By Andrea Januta

(Reuters). Managing climate change will require a reimagining of urban planning and design. Speakers at the Reuters Impact conference discussed how cities and buildings can evolve.

Sadie Morgan (architect and Chair of Quality of Life Foundation) said, “It’s just about reminding yourself that all of us have a collective responsibility to ensure we use less resources.” “We need to be open-minded to learning new ways to live.”

Morgan suggests that architects think of how they can deconstruct and recycle buildings at the end their lives, as well as whether the building could be used for another purpose. Planners in cities can make it easier for residents to meet and interact without the need for cars.

She said that architects cannot make drastic changes to the city’s operation, such as changing the use of automobiles. They would have to work with politicians.

Globally, 56% live in cities. However, the city is responsible for around three-quarters global CO2 emissions. Transport and buildings are the main sources of urban CO2 emissions. This includes emissions from vehicles, heat, cooling, and lighting.

U.N. estimates show that just 2/3 of all people will live in cities by 2050. This is a testament to the importance of cities for slowing climate change.

Stefano Boeri is an architect and urban planner. But he said density was vital for future cities. He also stated that diversity was “a nightmare”. According to Boeri, planning must encourage both richness and diversity in cities as they grow, as well as function, said the architect.

Boeri stressed the importance of incorporating nature in city planning. He stated, “Living Nature is not something outside of our bodies, our houses, or outside our cities.” We need to redefine how we relate, and rebalance the spheres of the living natural world and human.