Craig Llewellyn, Dr Xiangyu Sheng and Prof Simon Spooner
January 2023

Perspectives on the impact of rapid urbanisation on air, land and water

More than half of the world's population now live in cities, with rapid urbanisation expected to continue in the decades to come. This has major implications for the environment, as currently urban populations consume 75% of total natural resources and will exert more pressure on infrastructure and resources. 

This webinar explored the impacts of rapid urbanisation on land, air and water from the perspectives of those working in the environmental sector. Presentations included: 

  • Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Are we ready? The role of BNG in rapid urbanisation - Craig Llewellyn
  • The impact of rapid urbanisation on urban air quality - Xiangyu Sheng
  • Environmental megatrends: Rapid urbanisation and the water sector - Simon Spooner

This webinar was organised as part of the IES's Future of ES23 horizon scanning & foresight project.