The Future of Cities: A Conversation with David Miller and Tom Bridges on the Future of Cities, Climate Change, and Resiliency

On Wednesday, October 31st, former Mayor of Toronto David Miller and Arup Director of Cities Advisory Tom Bridges joined the Initiative on Cities for a discussion on city resiliency and inequality in the face of climate change.

The two discussed the implications of rapid urbanization and the increasing social, economic, and environmental pressure of the growth or urban populations.

Tom Bridges, the Arup Leeds Office Leader and Director of Cities Advisory used his work in Leeds as a reflection of the growing trends in cities. While there is an increase in high-skill, high-paid jobs, and an increase in low-skill, low-paid jobs, the middle sector has essentially started to disappear – leaving an increasing amount of urban residents trapped in low-income jobs and incapable of protecting themselves from climate related disaster. Although economic growth continues, it comes at the expense of lower-income workers, and growth continues to push the two classes farther apart.

David Miller, the North America Director for the C40 Climate Leadership Group, discussed the combination of urban inequality, climate-related natural disasters, and growing unrest among urban populations – and how these three are the catalyst for change at the city government level. Miller and C40 work with mayors around the globe to develop and implement climate mitigation policy that stress inclusive economic growth, and Miller is optimistic for city leaders who have pledged enact these policies.

Read more about the fantastic discussion here.