Cities present a crucial challenge and opportunity in the coming decades, as more than 2.5 billion people are expected to be added to the world’s urban areas by 2050. There is strong evidence that improved economic productivity and resource efficiency that accompany urbanization can be achieved while simultaneously addressing the environmental and social externalities from rapid urban growth. Although a combination of technological, social and political innovation is necessary, a wide range of actionable solutions are currently available to address the challenges cities face across various sectors. 2015-16 is an unprecedented year of opportunity - with COP, SDG and Habitat III -  for advancing action at the global and city level towards advancing sustainable urban growth. Ani Dasgupta, Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, gave a lecture that explored real-world examples of how change has been made in some of the fastest growing cities and economies of the world and discussed actions to ensure sustainable urbanization in the years and decades ahead.

Welcome

• Dirk Messner, Director, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) and Co-Chair, German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) 

Public Lecture

• Ani Dasgupta, Global Director,  WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities 

Dirk Messner (Moderator)