What is the big attraction of urban life? It is a powerful combination of more well-paid jobs; better infrastructure, including mobility and power; and better life prospects, through things like education and better healthcare.<\/p>\n
But the rapid growth of our cities brings an equally dramatic rise in demand on resources, from food and water through to energy, space, and clean air. \u00a0Around the world, cities that were designed for yesterday\u2019s priorities, are buckling under the strain of meeting the needs of today\u2019s populations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The challenge is increasing at a frightening pace. \u00a0According to the Swiss-based international standards agency, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC<\/a>), \u201cevery day, urban areas grow by almost 150,000 people, either due to migration or births\u201d[3]<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Our Abdul Latif Jameel Perspectives article on Redesigning our cities<\/a> discusses how the future of our urban communities \u2013 of our way of life – depends on successfully managing this growth and leveraging technology to innovate new ways of living, working, and moving.\u00a0 It means developing new ideas for meeting key requirements, such as housing, transport and energy systems, while finding new delivery models for services such as education and healthcare, and all while maintaining a reliable, fast digital infrastructure to support businesses and employment. \u00a0<\/p>\n One of the first things to get right is energy.\u00a0 Cities need energy to exist.\u00a0 Lots of it.\u00a0 Global energy consumption is predicted to double by 2050, as urban development and electric vehicles combine to further deplete existing energy sources[4]<\/sup><\/a>. \u00a0Urban settlements already consume over two-thirds of the world\u2019s energy, despite occupying only 3% of its landmass[5]<\/a>. \u00a0As Abdul Latif Jameel Deputy President and Vice Chairman, Fady Jameel<\/a>, discusses in his recent Spotlight article<\/a>, reducing harmful emissions by transitioning to more sustainable sources of energy is one of our greatest challenges. \u00a0With urban demand growing exponentially, it becomes even more imperative that we manage the growth of our cities through more sustainable energy sources.<\/p>\n As outlined in our Perspectives articles, wind energy<\/a> alone could meet more than one-third of global power needs (35%) by 2050, becoming the world\u2019s foremost generation source. \u00a0Similarly, solar energy<\/a> has enormous potential to power our growing cities. \u00a0By 2050, solar PV could generate 25% of total electricity needs globally.<\/p>\n Combined with rapid advances in energy storage technology, renewable energy has the potential to fulfil our cities\u2019 energy needs on a 24\/7 basis. \u00a0FRV<\/a>, part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy<\/a>, is already a pioneer in utility-scale battery technology, having partnered with British developer Harmony Energy<\/a> on a 15 MWh utility-scale battery array at Holes Bay<\/a>, Dorset, and also at Contego<\/a>, West Sussex, both in the UK.\u00a0 This topic and other emerging tech. is explored in a Spotlight podcast<\/a> hosted by Fady Jameel<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cities of the future are also likely to see more domestic power generation, from wind turbines and solar panels on rooves, to domestic battery storage like Tesla\u2019s Powerwall, a lithium-ion battery pack that can store energy generated by local power sources like wind turbines and solar panels.<\/p>\n The Powerwall is designed to be used alongside Tesla\u2019s solar roof, which replaces roof tiles with state-of-the-art solar panels.<\/p>\n Cities are nothing without the people that live in them. \u00a0To thrive, they need a stable, satisfied population, which means they need to be attractive places to live and work for a range of people and their families.\u00a0<\/p>\n A key part of this is having a wide range of places where people enjoy spending time. \u00a0By investing in public spaces \u2013 widening pavements, improving facilities, reducing traffic \u2013 cities can be places where residents, workers and visitors want to spend time socializing and shopping.<\/p>\n Part of this is about physical infrastructure. \u00a0But it is also about investing in interconnected smart city technology that can help make our cities much more pleasant environments to live in.\u00a0<\/p>\n Barcelona is installing 10,000 LED smart street-lights that detect movement and dim to save energy when no one is around. \u00a0The smart lamp posts also provide free Wi-Fi across the city and collect air and noise pollution data.<\/p>\n York, in the UK, is thinking bigger, with the country\u2019s largest zero-carbon housing project. \u00a0Unveiled in 2020, it comprises 600 homes across eight car-free sites.\u00a0 Each house will have solar panels, cycle sheds, electric charging points, and access to a fleet of rental cargo bikes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dubai is also showcasing its own vision for the city of the future, with the Sustainable City<\/em><\/a>, the first net zero energy development in the Emirate.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another of the biggest changes facing our cities is around transport and mobility.\u00a0 Not only will so-called gas-guzzling vehicles be replaced by greener alternatives \u2013 electric vehicles could reach a 30% market share by 2030[6]<\/a> – research suggests autonomous electric vehicles and rapid inter-urban rail systems could reduce the numbers of cars on our city streets by up to 90% by 2050,[7]<\/a> a topic discussed in more depth in our Perspectives article on e-mobility<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Independent technology think-tank RethinkX argues that within a decade of regulatory approval for driverless vehicles, some 95% of passenger miles traveled in the US will be via autonomous EV (electric vehicles).\u00a0 This could see the number of passenger vehicles on American roads falling from 247 million to 44 million between now and 2030[8]<\/a>.<\/p>\n As pioneers in the mobility sector<\/a>, Abdul Latif Jameel is proud to be contributing to the mobility revolution through our long-standing partnership with Toyota, global pioneers in sustainable vehicles like the Prius \u2013 flagship of the Toyota and Lexus hybrid technology ranges \u2013 and hydrogen<\/a> fuel cell Mirai<\/a>, together with more recent investments in mobility disruptors such as RIVIAN<\/a> and Joby Aviation<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, if there are fewer cars on the roads, what else will be providing mobility in our future cities?\u00a0 The answer is \u2018Mobility-as-a-Service\u2019<\/a>, or MaaS.<\/p>\n MaaS is the seamless integration of a journey from door-to-door, combining a range of transport methods, all bookable via your smartphone.\u00a0 From an autonomous vehicle to an electric micro-scooter, an electric bus to an electric air-taxi<\/a>, the benefits of MaaS systems include fewer unnecessary journeys, reduced carbon emissions, less \u00a0congestion, enhanced convenience and cost savings.<\/p>\n The reduction in private vehicle ownership would contribute to a dramatic rethink of what our streets are actually for.\u00a0 Congested, polluted \u2018rat-runs\u2019 to be endured on the way to the office, or green, clean, safe spaces for entertaining, socializing and relaxing?<\/p>\n Decades of pedestrian-friendly policies in Copenhagen, for example, means that today, some 80% of all journeys in the city are made on foot and 14% by bicycle[9]<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Paris, the ambitious plan of the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, to create a \u201915-minute city\u2019 attracted global attention, with its simply yet powerful idea that people should be able to find everything they need within a 15-minute walk or cycle of their home[10]<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The plan envisages creating more public spaces for children, reducing car parking, introducing green spaces and small-scale urban agriculture, investing in local businesses and creating socially mixed communities.<\/p>\n Leaders in cities as diverse as in Barcelona, Detroit, London, Melbourne, Milan and Portland are said to be exploring similar ideas.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the idea of the 15-minute city itself was endorsed by C40 Cities, an organization that connects 97 of the world\u2019s largest cities in the fight against climate change.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n Sustainable, safe and successful<\/p>\n As the world rapidly journeys towards a shared urban future, it is inspiring ideas like these that will ensure our cities remain hubs for our communities, commerce and culture for generations to come.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n With a 75-year commitment to investing in the infrastructure of life, from transport to energy, e-commerce to real estate, Abdul Latif Jameel is proud to be a key global player in this transformational change as we strive to deliver a cleaner, greener, safer future for all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Future of Cities report, European Commission, April 2019<\/a><\/p>\n [2]<\/a> 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs<\/a><\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Orchestrating infrastructure for sustainable Smart Cities<\/a>, IEC, 2014<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/~\/media\/McKinsey\/Industries\/Oil%20and%20Gas\/Our%20Insights\/Global%20Energy%20Perspective%202019\/McKinsey-Energy-Insights-Global-Energy-Perspective-2019_Reference-Case-Summary.ashx<\/a><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Reshaping Energy Systems for Future Cities – Renewable Energy World<\/a><\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Global EV Outlook 2020 \u2013 Analysis – IEA<\/a><\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Creating Future Cities with Self-Driving Vehicles<\/a>,<\/u> Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> 95% of U.S. car miles will be in self-driven, electric or shared vehicles, <\/strong>RethinkX<\/a><\/p>\n [9]<\/a> https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/environment\/pubs\/pdf\/streets_people.pdf<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> Parisians will live within a 15-minute radius, Eurocities<\/a><\/p>\n [11]<\/a> C40 : Agenda for a Green and Just Recovery<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":82894,"template":"","tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPower for the people<\/h2>\n
![\"Building](\"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ALJ-Building-Cities-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Tesla](\"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tesla-Powerwall-300x188.jpg\")
The future is smart<\/h2>\n
![\"Dubai](\"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Dubai-Sustainable-City-scaled.jpg\")
Moving target<\/h2>\n
![\"Anne](\"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Anne-Hidalgo-300x300.jpg\")
![\"Paris](\"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Paris-15-Minute-City-5.jpg\")