Innovation-in-Europes-Cities_Bloomberg-Mayors-Challenge1

An Urban AgeCities are growing larger at an unprecedented rate,but the pattern of growth is unequally distributedacross the surface of the globe. Europe and NorthAmerica had their major growth spurt in the19 th century; Latin American and Japanese citiesgrew exponentially at the end of the 20 th century.Over the next 15 years, Asia will see a dramaticexpansion in urban populations, followed bysub-Saharan Africa (where income levels are stillvery low). At the same time, European and NorthAmerican cities are adapting to different challengescaused by deindustrialisation, globalisation and – insome cases – shrinking urban populations.Cities have always been based around the flowof people, goods and capital. The informationage has accelerated the process of urbanisation,rather than reducing its pace. We know that over50% of the world’s people are urban dwellers.But together they punch well above their weight,generating about 80% of global Gross DomesticProduct (GDP). Cities are the engines of the globaleconomy and contribute significantly to povertyalleviation, but risk becoming seething cauldrons ofsocial inequality. At the environmental level, citiesare responsible for around 60% of global energyconsumption and over 70% of global greenhousegas emissions.Whether they are growing or shrinking, citiesand their governments have always shown resiliencein finding new solutions, adapting quickly to aSeattleLos Angeles50% of population is urban80% of GDP is produced by cities70% of energy is consumed by citiesfast-changing world. Some Asian cities are modelsof sustainable growth. Some North American citiesare leading the field in environmental planning andeconomic regeneration. Certain Latin Americancities in particular have demonstrated innovation bypioneering new transport and governance systems.European cities are responding to a variety ofpolitical, social and economic conditions that reflecta period of uneven growth and varying stability.Across the globe, cities are reinventing models ofurban governance and civic engagement that reflectthe major environmental, social and economicchallenges of our time. Bloomberg Philanthropies’Mayors Challenge has been designed to captureand encourage innovation in cities, starting withcities in the United States in 2012-2013 and movingto European cities in 2013-2014.Mexico CityDallasChicagoHavanaBogotáLimaNew YorkSantiagoFortalezaBrasíliaSão PauloBuenos Aires6