Using Online Communities to Talk Sustainable Cities [Rio+20 Series]

By 2020, five billion people will be living in cities. The transition to a global urbanization creates multiple challenges in planning, development, and operation of cities. How can social media play a role?

As with any global challenge, social media serves as a fantastic convener of ideas, discussion and debate. We do not have to wait for global conferences and summits like Rio+20 to share, learn and lead best practices in developing sustainable cities.

Sustainable Cities Collective, for example, provides a wonderful moderated community for leaders of major metropolitan areas, urban planning and sustainability professionals. Looking at issues such as transportation, building practices, community planning & development, education, water, health and infrastructure, the online platform sponsored by Siemens hopes to create a community where people can get involved and learn about the advances in how cities are becoming smarter and greener in the 21st century.

Earlier this month we tuned into an online webcast regarding “Funding Green Cities” to discuss this challenge, and potential strategies that governments and project planners might employ to overcome funding obstacles to sustainability. Check out the archived recording here.

What do you think? What other online platforms are leading the conversation around “green”and “sustainable”cities?

This post is part 6 of the “Rio+20: Social for Sustainability Series” on ArmchairAdvocates. This week, world leaders and thousands of participants from all cross-sections of civil society will come together in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to discuss seven critical issues: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans, and disaster readiness. ArmchairAdvocates will be sharing and discussing how organizations, businesses and individuals are using social media to make an impact in sustainability.