THE KEY TO UNLOCKING SHARING CITIES

Written by Seema Issar (shareNL) 

Approximately 70% of the world population will be living in cities by 2050, therefore I believe - having studied Global Sustainable Cities at the University of Strathclyde in the past year - that efforts improving cities will have far reaching transformational effects. Considering the growing trend of populism worldwide, I believe that endeavours which strengthen communities and networks should be supported. By creating the Sharing Cities Alliance, shareNL is striving to strengthen collaboration of cities across borders, which face similar urban challenges and opportunities. Many of these issues can be solved by taking innovative approaches of the sharing economy, which addresses social, environmental and economical urban challenges. The integration and adaption of the sharing economy in cities will have an extensive positive effect on the adverse impacts of growing cities. By becoming part of the Sharing Cities Alliance, cities will have access to the extensive knowledge and information pool of case studies, regulations and research on urban issues such as mobility, sustainable consumption, care, housing, tourism, economic resilience, etc. to learn how the collaborative economy can profit them. For more information on the Sharing Cities Alliance, check out the website.