Megacities
Welcome to the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF). The APEC Center for Technology Foresight is a center established and supported by APEC, through active co-operation of Thailand and other APEC member economies. The Center is hosted by Thailand’s National Science & Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). APEC Center for Technology Foresight was established since 1998.
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APEC Center for Technology Foresight had organized an APEC-wide foresight project on “APEC Megacities”. The megacities project has two component topics which are “Sustainable Transport” and “Healthy Futures for APEC Megacities”.
Background information of APEC Megacities on Sustainable Transport:
The combination of population and rising incomes has had a profound effect on the demand for transport, both of people and of goods, in Megacities. The transport modes consist of land-based, such as cars, trucks, railways, tramways, etc.; of sea-based, such as ferries, container vessels, etc; and of air-based, such as passenger and freight aircraft. The rapid growth in demand has led to major problems in congestion on roads and at airports and to consequent economic costs, both in delays in delivery of people and goods and in health costs of air (and water) pollution. In extreme cases, cities have been brought to standstill by vehicle congestion.
A major concern is that significant growth is anticipated in many of the cities in APEC economies which are already experiencing difficulties and thus technologies need to be identified to cope with the projected transport problems. The concept of “Sustainable Transport” has been developed to describe the notions of economic efficiency, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. The project assessed the situation in APEC Megacities and drew out the critical technology thrusts needed to attain sustainable transport systems in 2015.
Background information of APEC Megacities on Healthy Futures for APEC Megacities:
Megacities are major urban areas that, by sheer size and potential, are centers of economic and political life and significant shapers of a nation’s culture and economy. Many such Megacities in APEC have mega-problems, developing in ways that raise critical issues of health, well-being and sustainability. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes, in its program on “Healthy Cities”, that a healthy city requires balance in and among the “physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual” aspects of life. Achieving this balance is a systemic issue, and especially complex at Megacity level, requiring all relevant sectors to work together towards common goals. To tackle this complex subject, the project used the foresight methodology of scenario-planning.
Objective:
To explore issues that are critical to the future of Megacities in APEC, and identify policy approaches and positive interventions towards their healthy development.
Megacities Project |
