The Urban Century

By the middle of the 21st century, more than six billion people – nearly two-thirds of the estimated global population – will live in cities around the globe. Developing countries already are experiencing high rates of urban migration from rural areas, and the majority of the world’s “mega-cities”, those with populations of 10 million or more, will be in the global South.

The Urban Century initiative brings together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to look at innovative approaches and successful models that may help alleviate some of the pressures that necessarily accompany rapid expansion of population and land area covered by cities.  From transportation systems and other infrastructure development to food security and adequate housing and poverty alleviation, burgeoning metropolitan areas face local challenges that have implications for international policies and programs in an increasingly globalized world.

Events

Pardee Center Conference: The Future is Now: Urban Asia in the 21st Century, October 8, 2014
Pardee Center Mini-Conference:”The Latin American Urban Experience: Crisis, Creativity, and Renewal”, April 9, 2014
Pardee House Seminar: The Urban Century, December 13, 2012

Multimedia

Pardee House Seminar: The Urban Century (Video), December 13, 2012
Pardee Podcast: The Urban Century 
WBUR Podcast: “Growth, Innovation, and the Accelerating Pace of Life from Cells to Cities: Are They Sustainable?” Geoffrey West, May 12, 2013
Video: Pardee Distinguished Lecture: “Growth, Innovation, and the Accelerating Pace of Life from Cells to Cities: Are They Sustainable?” Geoffrey West, April 4, 2013