FEEDING CITIES
Decoupling design from virgin material use.
SPEECHES AND SEMINARS
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EMERGING TRENDS IN NEW URBAN LANDSCAPES: PEOPLE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
The KONNECTIONS WORLD SUMMIT is a unique vehicle created to provide for a GLOBAL PLATFORM to share knowledge, experiences, new age technology, new ideas, emerging trends & innovations therefore adding immense value to this beautiful space that we all work in.
The fifth chapter of KONNECTIONS WORLD SUMMIT 2022 was held in Istanbul.
At this event Chris presented a brief introduction to his journey as a landscape and urban designer, and focussed on why he believes that embracing the circular economy is a vital tool for all designers as we seek to find tools for more resilient, equitable, robust and responsible urban spaces.
EMERGING TRENDS IN NEW URBAN LANDSCAPES: PEOPLE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
For many years we have been told that many aspects of modern life are incompatible with a healthy planet. A high-consumption, glamorous lifestyle has been sold to us as aspirational and the peak of achievement. But this has come at great cost to society and the planet. Multiple crises are currently colliding from environmental and climate, to physical and mental health, to rampant inflation, rising costs and falling incomes, to conflicts and food and water insecurity. So, can necessity become the mother of invention that stimulates us to find better ways to live more effectively, enjoyably, affordably, and responsibly?
In this extended presentation, interview and Q&A, Chris explored how the Circular Economy may provide some essential tools for tackling the most critical of contemporary challenges.
BUILDING WITH PEOPLE
Massive challenges in fast growing cities often require major infrastructure interventions which can bring significant disruption to the lives of many millions of people. Without proper stakeholder involvement, projects can become mired in controversy, lack of understanding and thus stagnate or be delayed. However, infrastructure projects can also offer many opportunities to enhance the quality of life for all groups, including vulnerable people. By finding synergies, creating spin-off and additional benefits it is possible to accomplish win-win situations empowering people to become engaged contributors to solutions
GREEN ROOFS AND WALLS OF THE WORLD GLOBAL SUMMIT 2019-2020
This video that is part of the global summit, focuses on the possibilities for integrating urban food production into our existing urban areas and took a look across this diverse field from indoor climate-controlled food factories, to rooftop soil-based farms, vertical façade food systems, container-based techniques and public realm interventions. The video illustrates synergies and spin-off benefits across a wide range of Drawdown Solutions (and SDG’s) and will reference case studies and data from urban farming systems across the world as well as cities who have adopted policies and set ambitions that place circularity and sustainable food systems at the heart of their social, environmental, economic and sustainable planning.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY SWITZERLAND - ROMANDIE LAUNCH
On August 30, 2019, an event will take place at the Casino de Montbenon in Lausanne. This event is the official launch of the Swiss movement for a circular economy in French-speaking Switzerland. This day is the continuation of the launch of this movement (CES Circular Economy Switzerland) which took place on February 5, 2019 in Basel.
During the event, Chris will join innovative food systems entrepreneurs at an informative exhibition where there will be displays, presentations and interactive sessions.
DRAWDOWN RESEARCH TO ACTION CONFERENCE
Project Drawdown partnered with Penn State to hold the first international conference on Drawdown — Research to Action: The Science of Drawdown. During this event, leading scientific experts and researchers from around the world engaged in a critical discussion about the most innovative and promising climate change solutions and upcoming research. This event launched a global call for submissions and the 'Feeding Cities: Fixing Cities' abstract and poster prepared by Chris Jones, was accepted for presentation during the event and inclusion in the events digital and physical exhibition.
For information about the event click the link below and for the project poster visit the 'Future City Hub' project page.
around the world.
FOOD SYSTEMS AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
This event, co-hosted and presented by Chris Jones on June 17th 2019, with Impact Hub Lausanne and Circular Economy Transition Switzerland, built upon the event held in Geneva in April.
The evening focused on how developed cities can embrace the food system as a catalyst for achieving economic, social and environmental benefits. There were references to success stories, policies and strategies from cities including Paris, Brussels, Madrid, New York and Sao Paolo plus examples of real, working urban food projects and businesses as diverse as hi-tech hydro- and aquaponic indoor systems, to rooftop green houses, vertical façade farms and community based education and nutrition initiatives.
FEEDING CITIES: FIXING CITIES
This INSPIRE event, organised and presented by Chris Jones, took place on April 8th 2019 at Impact Hub Geneva. The topic was 'Urban Agriculture as a catalyst for creating livable resilient cities'
The presentation explored some of the opportunities and challenges surrounding urban food production as part of circular economy based urban revitalisation strategies including bottom-up approaches and embracing techniques from simple, low-tech to integrated high-tech interventions.
The evening was attended by diverse professionals, enthusiasts and food entrepreneurs who came together to discuss and explore some of the key challenges facing our cities and our planet as we look to find solutions for energy, food and creating affordable livable cities.
AGRITECTURE TRAVEL-FREE DIGITAL CONFERENCE SERIES
In April 2020 I was interviewed by Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO of Agritecture a global leader in Urban Ag.Tech for their Travel-Free Digital Conference Series where innovative thinkers, operators and entrepreneurs, from around the world present and engage in discussions on topics of food systems.
Can we imagine a better, more efficient, enjoyable, healthy, robust, resilient and sustainable food system with more locally grown produce, less food waste, less packaging? with better, healthier products (for people, planet and business)? with more and better local connections? with less space needed in our homes for storing recycling and waste? where we spend less money and time on disposing of waste?
