What is the future for the city?
Herbert Girardet
Director of Programmes at World Future Council, Sustainability Consultant, Author
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About the video: ‘What is the future for the city?’
The industrial age has brought about a phenomenal expansion in the size and number of cities globally. In the developed world 80% of the population is now urban (worldwide it is 50%). Currently world cities are unsustainably dependent for their functioning on fossil fuels. Within a decade the end of the era of cheap oil will force us to rethink fundamentally our urban energy needs. Girardet points to some of the ideas that may help to mitigate this energy crisis, and to prepare urban areas for climate change.
Total views: 2,416
Filmed: London, England on 12 May 2006
Credits: Interviewer - Marcus Morrell, Camera and Editor - Marcus Morrell
Copyright © 2006 Big Picture TV
About Herbert Girardet
Herbert Girardet is Director of Programmes of the World Future Council. A world-leading expert in urban sustainability, he has consulted on the development of sustainability policies for several major cities including London, Vienna and Adelaide. He is chief consultant to the Shanghai City Government on the design of Dongtan Eco-City on Chongming Island near Shanghai. He is also a prolific author and documentary maker.
His books include “Surviving the Century: Facing Climate Chaos and Other Global Challenges”(2007) and “Cities People Planet: Urban Development and Climate Change” (2008).
Other videos with Herbert Girardet
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Recorded: 12 May 2006
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What other advantages does making cities more sustainable bring?
Speaking from his experience as sustainability consultant to the Australian city of Adelaide, Girardet highlights the social and economic advantages that sustainable urban planning…
Recorded: 12 May 2006
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