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Amy Novogratz

TED Prize Director, TED Conferences

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If you could make a wish on behalf of The City 2.0, what would it be?

Today, TED announces the winner of the 2012 TED Prize: the City 2.0. The City 2.0 is the city of the future ... a future in which more than 10 billion people on planet Earth must somehow live sustainably, together. The City 2.0 is not a sterile utopian dream, but a real-world upgrade tapping into humanity's collective wisdom. The City 2.0 promotes innovation, education, culture and economic opportunity. The City 2.0 reduces the carbon footprint of its occupants and eases the environmental pressure on the world's rural areas. The City 2.0 is a place of beauty, wonder, excitement, inclusion, diversity, life. The City 2.0 is the city that works.

A range of visionaries around the world will be advocates on behalf of the City 2.0. We are listening to them -- and to you.

What is your wish for The City 2.0? A wish capable of igniting a massive collaborative project among the members of the global TED community, and indeed all who care about our planet's future.

Share it below.

Topics: City2.0 TEDPrize environment
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    Tom Ponessa

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    Dec 20 2011: City 2.0 will be the Natural and Smart City, a city first and foremost centred on the laws of nature; a resilient, highly integrated self-sufficient dynamic place where the best of the past and present meet to generate positive outputs and outcomes. It will be the intersection of communications technology, urban farming, mobility services, innovative living arrangements, renewable district energy, and intelligent infrastructure. It will be a fine-grained place that conserves water and energy. Waste will be eliminated. City 2.0 will be highly localized and synchronized to its unique physical location on the planet. This sychronization combined with the social energy of the place will generate a unique culture.

    By design, every decision, action and object in City 2.0 will enhance the natural world in some way; improving biodiversity, keeping air and water clean. As the Romans did, City 2.0 will mandate solar access. Every human-made component will have multiple purposes. Material, energy and water flows will be managed to cascade through the city- every useful bit will be squeezed out. Buildings will be reused many times- at the end they will be disassembled into useful materials

    City 2.0 will reconnect us with all the functions of living - educate us about growth cycles, energy, biology, the food chain and so on. It will likely be a more labour intensive city and an incubator for local entrepreneurs. It will be a city composed of engaged citizens, rather than passive consumers. Its form and walkability will liberate its occupants and their time. Its mixed-use, mixed-income, mixed-age composition will encourage interaction and creativity.

    Technology will enhance City 2.0. Telecommuting will be the default mode of working for those whose jobs can be done that way. Transit, cycling and vehicle sharing will make up most of the wheeled transportation. City 2.0 will be made up of 20-minute neighbourhoods to make living equitable & enjoyable for all ages and abilities

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