The Future of Cities with Penny Abeywardena
NYC Commissioner Penny Abeywardena
Host Don MacPherson is joined by New York City Commissioner for International Affairs, Penny Abeywardena. They explore the future of cities including the impact of COVID-19, combating inequality, and addressing climate change. They also discuss the idea of broadband as a utility and the great steps taken to educate schoolchildren from home.
Season Four of 12 Geniuses is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode explores the trends in urban development and management that are reshaping the way we live and operate in urban centers.
Penny Abeywardena is New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Development Corporation, the International Advisory Council of the International Peace Institute (IPI), the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cities and Urbanization, and is a Core member of the UN’s SDG Strategy and Action Hub.
Resources From This Episode
Connect with Penny on LinkedIn
Follow Penny on Twitter
Learn more about the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council
Explore the role of the International Affair’s team for NYC
Connect with Don on LinkedIn
Follow Don on Twitter
Topics Discussed:
COVID-19’s impact on New York City
Urban populations moving or leaving the city
COVID-19’s impact on the healthcare system
Meeting the needs of the people in a crisis situation
The financial crisis caused by the pandemic
Reducing homelessness
Reducing a city’s carbon footprint
The Green New Deal
The 15-minute city
Cities after COVID-19
Urban Inequality
Combating Climate Change
NYC Office of International Affairs
Installing broadband in underserved communities
Providing learning materials to all students
New York’s reopening plan
Attracting business and citizens back to urban centers
Broadband as a utility
Collaborating with cities around the world to combat global issues
The city of the future
