IHC Global is thrilled to attend the Tenth World Urban Forum (WUF 10) in Abu Dhabi, February 8-13th. The WUF 10 theme, " Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation," promises insightful diplomatic exchanges, dialogues, and events, that will focus on harnessing culture and innovation as drivers for sustainable urbanization. The forum will provide greater insights into the linkages between urbanization, culture, and innovation as the basis for achieving inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements. Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the conference, including hundreds of national and local governments and members of the private sector and civil society organizations. WUF 10 follows the first UN-Habitat Assembly hosted in Nairobi in May 2019.

In addition to participating in a number of events, IHC Global will host two networking events on property rights and technology and inclusion in smart cities:

• On Tuesday, February 11th at 4:30pm, IHC Global will engage the World Bank, Global Land Tool Network (UN-Habitat), Habitat for Humanity International, and Huairou Commission in a discussion on "Property Rights, Culture, and Context" here.

• On Wednesday, February 12th at 2pm, IHC Global will co-host "The Yin and Yang of Inclusive Cities: Technology and Local Partnerships," with Development Action Group, South Africa. Find the concept note here.

While attending WUF 10, IHC Global will take a break from its regularly scheduled newsletter next week. The newsletter will return to your mailbox the following week!

 

Read more about WUF here. Find the full program here.

On January 23, 2020, China announced that the city of Wuhan, home to 11 million, would be on virtual lockdown in its efforts to contain the outbreak of the fast-spreading and highly-contagious coronavirus. Outside observes estimate the virus has killed 400 people and infected thousands more. The Chinese government has also suspended train and other public transportation, sealed off roads, established checkpoint at toll gates around the city, and shut down flights into and out of Wuhan. Albeit the outbreak is yet to be declared a pandemic, health experts say that replicating similar virtual lockdown elsewhere would be challenging. This would be done at the risk of enduring high costs to the economy and slowing economic growth in the country.

In 2011, China committed to its 12th Five-Year Plan to build smart cities nationwide. It is now home to half of the 1,000 smart city projects worldwide. Its latest development project in Xiongan's New Area, proponed to be the "city of the future," will accommodate 5 million people upon its completion in 2022. The Chinese government asserts that its smart city initiatives increase its ability to efficiently and effectively manage rapid urbanization, improve public transit, communication, and prevent crime. However, because smart cities involve collecting large amounts of personal data critics warn many citizens are unaware if the impact that data collections could have on their privacy rights. Smart city and privacy expert, Vincent Mosco, states: "Smart cities are, above all, surveillance cities that enable close monitoring and management of large populations".

Private cities are on the rise globally, despite some criticism. The cities, developed by the private sector, are mixed-use developments, governed by a CEO rather than a mayor, and allowed to operate under economic rules and regulations distinct from surrounding areas. Private cities such as Forest City in Malaysia and Springfield in Australia promise governments a competitive business model, optimization of infrastructure, and efficient and lucrative returns. But some are concerned that corporations lack the necessary expertise in public administration to address the rights of residents and maintain municipal accountability should something go awry in the development process.