Inclusive Cities Barometer APAC

WHY ARE INCLUSIVE CITIES IMPORTANT?

TOGETHER, CITIES ARE THE WORLD’S ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE AND HOME TO MOST OF THE GLOBAL POPULATION. Approximately 57% of people live in urban areas, and cities contribute around 80% of the world’s GDP. Viewed through this lens, inclusivity and its influence on productivity and wellbeing, is a global issue that affects almost 5 billion people and USD71 trillion.

WHILE WE CAN CELEBRATE MANY SUCCESSES IN TODAY’S CITIES, SIGNIFICANT ISSUES REMAIN. WHILE NOT EXHAUSTIVE, BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHERE INEQUALITY CAN EMERGE AND HOW URBAN INCLUSION CAN HELP:

OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE INCLUSION BY DIMENSION

SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY

ECONOMIC INCLUSIVITY

SPATIAL INCLUSIVITY

ENVIRONMENTAL INCLUSIVITY

54% of the world’s population lives in cities with inadequate or expensive public transport systems, underscoring the importance of accessible and affordable transit options for all residents. Connecting the poorest communities to relevant, high-quality jobs via reliable public transportation can boost employment, private wealth, and social mobility.

Although the Asia Pacific region as a whole has a comparatively young population, there are markets that are currently experiencing acute population ageing issues . Furthermore given the size of the regional population, while only 14% are aged 60 years or over, this equates to over 615 million people currently, which is forecast to increase to 820 million by 2030.

The UN estimates that 650 million people worldwide have a disability, with Asia Pacific being

According to the Asian Development Bank, air quality is the biggest environmental health risk in Asia and the Pacific. Four billion people, or 92% of those living in the region, are exposed to air pollution levels that endanger their health.

home to two thirds of these people with

disability, in no small part reflecting the overall size of the regional population, hence issues are quickly magnified.

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CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

INCLUSIVE CITIES BAROMETER | CITIES THAT NEVER SETTLE