Creating Flourishing Ecosystems
and Resilient Communities
As I write this foreword, COP29 has just
concluded, and while opinions on the climate
finance deal remain divided, the imperative to
prepare out cities for climate change remains
clear. It is timely for us to understand and
act upon the opportunities that regeneration
potentially offers, to reconcile the tension
between liveability and a climate-changed,
resource-constrained world. I distil three key
insights that can serve as a springboard for
cities’ regenerative journey.
Foremost, building regenerative cities is about
instilling resilience in urban systems.
Rohit T. Aggarwala, Chief Climate Officer of
New York City, outlines plans to strengthen the
city’s climate resilience, sharing the value of
co-creating solutions with the community as
cities undertake environmental transformation.
Underscoring the need for community-driven
regeneration, Jerome Frost reminds us that
resilient cities require continuous efforts in
strengthening both the hardware and software
of cities, equipping its people to recover from
disruptions and emergencies. Likewise, I share
more about the Centre for Liveable Cities’
refreshed Liveability Framework, reflecting on
the integration of resilience into city planning
to enhance liveability.
An integrated and systems-driven approach is
core to achieving regeneration in cities.
David Craig, co-chair of the Taskforce for
Nature-related Financial Disclosures, posits
that nature must be understood holistically,
examining both upstream and downstream
impacts in our pursuit of regenerative
development. Wang Lin showcases Shanghai’s
Changbai Neighbourhood 228 as a case
study, prompting us to consider deeply how rejuvenation of a single neighbourhood can
benefit its wider district.
And in so doing, the value of regeneration can
go beyond environmental benefits, enabling
all ecosystems and communities to thrive
collectively. Lauren Sorkin and Valerie Brown
guides us to think of the interconnections in
urban systems, demonstrating that tackling heat
resilience can bring about a slew of co-benefits.
Finally, regeneration places the environment
at the heart of everyday life.
Regenerative cities begin with embedding naturecentric
principles into developmental strategies.
Mark Watts emphasises the need to mainstream
climate action in city governance, incorporating
climate budgeting into cities’ fiscal strategies.
Jannie Krall Johnsen illustrates this through the
rejuvenation of Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower,
which combines carbon-sensitive transformation
with spaces for sociality. In tandem, Mike Hayes
and Deven Chhaya demonstrates the need to gear
innovation towards decarbonisation to deliver
clean energy to cities.
As we draw inspiration from the insights shared
in this issue, let us take decisive steps to embed
regeneration into our urban fabric, ensuring
that cities become more resilient in the face of
climate change.
I wish you an enlightening and enjoyable read.
Hugh Lim
Executive Director
Centre for Liveable Cities