Innovation-in-Europes-Cities_Bloomberg-Mayors-Challenge1

An ageing world: the projected percentage of citizens over 60 by 2050Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina are projected to have the highest percentage of seniors in Europe. Severalother countries in the European region have comparable projections.40%Bosnia and HerzegovinaItalyAn Urban Age35%Europe30%25%20%IrelandNorth AmericaTurkeyLatin AmericaAsiaWorld15%10%Africa5%0%195019701990201020302050EnvironmentThe connection between environmental sustainabilityand quality of life is intrinsic to the DNA ofmany European cities. At one end of the scale, thecompact, well-connected European city model –epitomised by Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna,Barcelona and, to a degree, London and Berlin –provides positive exemplars of how to manage theenvironment and promote economic growth. Inthese cities, public transport takes precedence overthe car, urban sprawl is contained and a mix of usesis promoted as a way of reducing the environmentalfootprint and optimising urban vitality. At the otherend of the scale, many post-industrial cities likeLiverpool, Turin, Gdańsk and Bilbao have had toreinvent themselves to cope with the vicious cycle ofjob losses, shrinking populations and urban decay.While levels of pollution in Europe are well belowAsian, African and American standards, there hasbeen a concerted effort – promoted by the EU at thepolicy level and championed by a number of greencity leaders – to change the behavioural patterns ofEuropean urban citizens. Reducing car dependencyand the need to find affordable, environmentallyfriendly techniques to retrofit old buildings remainsignificant challenges. Zero-carbon growth,collaborative consumption, renewable energygeneration, district heating systems, congestioncharging, bike-sharing and priority bus lanes aretransforming the metabolism of some Europeancities, leading to a ‘decoupling’ of the trajectory ofeconomic growth and energy consumption.11