Solutions for tomorrow’s global world at IFAT ENTSORGA 2012



Futurologists consider global urbanization one of the major challenges of the 21st century. That is also why they often use the term “urban millennium”. Right now, a large portion of the world’s population in one of more than 30 mega-cities (each with a population of four to ten million people). By 2015, this figure is expected to increase to 60 cities with more than 600 million people. By 2030, mega-cities will account for more than 60 percent of mankind.
 
However, this development is not limited to mega-cities alone. At the same time, more and more metropolitan areas and emerging cities are developing into continuous urban settlements.
 
While two-thirds off all mega-cities are now located in developing countries, the phenomenon of functionally integrated mega-urban settlements can also be found in Europe (example: Rhine/Ruhr region with more than 13 million people). With that in mind, it is no exaggeration to say:
“The world is becoming a city, and the city is becoming a world!”
 
If you examine the events and publications on this topic, most focus more on the risks associated with this development than on the opportunities.
 
They concentrate on the potential for conflict. Mega-cities are becoming “global risk regions” that, at first glance, no longer appear manageable. Scenarios characterized by manifestations of ecological and infrastructural congestion are put forth that ultimately result in an ecological disaster or even a “social explosion.” These metropolitan areas are “risk hot spots”.
 
In many cases, people forget that these residential centers also serve as a catalyst for many technological developments that then make them livable and manageable. Metaphorically speaking, mega-cities are “laboratories of the future.” They anticipate development trends and are initiators of global change with an extremely dynamic development rate. Mega-cities are becoming a driving force behind technical innovations and are dynamic economic and growth engines. They make it possible to realize technical innovations and solutions much more quickly and cost-effectively and to integrate them more efficiently.
 
That is also the approach that IFAT ENTSORGA 2012 is following with an event titled “Mega Cities - Mega Chances,” which is being held at the Forum in Hall A5 on May 7, 2012 (from 1 – 6 p.m.). Mega-cities create opportunities and are challenges for future ways of life. Even today, the companies that exhibit at the leading international trade fair IFAT ENTSORGA have plenty of solutions for meeting the challenges of tomorrow.
 
Its individual subject blocks – “Challenges for the Urban Age,” “International Examples of Sustainable Development,” “Innovative Urban Development Concepts/Technologies” and “Social Sustainability” – are solution oriented and pertain directly to the highly developed products, services and technological innovations on exhibit at IFAT ENTSORGA 2012.



Water, sewage and resources are elementary components for the urban age and the manageability of future ways of life and living spaces. A World of Environmental Solutions: The rapid growth of many cities is forcing them to address a key issue for their future: how to achieve a sustainable balance between economic competitiveness, quality of life and protection of the environment. The exhibitors at IFAT are already offering solutions with which to tackle these challenges. Also, in the supporting program, experts give their views and insights into the problems involved in global urbanization, in the congress forum intelligent urbanization. This is a future-oriented topic and will also be presented under the co-branding "intelligent urbanization" at the upcoming exhibition in 2014.

Visiting the forums is free of charge. All lectures will be translated simultaneously into German and English.