Bright Cities was in San Francisco participating in the Urban Transformation Summit 2024, organized by the World Economic Forum! The WEF is a non-profit international organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, the WEF is best known for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which gathers political, business, intellectual, and civil society leaders from around the world to discuss economic, social, technological, and environmental issues of global impact.
The Forum promotes debates, panels, and initiatives in various fields, including economics, innovation, sustainability, social inequality, technology, climate change, and global governance. Its goal is to foster cooperation among governments, corporations, and non-governmental organizations to address complex challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive development.
In addition to the Davos meeting, the WEF organizes regional and thematic summits like the Urban Transformation Summit we attended, addressing specific topics such as urban sustainability, emerging technology, global health, and the fourth industrial revolution.
In this edition of the Urban Transformation Summit, representatives from 89 cities around the world participated, along with substantial representation from the private sector and many non-profit organizations.
The Urban Transformation Summit by the World Economic Forum (WEF) took place in San Francisco, a strategic and significant choice. San Francisco is globally recognized as a hub for technological innovation and an urban laboratory for new development models. The city is a living example of how technology and urban planning can coexist to create a more resilient and sustainable environment. It was a unique experience to hear global leaders and experts sharing insights on how to transform cities to be more resilient, inclusive, and innovative. We returned with more best practices and solutions for Bright Cities’ portfolio.
The Forum brought forward important reflections, especially during the session “Accelerating a Circular Built Environment,” which highlighted the relevance of sustainable construction. According to the WEF, around 60% of the buildings that will exist by 2050 have not yet been built, making it essential for them to be planned sustainably. The discussion also addressed the importance of retrofitting, presenting successful examples of this technique’s application. It is crucial to create a culture where revitalizing old or abandoned buildings is appealing, transforming them into valuable assets once restored. Such is the case with San Francisco’s port, which now houses businesses and a restaurant area, as well as the Pier 70 neighborhood, where many constructions have been restored and are being revitalized. When considering the cost of retrofitting combined with the benefit of reducing CO₂ emissions, this strategy proves more advantageous than constructing new buildings. Furthermore, investment in technology was identified as crucial to promote cost reductions and efficiency gains, resulting in a lower environmental impact.
In the session “Designing Cities for Healthy Living,” it was emphasized that actions to improve health are not just about increasing infrastructure, like adding more doctors. Instead, the importance of initiatives to improve air quality and housing conditions was highlighted, making them healthier. A large part of the population still lives in inadequate housing that does not meet minimum structural and sanitation standards. These actions aim to create an urban environment more conducive to health, focusing on preventive interventions and the overall well-being of the community.
During the plenary “Delivering Social Value in Urban Development,” it was demonstrated how public-private partnerships are collaborating to promote more sustainable urban development, creating favorable conditions for city innovation. Kimberly Norton, the mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, in the USA, shared successful cases involving medical centers in the city, highlighting the importance of including society in urban improvement planning. She also presented the city’s citizen participation toolkit, emphasizing the fundamental role of the community in building a more inclusive and resilient urban environment.
Holding the event in San Francisco reinforces the connection between innovation and urban development. The city is known for its pioneering solutions in mobility, sustainability, and digital transformation. With challenges such as rising living costs, gentrification, and efficient resource management, San Francisco has positioned itself as a reference in progressive urbanism practices, adopting inclusive policies and exploring the potential of technology to address complex urban issues.
Moreover, the presence of leading companies and tech-focused startups creates a favorable ecosystem for urban innovation, offering an inspiring backdrop for discussions and new partnerships. The choice of San Francisco as the host for the Urban Transformation Summit underscores the importance of thinking of cities as dynamic and adaptable spaces, where technology, sustainability, and inclusion go hand in hand to tackle global challenges and build a smarter and more human urban future.
Moments like this reinforce that many city challenges are global and highlight the importance of joining forces to build concrete solutions for a smarter and more sustainable urban future!
Na sessão “Designing Cities for Healthy Living“, foi destacado que as ações para melhorar a saúde não se resumem apenas ao aumento da infraestrutura, como a ampliação do número de médicos. Em vez disso, enfatizou-se a importância de iniciativas voltadas para melhorar a qualidade do ar e as condições das habitações, tornando-as mais saudáveis. Uma grande parcela da população ainda vive em moradias inadequadas, que não atendem aos requisitos mínimos de estrutura e salubridade. Essas ações visam criar um ambiente urbano mais propício à saúde, focando em intervenções preventivas e no bem-estar geral da comunidade.
Na plenária “Delivering Social Value in Urban Development“, foi apresentado como as parcerias público-privadas estão colaborando para promover um desenvolvimento urbano mais sustentável, criando condições favoráveis à inovação nas cidades. A prefeita Kimberly Norton, da cidade de Rochester em Minnosota nos EUA, compartilhou casos de sucesso envolvendo centros médicos na cidade, ressaltando a importância de incluir a sociedade no planejamento das melhorias urbanas. Ela também apresentou o tool kit da cidade para participação cidadã, destacando o papel fundamental da comunidade na construção de um ambiente urbano mais inclusivo e resiliente.
Momentos como esse reforçam que muitos desafios de cidades são globais e sobre a importância de unir forças e construir soluções concretas para um futuro urbano mais inteligente e sustentável! 💡🤝
Thank you World Economic Forum for the great opportunity. Congrats Jeff Merritt for the event.
