{"id":31146,"date":"2020-07-30T15:03:30","date_gmt":"2020-07-30T14:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digileaders.com\/?p=31146"},"modified":"2020-07-30T15:03:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T14:03:30","slug":"connected-cities-has-the-future-changed-in-light-of-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digileaders.com\/connected-cities-has-the-future-changed-in-light-of-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Connected Cities: Has the future changed in light of COVID-19?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s arguable that Covid-19 has been one of the most impactful peacetime events in our history. It has transformed our business landscape in ways that no one could have imagined. Whole countries came to a complete standstill for months on end, leaving cities \u2013 our most vibrant economic and social hubs \u2013 as empty husks.<\/p>\n

Even now, with restrictions lifted in many places, the pre-pandemic dynamism remains palpably absent. The economic and social impact has been devastating. Jobs need to be salvaged and new areas of growth discovered. Pandemic spending has\u00a0risen to nearly \u00a3190bn in the UK alone<\/a>. Globally, the figure has ballooned beyond comprehension.<\/p>\n

With new ways of working and living and the continued need to adhere to social distancing guidelines, it\u2019s impossible to return to a state of \u2018business as normal\u2019. Investment needs to be made in areas that will reinvigorate the economy while making allowances for new ways of life. But we can do this in ways that will create a positive environmental impact.<\/p>\n

Pollution has been reducing dramatically during the period of lockdown. One look at the\u00a0published pollution maps<\/a>\u00a0makes this indisputably clear. Across the world, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels have plummeted and our cities have become demonstrably healthier places. How do we maintain the environmental gains made, using them as the foundation for greener cities, all while combating inequality, joblessness and a weakened economic state amid a new way of life?<\/p>\n

Green Infrastructure<\/h2>\n

Green Infrastructure (GI) is broadly embraced as a means of sustainable development but it also has enormous potential for economic growth as well as wider societal benefits. Take cycling as an example. Many cities are already working to create a cycling infrastructure as a means of reducing pressure on public transport and helping to reduce coronavirus contagion points. Berlin, Paris, Brussels and Milan are among the major European cities rolling out both permanent infrastructure and pop-up \u2018corona cycleways\u2019, in a wave of investment that includes free bicycle repairs and even cycling lessons. These are worthwhile goals alone, but they have the potential to bring in many more benefits.<\/p>\n