The crowd surveys organizations such as the UN, the World Bank or the European Union in combining two elements that will define the next 25 years of humanity. On the one hand, the effects of climate change are becoming more and more evident, with increasing temperatures and droughts, and on the other, the concentration of the world’s population in urban environments.
Studies by these organizations estimate that around 70% of the world’s population will be confined to urban spaces by 2050. That is, 6,790 of the 9,700 million people who inhabit the planet live in boat cities. These are some of the data collected by the Urbania 2000 study prepared by ESG area communication consultancy Torres y Carrera.
In global terms, Asia and Africa contribute more than 80% of the world’s population. The population that will grow in all continents, except Europe, will go from today’s 740 million to 728 million in 2050 forecast, and in addition the oldest average age.
By country, the population of the phenomenon is concentrated in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia and Egypt. And the list of cities with the highest number of inhabitants in 2030 will be led by New Delhi (39M), Tokyo (36.5M), Shanghai (33M), Dhaka (28M), Cairo (25.5M) and Bombay (24.5M).
What a city it is
Currently, cities occupy 3% of the earth’s surface and represent on average 70% of global energy consumption and are responsible for 75% of carbon emissions. In 2050, its surface will represent no more than 5%, but the percentage of energy consumption and emissions represents 90% of the entire planet.
In this context, the European Union has developed an urban plan that is believed to be a sustainable city, defined by elements such as the quality of life of neighbors, large green spaces, the development of renewable energy, collective mobility and clean and clear. the promotion of the circular economy.
In 2050, the most habitable European cities will be Madrid (8.3M), Barcelona (7M) and Rome (4.3M). These three cities stand out from the typical urban project defended by Europe, which places a population of around one million inhabitants.
The model, which consists of a network of cities that are not inhabited by a large number, is requested in order to maintain the quality of life and to support the management model, and to be very coherent, combining the development of infrastructure with the territory of very affordable spaces.
what lives?
In this European map of 2000 cities, the combination of technological development with the coverage of essential services, such as the management of water, energy, waste and mobility, for decades in the Smart City.
But to all these keys we must now add examples of the evolution of work (teleworking, 4 working days a week, etc.), changes in the productive economy (reduction in the private mobile fleet which is considered to question the main activity of the industry. The 20th century: the automotive industry), or the increased demand of another activities for working life (leisure, sport, culture).
All these elements are moving forward to gather in a very narrow horizon, in which European states are called to compete to strengthen their qualitative rather than quantitative brand. And the list of cities with the highest number of inhabitants in 2030 will be led by New Delhi (39M), Tokyo (36.5M), Shanghai (33M), Dhaka (28M), Cairo (25.5M) and Bombay (24.5M).
T&C Intelligence
The Urbania 2050 report corresponds to the Intelligence T&C series, a work of social, economic and environmental analysis and reflection on the main aspects of our current and future lives. Issues such as water or sanitation were the subject of analysis as they are now models of urban life. Tangible changes are not only the way we communicate properly, but in essence, the way we live them.
