Sustainable Cities News & Events

Future Proofing Cities

A major new report ‘Future Proofing Cities’ was published today by Atkins in a unique partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID) and University College London (UCL) assesses the risks to cities from climate hazards, resource scarcities, and damage to ecosystems and how they can act now to future proof themselves. Covering 129 cities totalling 350 million people in 20 countries, this report identifies practical measures that cities can take to manage these future risks.

Around 75% of the world’s population will live in cities within 40 years. Almost all of this population growth will happen in the developing world, with 4.6 billion people projected to live in already rapidly growing cities.

How will these cities in the developing world cope socially, environmentally and economically with such accelerated urbanisation?

Future Proofing Cities assesses the risks from mega cities like Bangkok to smaller cities such as Zaria in Africa. It looks at their risk profile from climate hazards, resource scarcities, and damage to ecosystems and urges action now to future proof against these risks.

This report provides a fresh approach to the urgent issues arising from rapid urbanisation. It assesses the environmental risks facing cities in an integrated way and identifies more than 100 practical policy options that are most relevant and will be of most benefit to people living in different types of cities.

It builds on the collective work on urbanisation by DFID, Atkins and UCL with forewords by the World Bank and Rockefeller Foundation.

The report is set against a growing awareness of the need for increased funding for infrastructure development in developing countries at the city level.

This report provides an early warning for people living and working in these cities, while providing market intelligence for investors.

Atkins’ UK Chief Executive Officer David Tonkin commented:

“The earlier cities take steps to future proof themselves the better. As this report demonstrates, these are complex challenges which require deep technical skills brought together to understand the scale and urgency of the risks that cities face. Through our broad experience of working in cities around the world, and our ability to integrate a range of disciplines, we understand both the complexity and the opportunities that can be created. It is not easy, but it is important that all those who live, work and invest in cities come together and shape solutions for their future.”

Professor David Price, UCL Vice-Provost (Research), said:

"The report reveals significant gaps in our data, knowledge and evidence, highlighting the need for high quality research on the governance of urban environmental risks and the enrolment of multiple actors in planning and decision-making. Yet the report also speaks to the amount of positive change that it is within our grasp to bring about more sustainable, fairer and safer cities in less developed countries. This kind of change will be better achieved through the effective engagement of international development agencies with academics, policymakers, practitioners and citizens." 

Ends

For more information, contact:

Atkins Media Contacts

Sarah Richards

Head of Communications Water & Environment on +44 7803 260 660 or +44 207 121 3040

Ava Lawrence

Communications Manager Water & Environment on +44 7812 238 079 or +44 207 121 2479

www.atkinsglobal.com

DFID Media Contact

Olivia Campbell

DFID Press Office on +44 20 7023 0600

UCL Media Contact

Clare Ryan | Media Relations Manager Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 3846

Mob: +44 (0)7747 565 056

clare.ryan@ucl.ac.uk

T: @fpcities

W: www.futureproofingcities.com

Notes to editors:

DFID - the Department for International Development

Leading the British Government’s fight against world poverty. Find out more at www.dfid.gov.uk

Contact our Press Office: 020 7023 0600 (Overseas +44 (0)20 7023 0600)

Get free-to-use photos, videos and features online: www.dfid.gov.uk/News/For-journalists

For breaking news, follow us on Twitter: @DFID_Press

About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world's leading engineering and design consultancies*, employing some 17,700 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. It has the breadth and depth of expertise to plan, design and enable some of the world's most technically challenging and time critical infrastructure projects.

*14th largest global design firm (Engineering News-Record 2012), the largest global architecture firm (BD World Architecture 100 2012) and the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe (Svensk Teknik och Design 2011).

Atkins is working across urban regeneration, master planning, national energy programmes, major transport schemes, water and environment projects - applying smart design solutions. Atkins is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Follow us on Twitter @atkinsglobal

About UCL (University College London)

Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has 24,000 students from almost 140 countries, and more than 9,500 employees. Our annual income is over £800 million.

You can listen to the press conference podcast here.

To read a blog post of the contents discussed during the press conference click here.

Or to see some articles covering the report in the media:

African Business Review

Phys Org

Reuters