Clarence Barboza

Future-Proofing Cities: Evolutions in Sustainability-Centric Urban Design | Asia Summit 2024

Erin Murphy, Stephane Asselin, Clarence Barboza, Skye d'Almeida, Andrew Hodgson, Shruti Narayan, Sarah Murphy, Andy Hodgson

Moderated by Sarah Murphy, a panel of experts from C40 Cities, Arup, and Cisco Systems examined critical sustainability challenges facing Southeast Asian cities, ranging from decarbonizing transportation to managing cyber threats against digital infrastructure. The discussion highlighted a structural financing gap between institutional investment preferences and the need for distributed green assets, proposing blended finance models and corporate partnerships to de-risk municipal projects. Key strategies for future-proofing urban centers included adopting circular economy principles, integrating climate goals into municipal budgeting, and leveraging nature-based solutions to address resilience against climate disasters.