Cities are the main hubs of human activity, both in terms of social activity, and of consumption and production. But how do the needs of urban dwellers actually relate to the sustainability of our planet?

With a little more than 50% of the world population living in cities, they are responsible for 75% of the global energy demand and 80% of the emitted greenhouse gasses. Obviously, cities depend on resources from their hinterlands to meet their needs, often resulting in large ecological footprints. While cities are often considered ‘engines of economic’ growth, they are also places with the largest social inequalities. In most Western European countries, both the richest and the poorest people live in cities, with unemployment and poverty levels being higher compared to the more rural areas. And although sustainability is high on the agenda of cities like Amsterdam, sustainable innovations are often merely accessible to high income households.

In this edition, Eveline van Leeuwen will focus on the concept of doughnut cities, or urban environments where both human needs and sustainability goals are met. How can improved urban-rural interactions contribute in forming these doughnut cities? And why are not only technical innovations needed, but also social and institutional innovations? Finally, she will discuss the need of partnerships between science and societies, clarifying with a case study of Amsterdam.

This event is an initiative by the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) with the support of the University of Amsterdam. Science & Cocktails Amsterdam is presented in cooperation with Paradiso Amsterdam.