Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2018 | Page 3
NORDICUM
Real Estate Annual Finland
The Metropolitan Movement
The time of the cities is now. It is noteworthy that cities are
on the rise at a scale and speed that is quite unprecedented in
human history. Pioneering cities have become the true engines
of national economies, as well as champions for a smarter, low-
carbon lifestyle, for instance.
Researcher Bruce J. Katz from the American Brookings
Institution (see the interview on p. 8–15) argues that cities sit on
the front lines of disruptive forces such as population migration,
demographic transformation, economic restructuring, income
inequality, and climate change. Since many national and state
governments are mired in gridlock, Katz fully expects cities to
step up and take the helm in issues such as policy innovation
and problem-solving.
According to studies, sustainable urbanisation reflects one
of the most critical areas for urban solutions today. While half
of the world’s population now lives in cities, more than 70 per-
cent of carbon emissions originate in cities. Henceforth, the solu-
tions should also come from the cities, as is recognised by the
2015 Paris climate agreement and the UN’s recent Sustainable
Development Goals.
Katz talks about “major interventions” that are needed for
the cities to get their sustainable groove on. Greener, smarter
ways of doing things are direly needed in e.g. transport, build-
ings and energy sector.
Transport and buildings constitute the bulk of greenhouse
gas emissions in cities, and cities consume over two-thirds of
the world’s energy, primarily through non-renewable sources.
Katz points out that the technologies for changing this reality –
such as state-of-the-art mass transit, energy efficiency, and dis-
tributed renewable energy – already exist. The challenge lies in
deploying these technologies at scale across cities with radically
different regimes of government and governance.
In these trying times, the cities need leaders with vision.
Katz is of the opinion that city mayors may very well emerge
as the game changers in the new urban reality. In order to suc-
ceed in this, mayors and other city leaders need to stay grounded
and learn to govern more effectively. The lessons learned from
mayors solving problems and making progress – in spite of con-
straints on their formal powers and available resources – need
to be taken to heart.
As the gulf between urban policy preferences and state
and federal priorities keeps widening, mayors also face mount-
ing pressure from many sides. Nevertheless, the power base of
the city leaders is growing as well – the megatrend of urbanisa-
tion is not going anywhere.
Sami J. Anteroinen
Editor-at-Large
Publisher
PubliCo Oy
Pälkäneentie 19 A
FI-00510 Helsinki
Finland
Phone +358 20 162 2200
[email protected]
www.publico.com
Editor-in-Chief
Jussi Sinkko
Editorial Coordinator
Liisa Hyvönen
Project Manager
Paul Charpentier
Contributors
Merja Kihl
Ari Mononen
Sami J. Anteroinen
Lutz Ehrhardt
Language Editor
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Sales
Finland
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Phone +358 20 162 2220
Sweden
Mr. Johan Lindberg
Phone +358 20 162 2280
Germany
Mr. Lutz Ehrhardt
Phone +49 40 367 311
Cover Photo
The Brookings Institution
Printed by
PunaMusta, December 2017
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ISSN-L 1236-3839
ISSN 1236-3839 (Print)
ISSN 2242-9603 (Online)
www.nordicum.com
PubliCo Oy is a member of The Finnish Periodical
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Nordicum
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