Sustainable cities: quality of life as a source of innovation

Fear for the cities. Due to the inevitable effects of climate change, many coastal megacities - including New York, Miami, Shanghai, Mumbai and Bangkok - are trembling at the thought of one day being swept away by rising sea levels. The most pessimistic scientists are even betting on the the disappearance of several major business centres at the beginning of the next century. Sea levels could rise by at least 30cm to 60cm by 2100, according to the IPCC's latest report, published in September, accompanied by a riotous procession of cyclones, floods and epidemics.

So prevention is better than cure. So Miami has received public approval to issue $400 million in bonds to finance projects ranging from raising the height of roads to building pumping stations to cope with the devastating floodwaters. In New York, while memories of hurricane Sandy in 2012 are still fresh - flooded subways, power cuts, cancelled flights and damage estimated at $19 billion - the city is also preparing to deal with the effects of the storm. devastating climatic events. 500 million should be invested to protect Manhattan, with ideas including an inflatable Atlantic barrier, a protective wall south of Battery Park and miles of dunes and dykes.

For its part, China, with most of its major metropolises regularly flooded, is testing the concept of "Sponge cities. This strategy aims to make urban land capable of absorbing or reusing two-thirds of rainwater. This involves permeable cobbled streets, artificial ponds and wooded medians that can store excess water. However, faced with the potential risks, others prefer to flee. In Indonesia, for example, while Jakarta is sinking inexorably and could be one-third submerged by 2050, the Presidency has found a site where a new capital will be built from 2024. In the middle of the Borneo jungle!

And yet, against all the odds, they will have to go back to their roots. liveable all these megacities, since they will undoubtedly continue to be the driving force behind the global economy. To bring these initiatives together, nearly 100 of the world's largest cities have joined forces in the C40 association. Because these major cities are at the root of the problems, consuming almost two-thirds of the world's energy, and it is up to them to come up with solutions.

If leading business cities are forced to review their model in the face of the climate emergency, they are challenged to reinvent themselves or risk losing their appeal.

As is often the case when it comes to sustainable development, the example comes from Northern Europe, with towns and cities that are giving themselves the means to give their citizens the best possible quality of life. growth and resilience with soft mobility, urban gardens and ambitious policies. Car-free city centres and bike-sharing in Oslo, compulsory green roofs on new buildings in Copenhagen to promote biodiversity, the most energy-efficient and self-sufficient office building in the world in Amsterdam - The Edge, in the Zuidas business district - these cities may be green, but they are also economically dynamic, with large companies on the one hand and a whole host of small companies committed to improving everyday life on the other.

In the same way, Stockholm has long been committed to the ecological transition, with the introduction of best practices. But the city is above all a master of sustainable rehabilitation of its former industrial wastelands. After the Hammarby Sjöstad eco-neighbourhood ten years ago, the Swedish capital is developing a new showcase for its commitments, the Stockholm Royal Seaport, where construction began in 2012 and will run until 2030.

Cycle paths and biofuel

One of the largest urban projects in Europe, this former port area has already seen the emergence of connected buildings to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. controlling energy consumptionIt will also include an underground waste recovery network and a biofuel plant, all surrounded by an abundance of greenery. In keeping with the times, this setting is set to accommodate 35,000 employees and 12,000 homes. The project also serves as a pilot for local industry leaders such as ABB and Electrolux, and for universities such as the Royal Institute of Technology, to envisage the urban planning of the future.

In the city centre, Norrsken House, a creative cluster housed in a former tram depot, is interested in technological ways of making the world a more liveable place. Set up by Niklas Adalberth, one of the founders of the online bank Klarna - one of the five 'unicorns' born in Stockholm along with Skype, Spotify and the game publishers King and Mojang - this vast coworking space is, in its own way, part of a 'new world'. ultra-dynamic high-tech scene. With a fifth of its population working in the sector, Stockholm is home to a number of major innovation hubs such as Sup46 and The Factory, as well as promising start-ups, some of which are involved in real quality of life, such as the Kry medical teleconsultation platform or Noomi and its connected bracelets to simplify the daily lives of the elderly.

As future workers, we are ready to question our comfort zone so that society can change profoundly.

Manifesto for an ecological awakening

"Stockholm, Amsterdam and Copenhagen have changed lifestyles, limiting the number of cars and supporting alternative forms of transport. This is driving the development of new technologiessays Vladislava Iovkova, head of PwC's Strategy& consultancy unit. Admittedly, it's easier on a small scale to look for solutions to the circular economy than in Paris, but in the end, the major historic cities find themselves in the same situation. a little behind."

While leading business cities are being forced to review their model in the face of the climate emergency, they are also being challenged to reinvent themselves or risk losing their appeal to new graduates. A attractiveness which is no longer measured solely in terms of their economic influence, but also in terms of sustainability and quality of life; in short, the fit between deep-rooted values and professional activity.

Just look at how receptive the younger generation is to the rhetoric of Greta Thunberg and Flygskam movement - the "shame of taking the plane" - or the "manifesto for an ecological awakening" signed in France by 30,000 students from prestigious schools such as HEC, Polytechnique and the École normale supérieure. The message from these future decision-makers: "We are ready to question our comfort zone so that society can change profoundly. We want to take advantage of the scope for action that we enjoy as students by turning to employers whom we consider to be in agreement with our demands."

"Take Berlin, for example. Millennials consider the city to be a pleasant place to live, with plenty of greenery and no danger.says Bruno Lunghi, a partner at PwC. These comments are often made by the young people we recruit today."Which leads the partner to ask: "Wouldn't the cities of tomorrow be those that have a lower population density and can be managed differently from megacities?"

It's no coincidence, with all the millennials who are part of its effervescence, that San Francisco is on the top of the list. among the most eco-responsible towns. His policy "zero waste by 2020"This has made the city a benchmark for recycling and the circular economy. The Salesforce tower, the city's new tallest skyscraper, also embodies this spirit, being one of the first to introduce recycling of 'black' water - that from toilets - as well as an air-conditioning system supplied by the outside air. At the same time, this vertical campus boasts spaces and designs that are now commonplace in all up-and-coming districts. A mix between ecological awareness and well-being at work in line with the building's ambition: "be a destination worthy of attracting the world's brightest talent".