Beyond Repair?

As storms ravaged Portugal and environmental crises unfolded around the globe, it felt like the world was teetering on the edge. In the midst of this chaos, Lisa Bandari, British Ambassador to Portugal, welcomed all guests to the Future of Cities Summit which took place in the Algarve—a thought-provoking event organised by the British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (BPCC) in association with the Department of Business and Trade of the British Embassy Lisbon.

The timing couldn’t have been more critical. With Hurricane Kirk battering Portugal, causing power outages and transport disruptions, it also coincided with high school graduates across the country making life-changing decisions, filling out their applications and choosing careers where they hope to make a difference.

Passionate

For me, at 17 and deeply passionate about sustainable urban development, the urgency to rethink how we build and sustain our cities became impossible to ignore. Attending the summit gave me the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and climate experts who are leading the charge in addressing these critical issues. As I stood alongside these professionals, addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time, I felt inspired to be part of the elite group of people fighting for the future of humanity and our cities.

This event came at a pivotal moment, as many of us young graduates are deciding how we want to contribute to a world facing such immense environmental challenges. The experience solidified my determination to be part of the solution, working toward a future where our cities are not just sustainable but resilient.

The discussions at the summit revealed one undeniable truth: cities are on the frontline of the climate crisis, and Portugal is no exception. In the Algarve, the increasing threats of water scarcity and wildfires are becoming more serious by the day. Professor Luís Serra Coelho from the University of the Algarve highlighted how these dangers jeopardise not only tourism but agriculture and daily life. According to him, the solution lies in sustainable urban planning—using green technology, water-efficient systems, and energy-smart designs to build cities capable of withstanding the impacts of climate change.

Serving communities

However, sustainability is not solely about the environment. Professor Coelho also stressed the importance of creating cities that truly serve their communities, offering affordable housing, green spaces, and areas for both work and relaxation. This approach, he explained, fosters social equity and improves overall quality of life. "A community-centred approach creates inclusive developments that prioritise affordable housing, public spaces, and mixed-use projects," he said, emphasising that resilient cities must also be places where people want to live.

The summit also shone a light on the rapid pace of urbanisation worldwide. Despite the effects of Covid-19, cities continue to grow, particularly in developing countries, with an additional 2 billion people expected to move to urban areas by 2050.

Rui Almeida, Chair of the BPCC, highlighted the critical role cities must play in the fight against climate change. "Sustainable cities are the cornerstone of future economic growth and environmental resilience," he said. While cities may cover just 1 percent of the Earth’s surface, they produce 80 percent of global GDP, making them essential to shaping a sustainable future.

So, have we reached the point of no return? Perhaps not yet, but time is running out, and the challenges ahead are immense. For the Algarve, for Portugal, and for cities around the world, the future truly lies in our hands. By inspiring younger generations to rethink how we use resources and design urban spaces, while investing in sustainability and prioritising community-focused planning, we can transform our cities into resilient, thriving environments, capable of meeting the environmental challenges that await us.

This article was kindly submitted by Oscar Charles Sitwell, a student from the Nobel Algarve British International School Lagoa