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"We have to combine a low-emission building with high-absorption city nature."

Welcome to The Urban Question, a special series of the Urban Report podcast from FORESIGHT Climate & Energy in association with Bloxhub, the Nordic hub for sustainable urbanisation and the WRLDCTY forum.

In each episode, the team at FORESIGHT will try to answer a single pressing question or dilemma at the heart of regenerative planning efforts. Using Bloxhub’s home city of Copenhagen as our living laboratory, The Urban Question will also examine how other cities are adapting to the demands of the 21st-century citizen.

For episode two, FORESIGHT’s Sam Morgan explores the impact urban growth has on the planetary resources.

Sam is joined by:

• Samantha Pert, Principal and Head of Sustainability at international design practice Hassell.
• Louise Fiil Hansen, Design Director and Partner at the nature-based design studio SLA.

They discuss density versus liveability, while ensuring that climate is taken into account throughout the planning process. And they focus on getting local engagement right, so that NIMBYism doesn't derail projects that are good for the environment and society.

How else can we limit the impact of cities on the environment? Can we incorporate green spaces and nature-based solutions into our urban areas, not only to be kind to the environment, but to actually improve our daily lives?

Let us know in the comments below or over on LinkedIn, where you’ll find a community of like-minded individuals working to create a decarbonised economy.

“Sometimes we don't take the time upfront to have those conversations and get those messages right, and understand the benefit… that will be valuable to different stakeholders.”

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If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach Sean at his X account: Sean Carroll

Follow us on X at @Foresight_CE or email us at: sean@foresightmedia.com.

You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android.

"Human design is and always must be starting from the lived experience of its users."

Welcome to The Urban Question, a special series of the Urban Report podcast from FORESIGHT Climate & Energy in association with Bloxhub, the Nordic hub for sustainable urbanisation and the WRLDCTY forum.

We aim to explore ideas that drive cities to flourish while addressing the pressing issues of sustainability and decarbonisation. Across the series, we will examine the challenges, trade-offs, and successes that define sustainable cities today through debates with experts who are working to improve the world’s urban areas.

In each episode, the team at FORESIGHT will try to answer a single pressing question or dilemma at the heart of regenerative planning efforts. Using Bloxhub’s home of Copenhagen as our living laboratory, The Urban Question will also look at how other cities are adapting to the demands of the 21st-century citizen.

“With the success of the inner city has come a growing expectation that I can get this in my own neighbourhood at any time.”

For this first episode to explore what makes a model for human-centric cities, David Weston, Editor-in-Chief at FORESIGHT, is joined by two guests:

• Helle Søholt, CEO of the urban strategy and design consultancy Gehl and board chair of Bloxhub.
• Saravanan Sugumaran, managing director of urban advisory firm Morrow Intelligence.

They look at what human-centric urban design actually means, how it’s being applied in cities today and how citizens are reacting to it.

How is your city embracing human-centric urban design? And what changes has it brought to your area? Let us know in the comments below or over on LinkedIn, where you’ll find a community of like-minded individuals working to create a decarbonised economy.

We’ll be back again soon with another Urban Question, but until then, thanks for listening.

"I think you have to earn the right to use the stick...And that comes with a lot of responsibility, both from the government and from active citizenry."

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Follow us on X at @Foresight_CE or email us at: sean@foresightmedia.com.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android.

During European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s first term from 2019 to 2024, climate change was arguably at the top of the political agenda. The European Commission tabled a huge package of laws aimed at slashing emissions across the bloc, framing the new “Green Deal” as the backbone of a more prosperous European Union.

Today, things have changed. With Russia's war on Ukraine continuing, military conflict in the Middle East, and trade uncertainty caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs, climate seems to have slipped down the list of political priorities.

In Europe, the political debate is less about how to urgently slash emissions than how to boost military spending and reduce red/green tape to give businesses an edge in the global marketplace.

For Green Party politicians across the continent, this poses a problem, both environmentally and politically. How can green politicians marry the need to address climate change with current political priorities?

“The winds are not in our favour at the moment. We have war on European soil, and that has been challenging for Green parties internationally. We have prided ourselves on our pacifism. To look at people from Ukraine in the eye and say, ‘Actually, we support you in your fight against Russian aggression’ requires a change from ourselves in our approach.”

Ciarán Cuffe won a seat in the European Parliament in 2019, where he sat with the Greens/EFA group. Cuffe gained a reputation as a dedicated lawmaker, landing the role of chief negotiator on new EU rules to make buildings more energy efficient. However, despite his legislative achievements, Cuffe was not returned as an MEP in the 2024 elections. Today, he acts as the co-chair of the European Green Party.

In this episode of The Urban Report, Cuffe reflects on his experiences in the European Parliament, whether defence, competitiveness and climate concerns can co-exist politically, his new position with the European Greens, and the role of cities in pushing forward climate action.

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android.

If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach Sean at his X account: Sean Carroll

Follow us on X at @Foresight_CE or email us at: sean@foresightmedia.com.

You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.