Café Scientifique - Is making cities sustainable a mission impossible?

About this webinar

Smart sustainable cities present a vision that is too good to resist. Is this a dream within our reach—or are we hanging by a rope where a drop of sweat is all it takes to turn our success into failure? This talk will consider how the technical aspects of smart cities collide with their social, economic, and ethical dimensions. As well as many opportunities, there are dangers of incorrect appropriation and co-option of language of participation and democracy.

The discussion will be led by P.B. Anand, Professor of Public Policy and Sustainable Development and Head of Peace Studies and International Development at the University of Bradford. He has recently completed a 3-year British Academy-funded project on inclusive, smart and sustainable cities, and guest edited (with Julio Navio) a special issue of the journal Telecommunications Policy on the governance and economics of smart cities.