Second World Cities Summit Knowledge Council (2024-2026)

Knowledge Council Meeting at WCS 2024.
Front row (from left to right): Bree Trevena, Lily Kong, Barbara Norman, Angelene Chan.
Back row (from left to right -R L): Xue Lan, M. Jae Moon, Rohit T. Aggarwala, Mark Watts, Clarence E. Anthony, Richard K. Green, Dan Hill.
Absent with apologies : Cristina Gamboa and Rahul Mehrotra

During their two-year tenure, the Council will discuss future-oriented solutions to shape liveable, sustainable, and resilient cities in the face of complex global challenges. They will also contribute to thought leadership on global trends, advise on the Centre for Liveable Cities’ research agenda and WCS’ content and strategic initiatives, and participate as speakers at future editions of WCS.

The new Council held their first meeting at WCS 2024, in Singapore, with a focus on two key themes–the future of urban liveability and the future of resilient and low-carbon cities, aligned with the Summit’s theme “Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Rejuvenate, Reinvent, Reimagine”.

Council members opined that city leaders need to adopt a ‘systems view’ of issues and recognise the interconnections between various urban systems. To build resilient communities, city leaders need to ensure that they provide ample housing, job, and education opportunities, and to consider the needs of vulnerable communities, future generations and nature when designing places.

In tackling the climate crisis, cities should engage in multi-sectoral and multi-level collaboration within and between cities, balance economic, social and environmental outcomes in urban development and adopt new ways of planning and implementation such as the 15-minute city model.

Find out more about the WCS Knowledge Council here.