Cities - adaptation without mitigation is immoral

In response to debate around the growing pressures on our cities and infrastructure systems CIRIA has invited an expert panel to take part in an evening debate to discuss current issues of environment and sustainability in a new Urban Era. 

For the first time the number of people living in cities has surpassed those living in rural areas.  With such rapid increases in urbanisation globally, the complex challenge of how we support growing urban populations, ensure adequate supporting infrastructure and develop resilience against changing climates and environmental risks, has arisen.

The debate will be held in London on Wednesday 15 June 2016. A panel of expert speakers will discuss the challenges of building and managing cities in the face of growing populations, climate change, environmental risks and increasing dependencies of infrastructure systems. With varied backgrounds and areas of specialisms across the built environment, the panel will debate the challenges and priorities to consider for mitigation and adaptation initiatives in the built environment. This debate intends to the highlight the wide range of approaches possible for managing urban regions, and to address the complexities in developing more inclusive and sustainable urban environments and communities. 

The debate will be chaired by Keith Clarke, Vice President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Vice Chair for Future Cities Catapult, previously Chief Executive of WS Atkins Plc and a champion for sustainable development in the construction sector. 

We hope you will join us for this exciting discussion on the complex issue of cities as our expert panel debates the challenges around balancing efforts of mitigation and adaptation in cities and the negative and positive aspects of increased urbanisation.

Register for the event on the CIRIA event page and follow the debate on Twitter using #CIRIAdebate.