Decarbonization: How Cities Can Become Our Climate Leaders

How can we slow carbon emissions fast to avoid runaway global warming? This is the existential question that will haunt us forever. Either duck and deny, idly watch or actively do something. But how can we act quickly and wisely?

I believe cities should lead climate action because nations, companies and international agencies have failed since they are compromised by fossil fuel industries (disclosure: I worked at Bechtel with DoE, nations and fossil fuel companies so I understand their reluctance and fears.). As energy BUYERS, cities consume 80% of all energy, generate 80% of global GDP, and emit 70% of carbon so we will win or lose the carbon battle in the cities during the coming decades.

How can cities take charge? The UN's C40 Cities, smart cities and Mayors for Peace already collaborate and can train all cities, towns and bioregions to educate and mobilize billions of their citizens as "smart citizen scientists" through K-12 schools, universities, clubs and companies. They can orchestrate top-down government and corporate climate actions with bottom-up citizen engagement. Using smart cities and exponential technologies, they can network globally and manage climate groups in real time. With VR/AR, they can simulate climate actions and disasters in digital twins and measure results using AI analytics. We have the tech systems and ESG funds with over $120 trillion. What we lack is the political will and a clear roadmap.

To jumpstart the process, I published "The Gaiapolis Strategy" (on Amazon), which provides a global framework and an 8-year roadmap to develop pandemic, food, energy and climate resilience in any city, town and bioregion through real-time global collaboration, especially the Global South, with whom I am planning now in Africa and Asia. My thesis is that cities can create new bionic hubs to integrate pandemic/biomedical research with climate technologies and smart cities as a way to create new jobs and industries.

Why biohubs? Climate action requires long-term investing for long-term benefits so most nations and investors avoid it. By contrast, pandemic vaccines, biomedicine, smart cities, the Metaverse and exponential technologies are major, fast-growing industries where investors and companies can get a financial return faster. Bionics will integrate them all.

UCSF Mission Bay just launched a Center for Climate, Health and Equity integrating healthcare and climate action. I'm excited, especially about the coming Bio Renaissance where emerging bionics industries merge biomedicine, healthcare, smart cities, climate tech, and exponential technologies, which is the Next New Thing for Silicon Valley that all investors, entrepreneurs, companies and governments are always seeking. https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu/news/launch-uc-center-climate-health-and-equity?fbclid=IwAR3wkOGoXqqc1SOn0qDSCe2VpIvzYD5fgw22NNtQ5YlRMeU6SxQQQNXQok8

My Gaiapolis concept is not a pipe dream, but based on the past. In 1986, I published "The Technopolis Strategy" (Prentice-Hall/Simon & Schuster) analyzing Japan's 26 Technopolis cities, a program launched by the national government and implemented locally to the tune of $3-4 billion per city (in 1980s currency). France copied by launching 30 Tecnopoles. My friend at the International Association for Science Parks said its members used my book as a guide when building their 1,000 tech parks as nations rushed to build their tech industries that we know today. China's UN ambassador to the UN said my pirated book was popular in China, which was building tech parks after Deng Xiao Ping's opening.

So cities and nations can move very fast when they are motivated. As a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur in VR/AR who was trained in urban/environmental planning, I've advised cities and nations in Europe, North America, Japan and Asian on their high-tech strategies, Technopolis plans and virtual sustainable cities so I know they can move quickly when they're motivated by new jobs and industries. Gaiapolis will move in real time since we don't have much time. The multi-trillion-dollar Metaverse is coming, thanks to tech giants. Climate cities in VR/AR will literally be the new "killer app" that will save tens of millions of lives and tens of trillions of dollars from massive property destruction.

The biggest catalyst will be the $120+ trillion in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) funding sitting on the sidelines due to corporate greenwashing and lack of climate reporting accounting and transparency.

We need to get 100 major cities up and rolling this year, 1,000 cities by 2025, and 10,000 cities by 2030, which will account for about 75%+ of energy use and 65%+ of carbon emissions. Then we will have a chance to save our planet, while creating new green and bionic jobs for the billions of young people coming.

As a baby boomer, this is my gift to the world and the 7th generation hence. Will you join me? If so, check out my book and tell your friends. Together, we can all save our planet, create new jobs and industries, celebrate our cultures, and have fun eating healthy food while listening to great music and watching great performances by climate artists!

The Gaiapolis Strategy: Designing Bionic Cities For Pandemic, Energy and Climate Resilience in the Coming Bio Renaissance

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4XBHV9S/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_PESNY027E4JAD8CAAFAF

Dreamscape Global, San Francisco, California