Cities are the hub of economic vitality, but they face trends that put their ability to survive in question. How do we recognize the trends in urbanization, and how do we prepare to make cities better not only for today, but for the future as well? A city’s ability to maintain essential functions is threatened by both acute shocks (earthquakes and flooding) and chronic stresses (water scarcity and homelessness), which can lead to social breakdown, physical collapse and economic decline. How do we address these stresses directly? Opening Keynotes Andrew Salkin of 100 Resilient Cities and John Paul Farmer of Microsoft discussed how technology; early investments; shared networks; and diverse partnerships among government, individuals, and communities are the solutions for improving accessibility to cities and sparking positive change.

Watch their discussion here.