What started as an idea for a workshop in 2014 developed into Europe’s largest event for sustainable cities in record time. Today ‘Urban Future’ still is an inspiring place to get together, but it is also a global community of urban changemakers who make cities around the world sustainable.
- THE MAKING OF A SMARTER CITY
URBAN FUTURE.
- Urban Future Live Events are the #1 meeting places for CityChangers. They are here to inspire, get inspired, and personally connect with the most active people leading transitions in cities.
- The annual Urban Future Virtual Event is hosted by several cities on different continents and aims to motivate existing and soon-to-be changemakers anywhere in the world. Co-created by more than 200 organisations, Urban Future Virtual will premiere in September 2021.
- CityChangers.org is the virtual 24/7 home base for urban change agents. It is where they can access hands-on experience from peers around the world, share their own learnings and acquire relevant skills (to be launched in September 2021).
“If you want a better future for your children, you need smart people and not smart cities!”
– Gerald Babel-Sutter, CEO & Co-Founder of Urban Future
Why are you choosing to be an H22 partner?
We’re super excited to come to Helsingborg in 2022! It is our chance to introduce the CityChangers community to a mid-sized city that really knows how to dream big, innovate, co-create and get things going together.
There is one clear message we’ve got for the world: cities don’t need to be big in size to be big in visions!
In what way will your involvement contribute to the development of Helsingborg and other cities?
Urban Future will bring some of the world’s most enthusiastic urban changemakers to Helsingborg. They will share a variety of different urban transformation stories and attendees of Urban Future Helsingborg get a chance to learn from hundreds of cities at once.
Furthermore, we’ll spread the H22 story around the world. People will come to Helsingborg to listen to you, see and feel your approach for a better city. Some might even bring along fresh ideas for you on how to evolve in the years to come.
What does a smarter city mean to you?
We don’t really like to use the term ‘smart’ to describe a city. We don’t think it’s the ultimate goal of a city to get smart. We are sure that humans should always come first. And if you want a better future for your children, you need smart people and not smart cities! You need passionate people with a bold and beautiful vision of a sustainable city and enthusiasm to drive change!
When you imagine the city of the future, what do you picture as the most exciting changes?
Of course, we love to picture a green city, with lots of lively squares and enjoyable benches or art installations. A city with enough space on the streets to walk, cycle, play and dance. A city with clean, fresh air and water. A city with sustainable or even circular buildings offering affordable housing options for everyone. A city with fewer or no cars at all but still well connected and easily accessible. A city with happy residents and courageous politicians who lead the way. Isn’t that a city we all want to live in?
