Cities worldwide are embracing the power of modern technology and pursuing a critical new role for their leaders to combat the vast environmental and systemic challenges that the global pandemic has brought sharply into focus.
The traditional one-size-fits-all approach to urban policy and planning is obsolete. And the pandemic’s impact has unmistakably accelerated the pace of emerging changes that now hold clear implications for the decline of the traditional ‘centralised-city’ model.
Intentional adoption of smart, digital, experience-centric solutions have become indispensable in overcoming today’s challenges and aligning city services to the future needs and well-being of the public. Strategic, informed, outcome-based use of digital technology will be the key to successfully shaping cities and services for a new era.
We need to reshape tomorrow’s urban centres to adapt to humans – not the other way around,” suggests KPMG’s Sarah Varghese, Partner, Infrastructure, Assets & Places, noting that the future is about putting people at the centre of urban transformation via convenient universal access to all of the local services needed to live, learn and thrive.
The future of cities report identifies 6 key global trends
1. Create an experience-centric ecosystem for tomorrow’s cities
2. Begin the journey with a clear destination
3. One size no longer fits all as urban life evolves
4. A sustainable future – create greener, safer cities for all
5. Drive transformation – the future of cities is fully connected
6. Driving economic growth in a world of fiscal constraints
