31 Aug, 2019
UN-Habitat and partners explore innovative solutions to cities threatened by rising sea levels On April 2019 UN-Habitat convened in New York with a broad range of partners the First UN High-level Roundtable on Sustainable Floating Cities, to explore innovative solutions to the threat faced by coastal cities and countries due to rising sea levels. The Roundtable, co-convened with OCEANIX, the MIT Center for Ocean Engineering and the Explorers Club, brought together innovators, explorers, marine engineers and scientists to the UN Headquarters to share cutting-edge ideas. Two out of every five people in the world live within 100 kilometers of the coast and one in ten lives in coastal areas less than 10 metres above sea level. The vast majority of coastal areas will be affected by coastal erosion and flooding, displacing millions of people, destroying homes and infrastructure. In support of UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda, OCEANIX CITY is a vision for the world’s first resilient and sustainable floating community for 10,000 residents on 75 hectares. The design is anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals, channeling flows of energy, water, food and waste to create a blueprint for a modular maritime metropolis. The city is designed to grow, transform and adapt organically over time, evolving from neighborhoods, to village, to cities with the possibility of scaling. Modular neighborhoods of 2 hectares create thriving self-sustaining communities of up to 300 residents with mixed-use space for living, working and gathering during day and night time. All built structures in the neighborhood are kept below 7 stories to create a low center of gravity and resist wind. Every building fans out to self-shade internal spaces and public realm, providing comfort and lower cooling costs while maximizing roof area for solar capture. Communal farming is the heart of every platform, allowing residents to embrace sharing culture and zero waste systems. Solutions The ocean covers two thirds of the planet. It is a vast resource that can help solve the complex challenges coastal cities face. We build for people who want to live sustainably across the nexus of energy, water, food, and waste. We build smart, but most importantly, we build a thriving community of people who care about the planet and every life form on it. Net-Zero Energy Fresh Water Autonomy Plant-Based Food Zero Waste Systems Shared Mobility Habitat Regeneration To learn more visit: www.oceanix.org or www.unhabitat.org - all pictures by OCEANIX/BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.