City Planet
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The night side of the Earth, these decades, displays dazzling webs of light on the continents, with incandescent nodes at all the metropolitan areas and a bright tracery of transportation corridors between them. All over the planet, cities are booming and growing. The movement of billions of people from rural to urban areas is shifting more than the landscape: it is changing the nature of our public and political institutions, the status of women, the world economy—and much more.
GBN cofounder Stewart Brand has long been fascinated by cities—how and why they are changing and the long-term implications for civilization. In this article, Stewart explores the nature of the emerging “City Planet,” a world of megacities largely populated by the young; vibrant communities of squatters that are redefining environments, economies, and social norms; and massive urbanization that could represent a huge opportunity for environmentalists, though most haven’t realized it yet. Cities are amazingly durable and adaptive organisms—and the most constantly changing. Likewise, the city dwellers of the present and future are poised to reshape the fundamental agendas of business, politics, and culture.
GBN cofounder Stewart Brand has long been fascinated by cities—how and why they are changing and the long-term implications for civilization. In this article, Stewart explores the nature of the emerging “City Planet,” a world of megacities largely populated by the young; vibrant communities of squatters that are redefining environments, economies, and social norms; and massive urbanization that could represent a huge opportunity for environmentalists, though most haven’t realized it yet. Cities are amazingly durable and adaptive organisms—and the most constantly changing. Likewise, the city dwellers of the present and future are poised to reshape the fundamental agendas of business, politics, and culture.
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