The Century of Cities

In this episode of The Century of Cities, Rohit T. Aggarwala, Commissioner of NYC Environmental Protection and former Chief Climate Officer, reflects on a century of urban change through the lens of New York's environmental, infrastructural, and governance evolution. He traces the city's trajectory from the fiscal and environmental crises of the late twentieth century to its present condition, marked by cleaner air and water, renewed waterfronts, and the pressures that accompany urban demand. He argues that climate change will eclipse affordability and growth as the defining urban challenge. He outlines a pragmatic understanding of resilience, one that prioritizes protection of life, housing, and core systems over the pursuit of uninterrupted normalcy. From stormwater and coastal defences to mobility and water management, the discussion emphasizes the need for long-term investment, institutional flexibility, and political leadership capable of navigating disruption. The future of cities, he suggests, will depend on the capacity to make difficult choices early, at scale, and with a clear understanding of risk.

Mairi Spowage, Director at Fraser of Allander Institute, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on how Scotland's cities have evolved through industrial decline, sectoral booms, and structural economic change. She traces the divergent trajectories of places like Glasgow and Aberdeen, explaining how shifts toward service and knowledge-based economies have brought new opportunities alongside persistent challenges around housing, productivity, and uneven growth. Mairi highlights the importance of aligning skills, housing, and infrastructure with local economic realities, and cautions against one-size-fits-all national policy. From post-pandemic city centres to demographic change, her perspective is pragmatic and grounded: cities thrive when local institutions are empowered to plan long-term, collaborate effectively, and connect people to opportunity.

The Century of Cities welcomes Tim Williams, Cities Lead at Grimshaw and a leading voice in global urban strategy, to explore how cities move through cycles of growth, decline, and reinvention. Drawing on his upbringing in the South Wales Valleys and years advising governments in the UK and Australia, Tim reflects on the shift from industrial cities built on extraction to contemporary urban economies shaped by knowledge, lifestyle, and connectivity. He emphasizes that urban change is rarely linear and that periods of transition often involve loss, uncertainty, and uneven outcomes.
Tim offers a sharp critique of the global housing crisis, arguing that it cannot be solved by supply alone. He explains how the over-financialization of housing and a disconnect between public expectations and private-sector business models have created a systemic impasse. Rather than blaming developers, Tim calls for a broader mix of housing delivery models, including a renewed role for non-market housing and stronger public-sector capacity. Looking ahead, he warns that many cities may soon face a new reality, managing stagnation or decline and urges more honest international dialogue about how cities adapt when growth is no longer guaranteed.

Alice Charles, Director, Cities, Planning & Design at Arup, joins The Century of Cities from Dublin to reflect on how Irish cities, and cities globally, have evolved. Grounded in a career spanning regeneration, infrastructure, and global urban systems, Alice traces Ireland's shift from economic stagnation and brain drain to foreign direct investment, car-led growth, and today's housing and governance challenges. Alice argues for more empowered, outward-looking cities, with stronger local leadership, long-term investment, and deeper city-to-city collaboration, particularly with Asia and Africa. Drawing on global networks like C40 and the Resilient Cities Network, she highlights climate action, health, accessibility, and infrastructure finance as defining priorities for the urban century ahead.

The Century of Cities welcomes Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, who reflects on how UK cities have evolved, and why uneven progress still defines the urban landscape. He traces the shift from industrial decline and urban decay to a renewed belief in cities as drivers of economic growth, powered by the knowledge economy and higher education. Andrew emphasizes that this revival was not inevitable, but the result of long-term structural change and deliberate policy choices. He argues that deeper devolution, especially greater control over transport, planning, and funding, is essential if cities are to unlock productivity and inclusion. While elected mayors and combined authorities have moved the agenda forward, he warns that without real fiscal autonomy, many UK cities will continue to lag behind their European peers. His message is clear: empowered cities, strong public transport, and well-managed density are central to national renewal.