Harnessing Environmental Planning to Build Resilient Cities (with Prof. Iain White) - Ep. 1

In this inaugural episode of Mission Possible with Ann Braithwaite, we are joined by the incomperable Professor Iain White to break down how to better use environmental planning to create cities that can thrive through changing climates.Professor Iain White has been Professor of Environmental Planning since 2013 and is currently the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Impact. Prior to this he was the Director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology at the University of Manchester in the UK. He is the author of four books. His most recent books are: The Routledge Companion to Environmental Planning (2019), with Prof Simin Davoudi (University of Newcastle, UK), Prof Hilda Blanco (USC Price, US), and Richard Cowell (University of Cardiff, UK); and Why Plan? Theory for Practitioners (2019) with Prof Graham Haughton (University of Manchester, UK). He has over 50 peer reviewed articles or book chapters.This season we are looking at the Natural Hazards Sector, so who better to chat to about the future of cities and how to build them to deal best with natural hazards.In today's chat, Iain and Ann discuss the current practices in the field, the challenges of integrating science into decision-making, and the potential of AI and emerging technologies. The conversation emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement in creating resilient urban environments, while also acknowledging the political and economic pressures that influence planning decisions.In our 'Old Ways, New Ways' segment, Ann shares how the ancient people of Caral used their environment (and their wits) to build structures that could handle not only earthquakes, but also the test of time.Ann Braithwaite is a facilitator, systems thinker, strategic change adviser, foresight practitioner that helps leaders find paths through complex issues.To reach out to Ann:https://www.annbraithwaite.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/annbraithwaite/Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Mission Possible01:56 Prof. Iain White: Exploring Collective Intelligence in Hazard Management03:02 Understanding Current Practices in Hazard Management08:55 Shifts in Practices and Approaches Over Time14:56 Bridging the Gap: From Knowledge to Action20:03 The Role of AI and Emerging Technologies25:04 Collaborative Approaches to Resilient Cities39:14 Future Visions for Urban Resilience45:37 Old Ways, New Ways: Caral - The Ancient Earthquake-Proof City