Celebrating World Cities Day - Better City, Better Life

Jacobs celebrates World Cities Day

Celebrating World Cities Day

Cities are the engine rooms of the global economy, home to more than *56% of the growing global population and responsible for generating *more than 80% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  

As climate change, rapid digitalization and the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reshape how we live, cities face a growing list of long-term systemic challenges, ranging from decarbonizing and becoming more resilient to the impacts of a changing climate, to addressing housing affordability issues and improving accessibility of essential services, to creating new job opportunities and delivering inclusive growth.  

*Source: The World Bank

 

We asked our team: What makes an inclusive city?  

Celebrating World Cities Day - What Makes an Inclusive City?
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Act Local to Go Global

On October 31 each year, we celebrate the United Nations (UN) World Cities Day "Better City, Better Life". We are using this year's theme Act Local to Go Global to celebrate all week! We’re sharing local experiences and approaches from around the world that are helping create greener, more equitable, more inclusive and more sustainable cities.   

Each day this week we’ll be showcasing a range of ideas, initiatives and solutions in five key themes that cross Jacobs’ global markets and strategic accelerators:

  • Water  

  • Mobility 

  • Energy & Decarbonization 

  • Digital Connectivity 

  • Social Inclusion  

Join us each day as we share new client success stories from around the world. 

Water

World Cities Day - Water banner

Water and cities are intrinsically linked 

Water plays a critical role in cities. Not only is it vital to sustaining life of all forms, but it also underpins economic, environmental, social and cultural functions that support prosperous, liveable and inclusive cities.  

The water cycle is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change however and, as our climate and weather patterns continue to change, the pressure for cities to address resilience, scarcity, accessibility and affordability issues, and maximize the positive benefits of water in cities grows. 

Explore the content below to learn how our clients are taking action in their home cities. 

Central Interceptor Watercare team

Auckland is future proofing its wastewater services and keeping the city’s life sustaining waterways healthy at the same time.

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The Sidmouth Amphitheater

Devon County Council is managing future flood risk and providing a new green space and outdoor performance venue for the community.

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Tyndall Ariel Rendering1

Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida is mitigating flooding and erosion risks and creating a resilient, sustainable and smart installation of the future.

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Explore more water stories:

Alongside other global water leaders, Global Water Director Susan Moisio and Global Water Resources and Resilience Solutions Director Adam Hosking share their water stories in this episode of our Breakthroughs mini-series. The series was developed in partnership with UN Initiative, 2030 Breakthroughs, to bring projects and solutions to life.

Breakthroughs water episode
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Explore water thought leadership

 Explore our water services

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Mobility

World Cities Day - Mobility banner

Striking the right balance for improved sustainability, connectivity and accessibility

Mobility is key to maximizing the liveability of cities, putting every-day essential services, amenities and places of employment within reach for urban communities.  

Historically, many cities have relied on a combination of road- and rail-based transit solutions to provide effective and reliable urban mobility. However, the impacts of ongoing urbanization, climate change, rapid digitalization and the COVID-19 pandemic now require a rethink about how we move in and around cities. Today, cities are investing in more diverse mobility solutions, including mass transit, micro-transit and active transport solutions to balance connectivity and accessibility outcomes with a range of other positive outcomes for communities, including greater sustainability, decarbonization and social inclusion outcomes. 

Here are some of the solutions our clients are implementing. 

Brisbane Metro

Brisbane’s improved bus system will showcase cutting-edge, green transit solutions on a world stage.

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Image of the purple Elizabeth line sign

The most significant addition to London’s transport network in a generation, the Elizabeth line, is supporting urban regeneration across the U.K’s capital city.

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Hyderabad Metro Rail. Image courtesy of L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd

Accessibility and first-mile/last-mile connectivity are the key to Hyderabad’s new Metro Rail.

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Explore more mobility stories:

PODCAST: We explore some of the challenges surrounding America’s green transportation transition, how innovative solutions could expand electric mobility options, and how placing social value at the heart of infrastructure planning will be key to creating a successful network. 

Explore our transport services

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Energy & Decarbonization

World Cities Day - Energy banner

Clean energy technologies shaping the cities of the future

Cities represent two-thirds of global energy consumption and account for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.   

Addressing climate change involves a two-pronged approach – adapting and learning to live with a changing climate and reducing or removing harmful emissions at the source. This is especially true for cities which are both major contributors to and significantly impacted by climate change. 

The latter requires us to rapidly decarbonize our economy and society to reach net zero. There are two key pathways. 

Decarbonization is our path to a net zero future and this “race to zero” comprises two complementary pathways. The first pathway is about reducing carbon emissions across every industry – from city precincts and manufacturing to water and transport. The second is by decarbonizing the electricity systems that power them, which is commonly referred to as “the energy transition.” 

We’re helping our clients navigate this uncertain future around decarbonization, electrification demand and decentralization, by providing innovative and efficient solutions. 

Explore the content below to learn how our clients are acting in their home cities. 

20220524_Project_Rikers_LI Jail.png

Is it feasible to transform a New York City jail into a wastewater resource recovery and renewable energy hub?

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Swanbank Energy

An energy-from-waste facility in Swanbank, Queensland, is expected to deliver a long-term sustainable waste recovery solution for the region.

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Stock image of wind energy

Clean, reliable and uninterruptible power supply how we’re helping integrate renewable sources into Germany’s electricity grid.

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Explore more energy & decarbonization stories:

PODCAST: In this episode, we explore how Asia Pacific’s diversity could also act as a catalyst for the net zero agenda and accelerate the transition through trade, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration opportunities. 

Explore energy & decarbonization thought leadership

Explore our energy & power services

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Digital Connectivity

World Cities Day - Digital banner

Innovative data solutions accelerating digital connectivity in our cities

Over the last 15 years, digital technologies have transformed the way we live, work and interact in the physical world, how we meet people, where we eat, how we navigate and make transport choices, and what we buy.  

They are increasingly an important part of the cities and places that we design and build and increasingly influential in those places achieving the outcomes we want for sustainability, economic growth, health and happiness and return on investment. 

Find out how we’re helping our clients to reimagine the use of digital technology to transform their cities. 

Architectural render of the main facade of the Sinnovate technology hub in Saudi Arabia

An ambitious new technology hub of high-tech innovation, business incubation and data center cloud services will help transform Saudi Arabia from a resource-based economy to a technology opportunity orientation.  

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View of the London Eye and House of Parliament on the River Thames

Testing new tech in London - planning the implementation of a Smart Network to integrate existing infrastructure, smart metering and increased Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to improve operational efficiencies. 

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AURIC-1

Aurangabad Industrial City is integrating smart technologies and next-level infrastructure to change into a smart, green industrial city of the future. 

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Explore more digital stories:

PODCAST: In this episode we’re discussing cybersecurity with an emphasis on the Cities & Places and the infrastructure needs of smart cities with Jacobs Director – Smart Places, Telecommunications & Digital Infrastructure Dr. Rick Robinson and Jacobs Director of Cybersecurity - People & Places Solutions Nigel Stanley.

Our disruptive digital future

Shannon Miller

As part of the company's three-year Boldly Moving Forward Strategy, Jacobs (NYSE:J) has named Shannon Miller EVP and President of newly established Divergent Solutions to elevate transformative data solutions for its clients. Divergent Solutions is expected to produce multifaceted digital competencies and human expertise across the entire enterprise, with a special focus on cyber, intelligence, data and technology.

Explore our data solutions

Explore digital thought leadership

Social Inclusion

World Cities Day - Social Inclusion banner

Adding tangible, long-term value to our cities and the people who live in them

Social value has grown increasingly important with the need for greater focus on working collaboratively to drive positive, lasting impacts – for people, communities and the environment. Social value is about understanding the relative importance of changes that people experience and using those insights to make better decisions – so we focus on how we make society better for individuals and create better social, environmental and economic outcomes. 

We understand the importance of collaboratively designing bolder city infrastructure solutions that reinvent tomorrow and maximize long-term benefit and value to all of us socially, environmentally and economically. 

Explore the content below to learn how our clients are implementing social inclusion in their cities. 

Elizabeth line passengers board train

Supporting delivery of the Elizabeth line, the most significant addition to London’s transport network in a generation.

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The Stitch Vision Study

For over fifty years, the Connector has created a decidedly negative effect on the physical urban fabric and socioeconomics of Atlanta’s Downtown neighborhoods. 

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Joanne Caruso with community members

Connecting Kibiraro: Making an Impact in the Heart of Rwanda. Reflecting on our first-ever global Bridges to Prosperity build.

 

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Explore more social inclusion stories:

In this video Jacobs Chief Growth Officer Donald Morrison shares his insight on The Elizabeth line. Donald says this project is ultimately about creating economic opportunity and a more inclusive society – improving people’s quality of life. It will provide greater connectivity and reduced journey times for millions in London and the surrounding region.

Crossrail - Donald Morrison Opening video - short version - captions burned in.mp4
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Social value is embedded in our sustainable business approach, PlanBeyond 2.0, so that we focus on integrating social value and equity considerations and innovations into the solutions we deliver for our clients. As a purpose-led company, we know we have a pivotal role to play in creating a fairer society. 

Explore social inclusion thought leadership

Read more about our work in placemaking

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