“It’s a kaleidoscope of ideas,” he says. “Tomorrow’s ideal city is the sum of all the experiments that are happening globally.”

Another driver of the future city, which ties into Carlo’s belief that the natural and artificial worlds are intertwined, is the need to meet the United Nations’ net zero carbon target by 2050. “Technology is allowing us to lead a more sustainable life,” he points out.

Towards a healthier world

With so many innovative ideas becoming a reality, Carlo has set his sights on what for him is a single, over-riding priority. “If I could condense change into one key thing it would be gaining a better alliance between the natural and artificial worlds. This is the big challenge facing research and design. Cities should not be considered something separate from nature, but part of it.”

The human aspect of city life is also front-of-mind for Carlo, who is currently working on ground-breaking research at the Senseable City Lab that examines humans and their environment from a health perspective. “We are looking at microbiology in the city, for example, viruses and how they spread. This will give us a better understanding of human health in urban areas.”

For Carlo, future cities should be part of the solution, not the problem. He sees his role as making sure the best possible outcomes are found for sustainable urban living.