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Professor Mark Maslin (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Geography) talks about the launch of Sustainable Cities, the second of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø's four Grand Challenges.

Cities are already home to half the world's population and that figure is set to reach 80 per cent of humanity by the end of this century.

Such rapid growth means we can expect major problems in food security, energy, water, waste, transport, the economy, manufacture and general quality of life.

By putting sustainable cities at the heart of its research strategy, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø aims to address these urgent issues.

Here Professor Maslin, Director of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Environment Institute, talks about how we might provide a compelling vision for the future of the urban environment.

Image: a riverfront city slum in Africa.