Global Change in the Center of the Cities

There are 7963 million people in the world, more than half of whom live in cities. According to the World Bank, by 2050, the urban population will double, with almost 7 out of 10 people living in cities. With more than 80% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) generated in cities, urbanisation, if properly managed, can contribute to sustainable growth, increasing productivity and facilitating innovation and the emergence of new ideas. However, the pace and scale of urbanisation poses challenges, such as meeting the growing demand for affordable housing, well-connected transport systems and other basic infrastructure and services, as well as employment, particularly for the nearly 1 billion poor who live in informal urban settlements to be close to opportunities. Conflict is on the rise, forcing 60% of forcibly displaced people to live in urban areas. (World Bank, Urban Development Overview, 2022. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/overview)

The center of Madrid has a rich heritage, but it has also some global change problems.

Project website:  https://v-global.eu