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Future of Cities

Future of Cities

By 2050, 68% of the world’s population is projected to live in cities. What will those cities look like? There is no one template -- some will be intentionally planned or rebuilt, while others will spring up haphazardly without any central planning.

As urban populations grow, cities around the globe are tackling challenges in sustainability, transportation, sanitation, and design. In this Freethink original series, we zero in on some of the most forward-thinking sustainable cities and get a glimpse into how these innovators are shaping our urban future.

Future of Cities

Future of Cities
The Sustainable City of the Future: Copenhagen, Denmark
The Sustainable City of the Future: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Future of Cities
The Sustainable City of the Future: Copenhagen, Denmark
By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas (up from 50% now). With the climate crisis worsening, how can we support this urban trend in a sustainable way?
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September 13, 2019

By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas (up from 50% now). With the climate crisis worsening, how can we support this urban trend in a sustainable way?

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Future of Cities
Copenhagen Turns Trash Into Ski Slopes
Copenhagen's innovative approach to waste management turns trash into ski slopes
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Future of Cities
Copenhagen Turns Trash Into Ski Slopes
Humans throw away 3.5 million tons of waste every day. Copenhagen is taking waste management to new heights (literally) to deal with trash from residents, making it the sustainable city of the future.
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September 20, 2019

Humans throw away 3.5 million tons of waste every day. Copenhagen is taking waste management to new heights (literally) to deal with trash from residents, making it the sustainable city of the future.

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Future of Cities
Futuristic Copenhagen Architecture Builds on Water
Futuristic Copenhagen Architecture Builds on Water
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Future of Cities
Futuristic Copenhagen Architecture Builds on Water
The innovators of Copenhagen architecture are pioneering new solutions to urban living challenges, from floating parks to man-made islands.
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September 26, 2019

The innovators of Copenhagen architecture are pioneering new solutions to urban living challenges, from floating parks to man-made islands.

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Go Deeper: Articles on the Future of Cities

Future of Cities
The Future of Micromobility in Africa
The Future of Micromobility in Africa
Future of Cities
The Future of Micromobility in Africa
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, improvements to infrastructure shift focus from cars to micromobility. The city’s transportation plan calls for hundreds of kilometers of bike lanes and pedestrian pathways for increased safety.
By B. David Zarley
September 18, 2019

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, improvements to infrastructure shift focus from cars to micromobility. The city’s transportation plan calls for hundreds of kilometers of bike lanes and pedestrian pathways for increased safety.

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Future of Cities
Paving the Way With Recycled Roads
Paving the Way With Recycled Roads
Future of Cities
Paving the Way With Recycled Roads
The world is facing a massive build up of waste. But this solution of recycled roads may pave the way for a cleaner future.
By B. David Zarley
September 12, 2019

A recycled road has been paved with asphalt that contains the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of plastic bags, along with thousands of glass bottles and printer cartridges’ worth of waste toner. In addition to the sheer amount of recycled materials the process will divert away from landfills, these longer-lasting roads also help to reduce the carbon footprint of construction.

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Future of Cities
Merging Nature and Sustainable Design: An Interview with Daan Roosegaarde
Daan Roosegaarde is a Dutch architect on a mission to create a more efficient and beautiful world through innovative, sustainable design.
Future of Cities
Merging Nature and Sustainable Design: An Interview with Daan Roosegaarde
From towers that create pockets of clean air to a luminescent bike path that glows like children's ceiling stars, Daan Roosegaarde's entire practice is centered around the beauty of living with nature and removing pollution from urban life.
By B. David Zarley
September 11, 2019

From towers that create pockets of clean air to a luminescent bike path that glows like children's ceiling stars and windmills drawing lines of light across the sky, Daan Roosegaarde's entire practice is centered around the beauty of living with nature and removing pollution from urban life.

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