The future of sustainable cities
When it comes to building new cities, the ideas range from simple (walkability) to out of this world (skip off to Mars). As cities are faced with ever-mounting challenges, it can be inspiring and informative to dream up a brand new world. However, most cities don’t have the benefit of a clean slate, says Alok Sindher, a partner on the Climate Tech team leading the infrastructure investing platform at Fifth Wall. “It’s important to have a fast, iterative solution that integrates into the built world,” Sindher continues. “It is technologies that integrate — and are effective day one ROI — into the existing built world that are going to help us succeed in decarbonization.”
With that being said, here are three brand new sustainable cities we’re watching unfold.
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For more, watch: The future of sustainable cities determines the future of the planet
Nusantara
Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, is pioneering the development of a high-tech, green capital city, Nusantara. Widodo’s plans include a city run on renewable energy with walkable, bikeable paths. The architecture will be built for region’s climate and it aims to showcase how cities must adapt for a warming planet. For example, buildings are stilted with elevated walkways which allows for better air circulation and water drainage.
For more: Indonesia plans on building Nusantara, a new capital city
Egypt’s yet-to-be-named new capital city
Just outside of Cairo is a new city meant to shift Egypt’s center of gravity. The “smart city” capital boasts Africa’s tallest building, a crystal pyramid, and a disc-shaped palace. Tech-centric plans include 6,000 cameras to monitor streets, AI to manage water use and waste, and a mobile app to manage complaints. Residents will be able to use smart cards for payments and unlock doors with an app. One of the motivations for Egypt’s massive development was to address overcrowding — Cairo’s 22 million population is expected to double by 2050.
For more: From creaking Cairo, Egypt plans high-tech leap with new capital
Neom
One of the buzziest new developments is Neom, the megacity in Saudi Arabia known for The Line, an elongated city designed around people rather than cars. When Neom is complete it will be 33 times the size of New York City with everything from a year-round ski resort to a floating octagon-shaped industrial hub. One of the main motivations for creating this city is to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil — it will be a carbon-free city powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
For more: What’s the green truth behind a planned eco-city in the Saudi desert?
