Future Dialogue 2011
Science and business can make many things possible. In today's fast-moving world, however, we need dialogue more than ever before – between executives and researchers, and among policy-makers and ordinary citizens. The aim of Future Dialogue is to create a forum for this conversation. The platform brings together scientists, business leaders, city policy-makers to discuss new approaches to sustainable urban development.
The first Future Dialogue in Berlin in 2009 took a look at how the world is tackling the big challenges of our time: climate change, healthcare and urbanization. In the second Future Dialogue in Beijing in 2010, the focus was on new approaches to the energy issues confronting us – today, tomorrow and in the future.
Moving ahead Future Dialogue 2011 focused on "Sustainable cities: Mastering the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanization". The conference, co-hosted by Max Planck Society and Siemens in partnership with Economist Conferences, UN-HABITAT/World Urban Campaign and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, sought to find solutions to help Indian cities overcome challenges of rapid urbanization. Future Dialogue is furthermore a key event of the programme series “Germany and India: Infinite opportunities”
A few key facts:
Indian Cities are facing big challenges for the environment, economy and quality of life. The following facts (source: McKinsey Global Institute's report India's urban awakening: Building inclusive cities, sustaining economic growth) highlight the need for sustainable technology and infrastructure solutions to overcome the challenges.
- In 2008, 340 million people already lived in urban India (30% of total population)
- By 2030 population of India's cities will increase to 590 million, and by then India will have 68 cities with over 1 million
- Indian cities generate 80-85% of India's tax revenue
- Over the next 20 years, urban India will create 70% of all new jobs that will be twice as productive as in rural sector
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in India's cities are expected to increase from 230 million tons of CO2e in 2005 to nearly 1.6 billion by 2030
- Water supply for the average citizen could drop from an average of 105 liters to only 65 liter a day with a large section of the population having no access to potable water at all
- The rapid growth of cities put enormous challenges to cities’ infrastructures.
Filling the demand gap for energy-efficient and sustainable infrastructure
- The only way to increase quality of life in cities, ensure competitiveness, and at the same time protect natural resources and the environment is by developing cities in a sustainable manner.
- 35% of India’s population is reportedly without access to energy. Any sustainable development will require modernizing India’s energy infrastructure.
- Siemens’ products offer solutions to the challenges of urbanization. We help make cities competitive and environmentally-compatible and improve the quality of urban life.
A Conference Hosted By:
In Cooperation With:
