‘Better connected, vertical cities’

ISSUES of environmental degradation, inability to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change, food security concerns, inefficient urban mobility, and the “uglification” of streets and neighborhoods, are all results of apathetic and dispassionate actions of individuals, organizations, and government agencies deciding on the built environment. If we take a step back and look at the bigger picture of congestion and sustainability, it is really a basic problem of integration and being conscious on how one’s small action greatly affects society as a whole.

Last July 7 in the Asia CEO Forum, I gave a talk, together with my daughter Urban Planner Karima Palafox, on how to actively confront this issue through transit engaged mixed-use developments and tourism development as drivers of sustainable cities and inclusive economic growth. This also promotes the humanization of our streets.