iFOREST Podcast Rethinks Urban Design for Climate

In the rearmost occasion of COgreen, the podcast by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), a compelling discussion unfolds around a pressing question of our times: how can metropolises be designed to breathe? As civic centers expand and the climate extremity deepens, the way we shape our metropolises has become critical to influencing not only livability but also long-term adaptability. The occasion features Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, in discussion with Ander Zozaya from the Singapore ETH Centre, who together examine how civic planning opinions impact natural ventilation, air quality, and climate adaptation. 

The discussion opens with an instigative idea that allowing metropolises to “breathe” could unnaturally reshape urbanization as we know it. The term refers not only to the nonfictional inflow of air through megacity geographies but also to the broader capacity of civic ecosystems to renew themselves—to remain open, flexible, and responsive in the face of growing environmental stress. Both speakers stress that this idea must be central to the coming phase of global civic development, particularly in the fast-growing metropolises of Asia, where rapid-fire construction, high population viscosity, and rising temperatures cross to produce a perfect storm of environmental challenges. 

As Chandra Bhushan notes, the consequences of poor civic ventilation are frequently undervalued. “Metropolises aren’t designed with air in mind,” he observes. “When we plan thick neighborhoods with altitudinous structures and narrow thoroughfares, we block natural wind inflow. That traps adulterants and heat, creating unhealthy and unsustainable surroundings. ” This miracle, known as the “civic flume effect,” occurs when high-rise structures help air rotation, causing heat and emissions from vehicles, diligence, and cooling systems to remain trapped at the road position. The result is a rise in air pollution, advanced face temperatures, and a growing demand for artificial cooling, which, in turn, worsens energy use and emigrations. 

Zozaya adds that this problem isn’t limited to any one country or region. “Metropolises across the world, from Singapore to Delhi to Mexico City, are floundering with the same question—how do we make thick metropolises that are still permeable? ” He points out that while civic conciseness can reduce transport emigrations and land use, it must be paired with design strategies that ensure natural tailwinds and reduce the buildup of heat. The thing, he emphasizes, is to balance viscosity with openness—to produce metropolises that are energy-effective without suffocating their residents. 

The discussion moves into the heart of climate adaptation and adaptability, exploring how civic planning can evolve in the face of rising temperatures and worsening air pollution. As the climate extremity accelerates, both experts agree that the line between livability and survivability in metropolises is racing. In countries like India, where summers are pushing temperatures beyond mortal forbearance, the need for climate-responsive design is critical. “You can’t fight heat with further concrete,” Bhushan says. “We need to reevaluate the accoutrements, layouts, and microclimates of our metropolises. ” 

Singapore is frequently cited as a global leader in civic sustainability, and Zozaya shares perceptivity from the megacity-state’s experience. He explains that Singapore has invested heavily in exploration on civic ventilation, thermal comfort, and the cooling benefits of green structure. “We use computational models to pretend wind patterns, heat distribution, and shade. The thing is to understand how every structure, demesne, and road affects the megacity’s overall climate,” he says. By studying tailwind corridors and the placement of foliage, Singapore has been able to reduce civic heat islets and ameliorate air quality—assignments that could inform planning in other tropical and tropical metropolises. 

Still, both experts advise that technology alone cannot break the problem. “We need policy fabrics and governance systems that prioritize environmental performance in civic planning,” Bhushan explains. “Right now, utmost megacity plans concentrate on structure delivery—casing, transport, and power—but not on how these rudiments interact with the natural terrain. ” He argues for integrating environmental data into zoning laws and construction guidelines and erecting canopies, noting that the civic fabric supports ventilation and minimizes heat buildup. 

The occasion also tackles the complex relationship between rising heat and growing cooling demand. As metropolises warm, air exertion use is soaring, especially in middle-income countries. But this response, the speakers note, creates a dangerous feedback circle: increased energy consumption leads to advanced emigrations, which worsen global warming, leading indeed to further heat and lesser reliance on cooling. “We cannot state-condition our way out of climate change,” Zozaya warns. Rather, he suggests combining unresistant cooling ways similar to natural ventilation, reflective accoutrements, and shadowing with smart energy systems to reduce the need for mechanical cooling. 

Bhushan agrees, emphasizing the need for holistic design. “The answer lies in systems allowing—integrating energy, water, accoutrements, and climate considerations from the ground up,” he says. “We must move down from reactive design and make visionary metropolises that can acclimatize and breathe. ” 

As the discussion concludes, both experts return to the conceit of breathing—a simple, mortal act that now holds profound meaning for the metropolises of the future. They fantasize about a civic world where thoroughfares and structures aren’t walls to air and light but conduits for them; where trees, premises, and water bodies are treated as essential structures; and where citizens are empowered to demand healthier, cooler, and cleaner surroundings. 

The COgreen occasion offers both a warning and a vision: a warning that the way we presently make our metropolises is suffocating them, and a vision that civic design—if guided by wisdom, policy, and imagination—can restore their capability to breathe. In the period of the climate extremity, this capacity may determine not just the comfort, but the survival, of millions who call these concrete geographies home.