The Century of Cities

Prof. Greg Clark CBE & Jennifer Dolynchuk

Welcome to The Century of Cities, a captivating journey fueled by curiosity into humanity's most profound transformation: urban evolution. By 2100, 10 billion people will live in over 10,000 cities. What shape will that world take? This 100-episode series explores the forces driving this shift through illuminating interviews and compelling stories, revealing how cities can lead us toward a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world.

  1. Chris Fair: Beyond the Global City

    17H AGO

    Chris Fair: Beyond the Global City

    The Century of Cities welcomes Chris Fair, futurist and President & CEO of Resonance, who explores how cities are moving beyond a single model of the "global city" toward more divergent forms of urban development. Drawing on decades of research and the evaluation of hundreds of cities worldwide, he reflects on how places once shaped by globalization are now differentiating through culture, governance, and lived experience. From Copenhagen's reinvention to the contrasting trajectories of São Paulo and Toronto, the discussion highlights the growing gap between performance and perception, and why it matters. Chris challenges conventional approaches to city branding, reframing it as civic identity grounded in authenticity, institutional capacity, and local aspiration. He argues that cities at different stages of growth or decline face distinct priorities, from placemaking and infrastructure to institutional alignment. As urbanization fragments across regions, the cities best positioned for the future will be those that clearly understand who they are, what they offer, and how to turn identity into long-term opportunity.

    31 min
  2. Rohit T. Aggarwala: New York's Climate Future

    FEB 13

    Rohit T. Aggarwala: New York's Climate Future

    In this episode of The Century of Cities, Rohit T. Aggarwala, Commissioner of NYC Environmental Protection and former Chief Climate Officer, reflects on a century of urban change through the lens of New York's environmental, infrastructural, and governance evolution. He traces the city's trajectory from the fiscal and environmental crises of the late twentieth century to its present condition, marked by cleaner air and water, renewed waterfronts, and the pressures that accompany urban demand. He argues that climate change will eclipse affordability and growth as the defining urban challenge. He outlines a pragmatic understanding of resilience, one that prioritizes protection of life, housing, and core systems over the pursuit of uninterrupted normalcy. From stormwater and coastal defences to mobility and water management, the discussion emphasizes the need for long-term investment, institutional flexibility, and political leadership capable of navigating disruption. The future of cities, he suggests, will depend on the capacity to make difficult choices early, at scale, and with a clear understanding of risk.

    30 min
  3. Mairi Spowage: Scotland's Cities, Housing, and the New Urban Economy

    FEB 9

    Mairi Spowage: Scotland's Cities, Housing, and the New Urban Economy

    Mairi Spowage, Director at Fraser of Allander Institute, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on how Scotland's cities have evolved through industrial decline, sectoral booms, and structural economic change. She traces the divergent trajectories of places like Glasgow and Aberdeen, explaining how shifts toward service and knowledge-based economies have brought new opportunities alongside persistent challenges around housing, productivity, and uneven growth. Mairi highlights the importance of aligning skills, housing, and infrastructure with local economic realities, and cautions against one-size-fits-all national policy. From post-pandemic city centres to demographic change, her perspective is pragmatic and grounded: cities thrive when local institutions are empowered to plan long-term, collaborate effectively, and connect people to opportunity.

    34 min
  4. Tim Williams: Why the Housing Crisis Isn't a Supply Problem

    FEB 2

    Tim Williams: Why the Housing Crisis Isn't a Supply Problem

    The Century of Cities welcomes Tim Williams, Cities Lead at Grimshaw and a leading voice in global urban strategy, to explore how cities move through cycles of growth, decline, and reinvention. Drawing on his upbringing in the South Wales Valleys and years advising governments in the UK and Australia, Tim reflects on the shift from industrial cities built on extraction to contemporary urban economies shaped by knowledge, lifestyle, and connectivity. He emphasizes that urban change is rarely linear and that periods of transition often involve loss, uncertainty, and uneven outcomes. Tim offers a sharp critique of the global housing crisis, arguing that it cannot be solved by supply alone. He explains how the over-financialization of housing and a disconnect between public expectations and private-sector business models have created a systemic impasse. Rather than blaming developers, Tim calls for a broader mix of housing delivery models, including a renewed role for non-market housing and stronger public-sector capacity. Looking ahead, he warns that many cities may soon face a new reality, managing stagnation or decline and urges more honest international dialogue about how cities adapt when growth is no longer guaranteed.

    25 min
  5. Alice Charles: From Irish Cities to Global Urban Futures

    JAN 27

    Alice Charles: From Irish Cities to Global Urban Futures

    Alice Charles, Director, Cities, Planning & Design at Arup, joins The Century of Cities from Dublin to reflect on how Irish cities, and cities globally, have evolved. Grounded in a career spanning regeneration, infrastructure, and global urban systems, Alice traces Ireland's shift from economic stagnation and brain drain to foreign direct investment, car-led growth, and today's housing and governance challenges. Alice argues for more empowered, outward-looking cities, with stronger local leadership, long-term investment, and deeper city-to-city collaboration, particularly with Asia and Africa. Drawing on global networks like C40 and the Resilient Cities Network, she highlights climate action, health, accessibility, and infrastructure finance as defining priorities for the urban century ahead.

    25 min
  6. Andrew Carter: Devolution, Inequality, and the Future of British Cities

    JAN 20

    Andrew Carter: Devolution, Inequality, and the Future of British Cities

    The Century of Cities welcomes Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, who reflects on how UK cities have evolved, and why uneven progress still defines the urban landscape. He traces the shift from industrial decline and urban decay to a renewed belief in cities as drivers of economic growth, powered by the knowledge economy and higher education. Andrew emphasizes that this revival was not inevitable, but the result of long-term structural change and deliberate policy choices. He argues that deeper devolution, especially greater control over transport, planning, and funding, is essential if cities are to unlock productivity and inclusion. While elected mayors and combined authorities have moved the agenda forward, he warns that without real fiscal autonomy, many UK cities will continue to lag behind their European peers. His message is clear: empowered cities, strong public transport, and well-managed density are central to national renewal.

    35 min
  7. Carlos Moreno: Rethinking Cities Through the 15-Minute Lens

    JAN 12

    Carlos Moreno: Rethinking Cities Through the 15-Minute Lens

    Carlos Moreno, a scientist, urban planner, and professor internationally recognized for developing the concept of the 15-minute city, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on how urban life is being reshaped by climate urgency, digital transformation, and changing patterns of daily living. He explains why proximity-based urbanism is not about a fixed number of minutes, but about identifying essential daily needs, strengthening local access, and reconnecting people to place while preserving citywide and regional services through public transport. Carlos situates the present moment as a critical turning point for cities, where climate change, housing precarity, poverty, and social isolation increasingly intersect. He argues that proximity is not simply about distance, but about belonging, dignity, and social connection. His message is clear: the future of cities depends not only on infrastructure, but on reshaping urban lifestyles to support inclusion, connection, and collective life.

    41 min
  8. Michael Storper: Why Cities Need Better Institutions, Not Easy Answers (Part 2)

    JAN 5

    Michael Storper: Why Cities Need Better Institutions, Not Easy Answers (Part 2)

    Season 2 of The Century of Cities continues with part two of our in-depth conversation with Michael Storper, one of the world's leading economic geographers. In this episode, Michael turns his focus to governance, institutions, and the hard trade-offs shaping urban futures in the United States and Europe. Drawing on comparative insights from California, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and major European regions, he examines how prosperity, inequality, and cultural path dependency collide in today's superstar cities.  Michael offers a rigorous critique of dominant housing narratives, arguing that supply-led solutions alone cannot resolve affordability in highly unequal urban economies. He contrasts American and European approaches, highlighting the role of social housing, construction innovation, and public-sector leadership in maintaining social mix and urban quality. The conversation expands to Europe's innovation dilemma, questioning whether the continent's urban system is structurally equipped to compete in a global knowledge economy while sustaining cohesion across regions. Throughout, Michael calls for greater honesty in urban policy debates, emphasizing that cities face real trade-offs that cannot be wished away. The future of cities depends not just on growth, but on institutions capable of managing complexity, inequality, and long-term transformation.

    32 min
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About

Welcome to The Century of Cities, a captivating journey fueled by curiosity into humanity's most profound transformation: urban evolution. By 2100, 10 billion people will live in over 10,000 cities. What shape will that world take? This 100-episode series explores the forces driving this shift through illuminating interviews and compelling stories, revealing how cities can lead us toward a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world.

Information

  • Creator
    Prof. Greg Clark CBE & Jennifer Dolynchuk
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    The Century of Cities

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