The Century of Cities

The Century of Cities features Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large for Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as she charts the remarkable transformation of this city-state. From its rapid urbanization in the 1980s to its emergence as a global hub of innovation and resilience, Chan Heng Chee reveals the strategies behind Singapore's success, from pioneering public housing to harnessing technolog...

The Century of the Cities welcomes Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of City Developments Limited. Esther shares invaluable insights on how Southeast Asia has transformed over the decades through rapid urbanization, economic collaboration, and groundbreaking sustainability initiatives. She digs into Singapore's leadership in climate resilience, urban planning, and the ASEAN region's efforts...

Welcome to  The Century of Cities Long-Lost Bonus Episode! Join hosts Professor Greg Clark and Jennifer Dolynchuk as they dive into the transformative evolution of urbanization from 1980 to 2080. Did you know that in 1980, just over 40% of humanity lived in cities, and by 2080, that number is projected to reach 80%? Or that the urban population will grow from 2.3 billion to an estimated 9.2 billio...

The Century of the Cities welcomes His Excellency Fahd Al-Rasheed, General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Excellency takes us on a journey from 1980 to 2080, redefining how we view cities as places to live. From the concept of "cities as products" to the critical need for leadership that blends political savvy, CEO acumen, and urban expertise, this conv...

Rob Adams, an Architect and Urban Designer who has shaped Melbourne into one of the world's most livable cities, joins us on The Century of Cities. Over four decades, Rob's vision has transformed Melbourne from a declining city into a vibrant, 24-hour hub with thriving streets, lush green spaces, and a bustling residential population. Rob shares the story of Melbourne's turnaround, the creation of...

The Century of the Cities welcomes Peter Newman, an environmental scientist, urban planner, and sustainability professor at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. Peter reflects on his groundbreaking work combating car dependence in cities, starting with his advocacy during the first oil crisis in the 1980s. He shares insights into the evolution of urban transport systems, the importance of transi...

In this episode of   The Century of Cities, Professor Barbara Norman, a global authority on sustainable urban planning, climate change adaptation, and urban governance, joins us. From her pioneering work revitalizing Melbourne's Docklands to shaping national climate policy, Barbara shares her compelling insights into how cities have evolved since the 1980s and her optimistic vision for Australia's...

The Century of Cities  welcomes Eleni (Lenio) Myrivili,  UN Chief Heat Officer working with UN-Habitat and the Arsht Rock Resilience Center of the Atlantic Council, as she tackles one of the most pressing challenges of our time: extreme heat. Lenio explains why cities are warming twice as fast as the planet and how this intensifies public health risks, especially for the most vulnerable. She share...

Marc Olefs, a leading climate scientist and Head of Climate Impact Research at Geosphere Austria, joins us on The Century of Cities to explain the intricate links between climate change and urbanization. From the cooling effects of aerosols in the 1980s to the intensifying impacts of greenhouse gases,   Marc explores pivotal shifts in the Earth's climate and their profound implications for urban e...

The Century of Cities welcomes the visionary Gabriella Gómez-Mont, founder of Experimentalista and former Chief Creative Officer of Mexico City, to reflect on Mexico City's staggering reinvention, from its sprawling challenges of the 80s to its current role as a global hub for urban innovation. Gabriella shares powerful stories of how Latin America's early urban struggles became a catalyst for gro...

Susan Parnell, an author and Professor of Urban Geography at Bristol University and an  Emeritus Professor at the African Centre for Cities at UCT, joins The Century of Cities to discuss the transformative landscape of African urbanization. Susan reflects on the dramatic urban shifts and profound implications of Africa's ongoing urban evolution, from grappling with extreme poverty to harnessing it...

The Century of Cities welcomes Professor Philip McCann, Sir Terry Leahy Chair of Urban and Regional Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School, for part 2 of a two-part conversation. Phillip delves deep into national urban policy complexities in this second episode, emphasizing the unique challenges of different countries. He highlights the importance of tailored solutions over copy-pasting...

The Century of Cities welcomes Professor Philip McCann, Sir Terry Leahy Chair of Urban and Regional Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School, for part 1 of a 2-part conversation.  Philip explains the shift from economic convergence to divergence within regions and investigates the implications for national growth. He draws attention to the challenges of agglomeration without growth, where...

Uma Adusumilli, an architect and  former chief planner of the  regional planning division of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), joins us for the latest episode of The Century of Cities. Drawing on decades of experience, Uma looks into India's urban journey, from the cultural shocks during the 1980s to the challenges of today's crowded megacities. Uma reveals the rise of...

In this episode, we're delighted to be joined by Astrid R.N. Haas, a feminist urban economist whose career spans Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Astrid reflects on her journey from Kampala's vibrant yet fragmented streets to her current base in Hong Kong, drawing lessons from Southeast Asia's rapid urbanization. Focusing on urban finance, she unpacks how historical policies like Structural Adju...

In this episode of   The Century of Cities, we are joined by Professor Cheong Koon Hean, one of Singapore's most influential urban planners and architects. As the Chair of the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, she has shaped Singapore's evolution into a global leader in livability, sustainability, and economic competitiveness. She explores Singapore's transformative journey, beginning in...

Dag Detter, Principal at Detter & Co., renowned global advisor, and author of   Public Net Worth, joins   The Century of Cities to reveal how cities worldwide sit on vast, untapped gold mines of public assets. He explains how outdated accounting methods and fragmented management practices hinder cities from unlocking their financial potential and shows how transforming these assets could address c...

In this episode of   The Century of Cities, we're joined by Lewis Dijkstra, leader of the Urban and Territorial Analysis Team at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. Lewis takes us on an eye-opening journey, exploring how European cities have bounced back from their 1980s decline to become thriving hubs for young people and families. He discusses the critical issue of affordable housin...

The Century of Cities welcomes Diane Hoskins, a renowned architect and Global Co-Chair of Gensler. Diane helps us step into the future of cities as she unveils the firm's bold vision to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 through innovative strategies like the Gensler Product Specification (GPS). She highlights the transformation of underutilized office spaces into vibrant mixed-use resident...

Greg and Jen are delighted to sit down with Mary Rowe, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute, for episode 11 of The Century of Cites. Mary brings decades of expertise to explore the evolution and future of Canadian cities. She examines how urban landscapes have transformed, from Toronto's 1980s transit strikes to today's challenges in bridging urban-rural divides. She shares her belief...

The Century of Cities welcomes Alan Berube, a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Metro, who examines the transformation of U.S. cities from the deindustrialization and suburbanization challenges of the 1980s to the bustling tech hubs, legacy industrial cities, and affordable, up-and-coming areas we see today. Alan discusses the forces of population growth, climate change, regional leadership,...

Dr. Parag Khanna, Founder and CEO of AlphaGeo, an AI-based geospatial predictive analytics platform and international best-selling author, joins episode 9 of The Century of Cities. Parag shares his compelling perspectives on cities that have transformed into sprawling hubs, like Dubai and Shenzhen, and emerging cultural centers, such as Berlin and Toronto, redefining the urban landscape. He explor...

The Century of Cities is honoured to welcome the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Dr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, as she  shares her journey through decades of urban transformation. She discusses Malaysia's shift from agriculture to a thriving industrial hub. Maimunah highlights the importance of planned, sustainable growth that centers on happiness, mental well-being, and environmental resilience as essential co...

Richard Burdett CBE, professor of Urban Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the director of LSE Cities, joins episode 7 of The Century of Cities. He transports us to London's gritty 1980s, juxtaposing it with the vibrant public spaces of Rome and maps the city's remarkable transformation driven by democratic accountability and the pivotal role of directly elected ma...

The Century of Cities welcomes Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments, as she explores the shifting dynamics of local governance and the journey of international municipal movements from 1980 to 2080. Emilia shares a unique perspective on how local and regional governments have grown into vital political actors, advocating for a systemic approach to urbanization that...