Flagship Urban Solution Tracks
There will be a series of Flagship Urban Solution Tracks for government representatives, policy makers and specific industry experts to discuss the challenges and solutions faced by cities around the world in greater details. These sessions are grouped under eight concurrent tracks namely:
- INTENSE Cities
- ECO Cities
- BIODIVERSE Cities
- SMART Cities
- MOBILE Cities
- RESILIENT Cities
- INCLUSIVE Cities
- INVESTING in Cities
| Track | Synopsis |
| INTENSE Cities | Achieving levels of urban intensity, not merely density.
Achieving levels of intensity, not merely density Urban intensity, not just population density, is the determining factor for vibrant and lively cities. It is not just the number of people, but the mix of their activities, how they move about and the spaces they congregate in, that we admire and seek to emulate in the great cities. This session will examine if, and how, urban intensity might be achieved through deliberate design and planning strategies. What conditions favour the emergence of these urban centres? What levels of urban intensity are appropriate for different cultures? Moderator: Sir Peter Hall, Professor of Planning & Regeneration of The Bartlett School of Architecture & Planning, University College London Speakers:
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| ECO Cities | Fad or a sustainable option?
Cities form 50% of the entire world's population, and increasing yearly. Such rapid urbanization of once green or rural area changes the climate and causes a negative impact on the earth and human population. To house increasing populations, we need to develop cities in a responsible manner for future generations. In recent years, many countries have come up with plans to develop sustainable cities or Eco-Cities. In this track speakers will help to define what an eco-city is. The session will showcase and illustrate the holistic and comprehensive approach that these Eco-cities have taken from planning, to design and development to ensure sustainability. A common characteristic of Eco-cities is to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability. Environmental sustainability is achieved not only by harnessing renewal energy sources but also through careful planning, design, and construction practices. The track will share successful strategies adopted by different cities to reduce their carbon footprint, and create comfortable and accessible living environments for their inhabitants. Cities will share the approach they have taken in areas such as planning and urban design, energy usage, water and waste management, transportation, greening and landscaping, and programmes implemented to foster environmentally conscious communities. Moderator: Nicholas You, Chairman UII Assurance Group, World Business Council for Sustainable Development Speakers:
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| BIODIVERSE Cities | Sustaining a model of co-existence
Widespread urbanisation places increasing pressure on the competing demands for land, water and energy resources. To improve liveability, cities need to build a sustainable relationship with the internal and the surrounding environment. There is a surprising amount of biodiversity in the urban context, and maintaining this becomes increasingly crucial. This session invites key cities to report on their progress in biodiversity conservation. The development and application of the Singapore Biodiversity Index will also be presented. Moderator: Dr. Shawn Lum, President, Nature Society Speakers:
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| SMART Cities | Harnessing data and technology, improving efficiency
Liveable and sustainable cities actively seek out more efficient ways to coordinate functions, analyze data, anticipate problems and organize resources in our cities. It is not surprising that many are looking towards the integration of innovative technology to improve the quality of life and place, and the effectiveness of governance and in resource allocation. This session explores the current approaches, models and best practices of intelligent cities, and how technologies and innovation has impacted on smart city infrastructure. The session will also discuss the synergies needed among governments, companies and academics to realise the vision of smart cities. Moderator: Warren Fernandez, Editor, Straits Times Speakers:
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| MOBILE Cities | In search of new urban mobility models
Increasing externalities of pollution, congestion and loss of productivity are negating the full benefits that can accrue in cities. In developed cities, increasing environmental awareness has seen more consumers to be more receptive to the concept of shared mobility - the costs of motoring relative to other modes, public transport, vehicle downsizing, ridesharing, bicycle network etc are playing a more important role in the mobility mix. In addition, recent advances in information technology and transportation science have made it possible to increase the efficiency of urban transportation systems while at the same time ensuring a sustainable and liveable environment. This session will debate and discuss on new urban mobility models and the opportunities for government, public sector and corporations to align their future mobility vision, products and services towards customers' unmet needs. Moderator: Chew Hock Yong, CEO, Land Transport Authority, Singapore Speakers:
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| RESILIENT Cities | Designing system-wide responses to external forces
Beyond promoting economic growth and efficiency, city governments have realised the need to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on their urban landscapes. Challenges posed by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather suggest that new approaches are required to increase the resilience of energy and water systems and build the adaptive capacity of cities and communities. There is an urgent need to better understand how governments and urban planners can work with the private sector to encourage greater investments and participation in building urban resilience. What are some of the new and emerging measures and technical systems that cities can adopt and how can they overcome the common challenges faced? This session explores the significant investments that need to be made in new energy and water infrastructure for cities. Speakers:
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| INCLUSIVE Cities | Supporting & integrating a productive ageing community
Rapid ageing has a far reaching impact on our societies. There will be increased demands on the healthcare and aged care systems. Social policies need to be flexibly adapted to address issues of employment, retirement adequacy and healthcare affordability. This implies a fundamental paradigm shift in the physical development of cities, to create inclusive and enabling living environments for seniors as they age in place. This track will discuss the challenges posed by an ageing population and the different responses of cities to these challenges, including the policies, systems and city development strategies. More importantly, it is about creating a "city for all ages", and the ability to harness the strengths of this demographic through integration and ensuring continual productivity. Moderator: Dr. Mary Ann Tsao, President & Director, Tsao Foundation Speakers:
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| INVESTING in Cities | Re-inventing and sustaining cities through public-private partnerships
As development opportunities shift from developed cities to developing cities, investment strategies need to take into consideration the changing dynamics of population growth, burgeoning economies and new business opportunities. The paradigm shift of conducting business today has also shifted our focus to economic, social and environmental sustainability issues in the long-run. This session looks at some of the new operating models to adopt in new emerging markets and explores the opportunities and challenges in the development of emerging cities. Moderator: John Macomber, Professor, Harvard Business School Speakers:
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