The New Barcelona Post converses this month with Marta Lao, one of the young executives participating in Barcelona 2040, the leadership and city program taught by Barcelona Global. The objective of this series of interviews is for this new generation of leaders to share their vision for the Barcelona of the future they aspire to, as well as their impact proposals for the improvement of the city.
--- What do you expect from Barcelona in 2040?
--- My expectation is that in 2040 Barcelona will be a city with a higher quality of life for its inhabitants and, therefore, a more sustainable and technologically advanced city. In these coming years, it will be key for the city to implement innovative solutions in areas such as waste management, energy, and mobility. Furthermore, I hope and wish that Barcelona consolidates and manages to position itself as a leading city economically and culturally, and to achieve this, there is a lot of work ahead.
--- What city would you compare Barcelona to?
--- Each city has its own identity and idiosyncrasy. This makes it difficult to compare Barcelona with other cities. In terms of urban development, it could be compared to Berlin or Milan. If you think about its Mediterranean location, its history, and its cultural life, a comparison could be made with Valencia or Marseille. On the other hand, if you measure parameters such as safety, mobility, and gastronomic offerings, it could be compared to Melbourne or, setting aside the issue of safety, San Francisco.
--- What city model do you think Barcelona should resemble?
--- It's a complex question to answer. As I pointed out before, Barcelona is a unique city with its own identity, so it doesn't necessarily have to resemble another particular city model. However, there are cities that could serve as inspiration in certain aspects. If we focus on the criteria currently used to select the best cities to live in, we could essentially group them into five categories: 1) the stability and safety of the city, 2) its cultural offerings, 3) its public services, 4) its infrastructure and sustainability, and 5) its educational and employment opportunities. These areas will be key for the Barcelona of the future.
In terms of sustainability, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are referents, for example, for their planning regarding sustainable mobility, bicycle use, and pedestrian-oriented urban planning. These models could be referents for Barcelona in these aspects. In cultural offerings, Berlin and Vienna are known for their vibrant artistic and cultural scene. Barcelona already has a rich cultural offering, but it should continue to develop and promote its identity as a creative and cosmopolitan city. Regarding innovation and economy, San Francisco and Stockholm are referents for their entrepreneurial ecosystem and their commitment to technology and research. Barcelona should work to be a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering collaboration between universities, companies, and technological and research centers to boost its economy. The challenge will be to try to adapt the best practices and approaches and, at the same time, maintain the identity and uniqueness of our city to achieve balanced and sustainable development.
--- What is the main challenge Barcelona must solve in the coming years?
--- As I pointed out before, there are several critical areas in which Barcelona must work to position itself as one of the cities with the best quality of life for its inhabitants. Focusing on the issue of sustainability, it will be key for Barcelona to prepare to face challenges related to pollution, resource consumption, mobility, and waste management. It will be important to foresee, for example, the impact of climate change on the city, such as rising sea levels.
--- What do you think should be the role of new generations and their involvement in the development of the city?
--- I believe we all agree that new generations must play a crucial role in the development of a city like Barcelona. Their involvement will be fundamental to drive progress, innovation, and positive change in Barcelona society. For now, new generations can bring innovation, with "fresh" and disruptive ideas. Being digital natives, they are familiar with the latest technologies, which will allow them to propose creative solutions to current challenges. Their active participation in civic life can help drive relevant changes in areas such as sustainability. New generations can also contribute to promoting greater diversity and inclusion, which, in the long run, will translate into a higher quality of life in the city. As it cannot be otherwise, new generations have the potential to be agents of positive change in the development of Barcelona. Their participation in decision-making and their commitment to the values of sustainability, inclusion, and progress can significantly contribute to building a more prosperous and equitable city.
--- Which business sectors do you think Barcelona should bet on?
--- In the economic area, Barcelona must manage to recover after the downturn suffered in recent years, especially as a consequence of the pandemic, and diversify its economy. It must bet on innovation and digitalization in different economic sectors. Regarding diversification, Barcelona should bet on strengthening sectors such as technology, research and development, the creative industry, and the green economy. This would help reduce dependence on tourism and create more resilient and sustainable jobs. As I have already pointed out, these economic challenges require close collaboration between the public and private sectors, but also with citizens and, as we have seen before, with younger citizens. And all of this must be accompanied by the implementation of concrete, ambitious, and adequate policies and measures that allow for boosting the city's economic recovery and growth.