Cities After COVID-19 | The Big Rethink replays and The Big Picture trending articles

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The current pandemic reveals contrasting approaches from governments and leaders to keep societies afloat. What we know for sure is that it is time to reflect on how we can achieve a more resilient and sustainable future, instead of returning back to the norms we were accustomed to pre-COVID-19. Therefore, for the past month, we have been sitting down with experts to discuss how cities are coping and what measures can be set in motion to improve our future urban environment.

Now halfway through 'The Big Rethink: Cities After COVID 19 [2]' series, we are overwhelmed by the positive response received from the 4,500 participants who already took part in our live discussions. A warm thank you to our contributors and community!

Tune in to follow our next conversations:
Tomorrow at noon EDT: Jay Pitter [3] (Placemaker & Author), Enrique Peñalosa [4] (Former Mayor of Bogotá), Matias Echanove [5] & Rahul Srivastava [6] (Co-Founders of urbz), and host Greg Lindsay [7] will share their views on the following topic: ‘Beyond Megacities: Rethinking Density’. We will consider what constitutes good urban density, how to prioritize vulnerable populations, and whether COVID-19 could mark a turning point toward more polycentric urban development. Register now [8].

May 12: Jan Simpson (President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers [9]), Clive Wilkinson (President & Design Director of Clive Wilkinson Architects [10]), and Jamira Burley [11] (Head of Youth Engagement & Skills for the Global Business Coalition for Education) will explore ‘The How, What, Where of Work’. They’ll discuss the dissonance in naming workers as essential whilst not providing protections or a living wage, why the Fourth Industrial Revolution requires skills-friendly cities, and whether the modern brick-and-mortar office will itself soon be deemed as non-essential. Sign up now [12].

May 19: On this seventh episode of The Big Rethink, we will explore the opportunities provided by COVID-19 to set a precedent that accelerates global climate action. 'Decarbonizing the Hard Way' will explore why denser cities are more energy efficient, the chicken or egg dynamic between political will and clean energy technology, the importance of a unified global response, and why we need to prioritize the most vulnerable. Join us [13].

May 26: In ‘Lessons For Greenfield Megaprojects', we’ll discuss how greenfield city planners are trying to pandemic-proof their projects on the fly, and what lessons they’re learning from elsewhere when it comes to reinventing critical infrastructure. We’ll also explore the future trajectory of these developments. Having already been criticized as exclusionary, will COVID-19 provide a new pretext for discrimination? Will global elites flock to new gated communities? Or will governments and investors work together to pilot novel combinations of low-carbon infrastructure, planning for public health, and accessibility? Register [14] to find out.

Did you miss the previous live sessions? It’s not too late to catch up! We’ve been recording them so you can still investigate the crisis through the lenses of our experts on the following topics:

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News from our Network

We want to take the time to thank our members for their contribution and vision during this unpredictable time. Their support yields cutting-edge research and solutions to problems currently besetting urban leaders. It allows us to convene the stakeholders who can effect change. And it assures that intelligent, open-minded debate can lead to progress in how people, places, and policies benefit from concerted action. This month, we are pleased to introduce McKinsey Global Institute [19] as a Knowledge Partner. If you’d like to become a member, visit our newly revamped Members page [20]!

The team is working hard to reveal some exciting news regarding our programming, but in the meantime, find out what our network has been up to!

[21] FEATURED RESEARCH WITH NEWCITIES
[Webinar & Report] Understanding the Key Innovation Cycle: 8 Key Takeaways [21]

Partners With Paradox Pride to Connect Nonprofits With COVID-19 Related Transportation Needs [22]

[23] APRIL 27, 2020
Energy University Energy: Education From Anywhere for Efficiency Everywhere [23]