Urban autonomy - greater powers for cities5 July 2013
Governments are dragging their heels over issues affecting our quality of life - like climate change and affordable housing. But cities can drive us forward. Give them more power, says university professor.
Cities around the world are already showing us what they can achieve, enthuses Professor Harriet Bulkeley.
In Australia when the Howard Government - like the US - was a denier of climate change you had cities across Australia creating new kinds of green [low cost] housing.
In this edited Google Hangout , she argues for distributed urban autonomy - meaning cities with greater decision-making powers, forming strong networks, and learning from one another.
She makes a clear link between tackling climate change and improving quality of life:
We're not going to address climate change if everyone exists in rubbish housing. We need housing to be decent to achieve that.
We interviewed Prof Bulkeley for our Big Ideas Change the World research project.
Watch the 15-minute interview
Comment below
Can cities do a better job than national governments?
What powers do cities need to improve the well-being of their people?
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