Fu­ture Ci­ties La­bo­ra­to­ry Glo­bal: An Out­look

Cities are a work in progress, shaped by the future as much as by the past. Because we cannot assume the future form or character of cities, continued vigilant and strategic urban monitoring is imperative to creating and securing healthier, more sustainable places. Thanks to the work of projects like FCL Global, we now know more than ever about how to shape the urban transition. There is massively greater data capacity than a decade ago, better design, much more sophisticated technology, and, critically, a heightened awareness of the need for collective action to tackle complex urban problems. But just as we celebrate the knowledge, capacity, and willingness to make cities greener, better, and fairer, we also note that there is still work to be done. 

Interpreting the urban palimpsest to guide the path of future development requires diverse skills and perspectives, such as those forged through the work of FCL Global. Its message is clear: we have made progress, but we have not done enough to future-proof our cities from dysfunctional excesses and known harms. There is no room for complacency, especially in the face of heightened political, economic, and ecological uncertainties that exacerbate the challenges that are and will continue to be faced by the custodians of cities.