LANGENBURG FORUM 2017 8 and 9 June, 2017

Langenburg Forum for Sustainability

Welcoming ADDRESS

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Digitization and urbanization are global trends that are unstoppable even for the world’s leading powers and economies, regardless of political orientation. Both issues are interconnected: Because the digital revolution has created a common global reality with shared dreams, it acts as a driver for urbanization by incentivizing people in developing countries to move to megacities and strive for prosperity. This development affects the West today, as the anticipation of change without further knowledge about its nature is currently one of the main causes of political fragility in industrialized states. Change has always been the biggest source of fear, but German history has shown us how to turn disaster into opportunities. This is the root of the strength of second tier cities and that became the heart of our successful economic upgrowth. Langenburg’s close interaction with the metropolitan region Stuttgart serves as a best practice example for integration and synergy between rural und urbanized areas and therefore provides the proper scenery for of our conference with the topic ‘Transforming Megacities – How Digitization Can Help to Create a Living Environment for 9bn People’, held on June 8th and 9th at Schloss Langenburg. Along with our guest of honour, Kofi Annan, and 120 dedicated participants from businesses, non-govern- mental organizations, and academia, we discussed innovative solutions for sustainable urban development. We would like to thank all participants for their inspiring support and hope you will find some interesting impulses in this brief summary. Yours respectfully

Philipp Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg Joschka Fischer Video Message from HRH The Prince of Wales

In his welcome remarks delivered through a video message His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales stressed the importance of events like the Langenburg Forum as platforms that connect decision-makers with the goal of fostering sustainable transformation. While the projected increase in population of 70 percent throughout the next 30 years poses a huge challenge, the Prince believes that digital, low-impact technology has the potential to help policy makers to plan better and enable citizens to forge more vibrant, inclusive communities. Ending on a positive note, he emphasized the potential for current actors to build an urban legacy that future generations will be thankful for.

‘At a time of such intense and rapid change, one of the fundamental questions is whether or not we can ma- nage to harness new digital, low-impact technologies appropriately. If we can, they clearly have an important role in helping to plan and deliver the kind of people-centred, walkable, mixed-income, mixed-use urban environments that people clearly want and which are – I am glad to say – being ever more widely championed.’

‘Of course, the key here is that this technology puts people at the centre, helping policy makers to plan better and enabling citizens to forge more vibrant, inclusive communities. Ladies and Gentlemen, if we can get this right – and I very much hope your meeting is a step in that direction – then we will indeed be building an urban legacy that future generations will thank us for. Since we are becoming an ever more ‘urban’ species this really could not be more important and I look forward with anticipation to hearing the outcomes of your discussions.’ Opening Speech: Make or Break: How the city of tomorrow will shape our future

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Laureate of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize Kofi Annan officially opened the conference with a speech that provided a frame from the beginnings of human settlements to current times. He laid out that rapid urbanization is one of the key arising issues today and referred to our opportunities and challenges in tackling them. Mr. Annan explained that while mass migration to the cities as the centres of the creation of wealth is unstoppable in the foreseeable future, technological progress does provide the tools of transforming urban areas into clean, liveable spaces rather than the polluted concrete jungles of today. Yet, to achieve this, it takes political leadership that puts people first but also requires an open debate of all stakeholders –politicians, corporations, and civil society– on the cities we want to live in. He also highlighted that urban spaces are safer homes for women, with or without children as they are able to pursue work more freely. Focusing on Africa, he explained that it is key to act now and in a far-sighted manner. Rather than allowing for slums to develop and produce new traps of disease, crime, and violence, governments need to invest now and on a grand scale in the infrastructure necessary to sustainably absorb the half billion people that will be moving into the cities in the next decades. Mr. Annan emphasized in this context that this monumental task of leapfrogging the fossil fuel city is not one for Africa to take on alone, but one that requires the support of Europe as well. After all, ‘The fate of our continents is bound together. We are all in the same boat.’ Panel: Rapidly growing urban spaces - How governments can employ digital technologies to shape social cohesion and reduce environmental impacts

The panel on rapidly growing urban spaces showcased best-practice examples carried out by the city authori- ties of London, Milan and Stuttgart. Andrew Collinge, Assistant Director of Intelligence at the Greater London Authority, called for cities, as well as their employees within the administration, to embrace technology in order to work towards a coherent city data infrastructure. As examples for current developments in London he named cooperation with technology companies on improving air-quality measurement technologies, smart and responsive infrastructure as well as a sustainable energy management systems that serves as a cloud-based platform for energy trade. Pierfrancesco Maran, Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Environment and Agriculture in Milan, reported on measures implemented to combat the cities high congestion. In 2012 the city introduced a congestion charge for its core area that led to 28 percent traffic reduction in said area and an overall reduction of 7 percent. In addition, the city introduced a set of rules for carsharing-companies due to a lack of a federal law and managed to shape the market while simultaneously generating income. Finally, Dr. Michael Münter, Head of Strategic Planning and Sustainable Mobility for the City of Stuttgart, outlined how Stuttgart succeeded in transforming a car-centered city plagued by air pollution towards a role model for sustainable mobility. Various different measures were introduced such as free parking spots for electric vehicles, investments in charging infrastructure, additional public transport lines, a ‘fine dust alarm’-system through which citizens are voluntarily asked to use non-polluting means of transportation once a certain threshold is reached as well as a common card system for carsharing, public transportation, libraries and other services.

The examples of London, Milan and Stuttgart show impressively how urban planning and administration can succeed in acting in a conscious and sustainable manner. The mentioned examples can thus be taken up by municipalities and transferred to their own goals. Panel: How do Stuttgart and the Ländle* depend on each other – economically and regarding liveability?

Both the metropolitan region of Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg as a whole are driving forces for sustainable growth and prosperity in Germany and home to many hidden champions. Among them is ebm-papst, the world’s leading manufacturer of electric motors and fans located in Mulfingen, located close to Langen- burg. Its CEO Stefan Brandl explained that since the quality of infrastructure and education in the region is crucial for businesses and their market potential, cooperation with governing bodies is an absolutely necessity. This aligned with the position presented by Carmen Vogt, Head of GIZ`s Program for Sustainable Development of Metropolitan Regions, who highlighted a lack of governance in many regions around the world as one of the key issues. She illustrated that instead of a dualism between urban and rural regions, metropolitan regions are now taking up a bridging-function. Claus-Peter Hutter, Director of the Academy for Nature Preservation and Environmental Protection of Baden-Württemberg, stressed that rural areas should not be forgotten in the process of shaping urbanization and that Stuttgart, its metropolitan region, and the rest of the Ländle are heavily interdependent. Gerhard Bauer, District Administrator of Schwäbisch-Hall, agreed to this, outlining his view of his community as an invaluable addition to the Ländle, particularly as a supplier of renewable energy and an important recreational area. For him, the Ländle can serve as a model for development for other regions in Germany and around the world. Cem Özdemir, Fede- ral Chairman of the German Green Party and known to be a champion of e-mobility, explained that while more rural regions certainly have and need other means of transportation, Stuttgart is an ideal environment for progress in eco-friendly transportation methods and various sharing services.

The conclusion of this panel was that the relationship between Stuttgart and the Ländle could be a good practice example, which might serve as a blueprint for other cities and areas. In addition, adding an improved digital system can further expand Stuttgart’s locational advantages.

*The ‘Ländle’ is defined as the rural region surrounding a city – in this case: the Hohenloher Land. Panel: How can data help to improve transport in megacities?

While the potential for modern technology to change the ways cities function and their inhabitants interact is widely agreed upon, the question what degree and what kind of transformation is favourable remains unanswered. Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Vice-President of Traffic and Travel Information at TomTom, outlined how TomTom uses data from navigating devices to analyse traffic demand, congestion and other phenomena in 390 cities around the world. He believes that the collected data can and should serve as a foundation for the conception of traffic solutions, for example in cooperation with governments. Another highly innovative approach comes from Infineon: As their Vice President and General Manager for Radio and Sensors, Philipp von Schierstaedt explained, the company is working on a streetlamp to be used as a sensor hub. The lamp could include for example a sensor that measures air pollution, a radar that detects traffic at night and keeps adjusting the lighting to the current demand or a platform for an app-based distribution of parking spots. However, the project is currently still in the development-phase but gives an insight into future possibilities. While the potential for technology solutions in smart cities certainly seems exciting, Dr. Nikolai Horn, Expert for Policy Issues at the German Foundation for Privacy and Data Protection, stressed the importance of data protection and warned that smart cities should be constructed in a way that allows a high level of misuse-prevention. Another aspect of criticism was put forward by Florian Lennert, Director of the project Intelligent City at London School of Economics: He believes that digitization will only lead to increased sustainability if it serves as a platform to benefit or catalyze initiatives. He argues that simply making cars autonomous alone is hardly beneficial without making them more efficient at the same time.

This panel illuminated pros and cons of digitization. There is great potential for efficient and sustainable traffic planning, but the demands on data protection and active prevention has to be respected at the same time. Innovations in this area are necessary to optimize traffic and transport in cities and for enabling a reduction of our ecological footprint. Keynote: Ultra-Efficiency – How digitization and sustainable development can help to maintain industrial production in urban areas

Helmfried Meinl, General Director of Baden-Württemberg’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Protection and Energy, outlined his vision for ultra-efficient factories in urbanized areas. He mentioned Vittenstein’s new eco-friendly ‘smart factory’, located directly in Vellbach rather than on its outskirts, serving as a best-practice example. Meinl identified three driving factors that catalyze the emergence of such factories: the rising scarcity of raw materials, the increasing digital transformation towards ‘smart factories’, and the trend towards urbanization. In his perception, the combination of these factors will and should lead to the return of industrial production to urban areas. He outlines that this development will not only take place without causing additional pollution or noise but even contribute positively to the quality of living in their areas through short commutes and flexible working hours. Baden-Württemberg is currently in the process of establishing a center for research on ultra-efficient factories. Keynote: How cities will decide upon the sustainable development of our world?

Prof. Günter Meinert, Head of Urban and Municipal Development at GIZ, focused on the key role of cities and local governance in contemporary global sustainable development. While megacities are receiving substantial public attention in this regard, he argued that it is actually the small and medium-sized cities that are both most challenged in coping with rapid population increases and most decisive in achieving the 2030 Agenda targets. In particular those on eliminating poverty, reducing inequality, providing decent work and education as well as reducing environmental impacts. Despite this appearing like insurmountable tasks, he expressed optimism while refer to remarkable new dynamics emerging in the development of the Sustainable Development Goals. Prof. Meinert also pointed out that the cities of the future are being built right now, so the opportunity to get it right, is at our fingertips. Along a line of impressive examples –US city and state governments side-lining the federal government’s exit from the Paris Agreement, slum dwellers organizing transnationally, civil society collaborating in new global networks and alliances– he outlined a remarkable shift of influence away from the national to the subnational level and the development of a new global con- sciousness. Closing his remarks, he explained the key role of Information and Communication Technologies in these efforts, providing new means of communication and databased policy advocacy, opportunities for industrial states and individual citizens to contribute to this development. Panel: How will digitized services drive integration of businesses in megacities?

The panel on digitized service integration in megacities discussed the disruptive effects of new business models in urban environments. In his opening statement, Prof. Vili Lehdonvirta, Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, put current disruptions into a historical context, describing a desirable balance in which private business innovation is accompanied by governments serving as a forum for the public to express its interest. Similarly, Dr. Wolfgang Gründinger, Expert for Digital Transformation at Federal Association of Digital Society e.V., rejected bans as a response to new technologies as counterproductive and instead explained the need for having an open discussion on the values behind new business models. Re- presenting one of the key players in this regard, Alexander Schwarz, General Manager DACH of Airbnb, agreed on the necessity for a nuanced debate on the merits of the sharing economy and similar concepts, arguing that these are more than just economic. As an example, he pointed out Airbnb’s support for refugees and intercultural exchange. Mr. Schwarz was countered by Gregor Gerlach, Managing Director of Seasi- de Hotels, who pointed out that openness to innovation must not come at the cost of allowing for unfair competition, calling for public governance to ensure a level playing field through applying the same stan- dards to old and new firms alike.Alexander Diehl, founder of KKLD* and partner at Joschka Fischer & Company, in conclusion provided a meta perspective, outlining just how many areas of urban society and economy will be affected by fundamental change in the very near future.

The panel was able to show that digital business models should not be viewed as a threat, but as an opportunity for existing concepts. The progressive digital transformation makes an open discussion of the debate, as in the context of the Langenburg Forum, indispensable and can lead to economic advantages. If both sides are actively engaged in the dialogue, important synergies can be used. Panel: How can big data help to support smart urban planning?

The panel on smart urban planning discussed the opportunities and challenges of modern, data-driven city design. The debate was opened by Katherina Reiche, CEO of the Association of Municipal Enterprises, who emphasized the shifting notion of public utilities towards being an enabler and system manager of a smart environment. She called for more openness to innovation and for adapting successful models from abroad to the boundaries of the German federal structure with a key role for the local and state level. Dr. Markus Schlaepfer, Principal Investigator at the Future Laboratory of ETH Zurich, provided a more analytical perspective, describing the modern city as a complex system and emphasizing the role of big data to provide a comprehensive picture on the interactions of citizens. Prof. Michael Resch, Director of HPCC at University of Stuttgart, agreed to this, conceptualizing digitization as a merger of three technologies: high-performance computing, data analysis and discovery, and networks. For the success of smart urban design, he considered it is crucial to not just blindly collect data and feed into algorithms, but to have people in place that understand the whole picture of the technical and the social side. Digital rights activist Volker Tripp, Political Director of Digitale Gesellschaft e.V., provided a more critical voice, explaining three fundamental risks of smart cities as biased algorithms, the loss of urban anonymity, and a dependence on proprietary solutions and corporations. Prof. Steffen Lehmann, Professor at University of Portsmouth, finally took a similarly tech-critical perspective on the existing debate, emphasizing that while there is a lot of data analysis happening, it often aims for the wrong targets. He demanded a more citizen-centric approach that uses big data on a case-by-case basis to transform existing cities towards higher liveability.

The invited experts sum up the opportunities as well as the risks of digitization in the context of urban planning. Collected data sets simplify demand planning and show requirements to a call for action, but they also offer a certain area for abuse possibilities. Future-oriented, digital urban planning must take this into account and focus on a demand-driven approach. QUOTES AND IMPRESSIONS

‘In view of growing global cities, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joschka Fischer, has called on municipalities to pursue a sustainable energy policy. A high-caliber discussion at Schloss Langenburg is intended to explore what the city of the future looks like. Megacities are assessed in global metropolitan areas. The main speaker is the former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, who won the Nobel Peace Prize together with the United Nations in 2001.’

June 08, 2017, Stuttgarter Zeitung

‘The timing for a discussion like that in Langenburg could not be better. It is necessary to place people at the center of urban development, to use new techniques and to leave a lasting urban heritage to future generations.’

June 09, 2017, Hohenloher Tagblatt

‘The opening speech of the Langenburg Forum 2017 revealed that the topic of urban development is a complex one. Kofi Annan stressed that the cities of the future should be focussed to the people. In a heartfelt appeal for cooperation, he pointed out, that an environmentally conscious and thus sustainable urban development is an immense challenge, but ultimately without alternatives.’

June 09, 2017, Die Stimme ABOUT

The Forum deliberately takes place at Langenburg Castle. Langenburg Castle and the historical town centre of Langenburg are situated on a mountain ridge high above the idyllic Jagst Valley in the area of Hohenlohe, some 70 kilometres from Heilbronn. Langenburg Castle has been the family home of the Princely Hohenlohe family since the 13th century and is still the residence of the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Langenburg Castle offers the perfect informal but yet exclusive surrounding for the lectures and debates of the Lan- genburg Forum for Sustainability. The Forum allows for personal exchange between representatives from industry, politics, civil society, science and the media. The Langenburg Forum brings together decision-makers ranging from the local to the national level from Germany and the world. The debates of the Forum center around the sustainable use and development of our natural resources and surroun- dings – focusing on megacities, mobility and sustainable agriculture: 2017 – Forum: Transforming Megacities 2016 – Roundtable: Smart Cities = More Sustainable? 2015 – Forum: Sustainable Mobility and Logistics 2014 – Roundtable: The Future of Organic Agriculture 2013 – Forum: Towards Sustainable Regional Food Systems 2011 – Forum: Sustainable Agriculture in Europe

The Langenburg Forum for Sustainability would like to thank its sponsors for making the 2017 conference possible. Founders of the Langenburg Forum:

Contact Patron of the Langenburg Forum: Langenburg Forum for Sustainability gGmbH Schloss 1, D-74595 Langenburg [email protected] www.langenburg-forum.de