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In this podcast series Michael Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities, speaks with a variety of thought leaders from visionary companies providing actionable solutions to major issues plaguing cities today. These issues range from air pollution to cyber-attacks to infectious disease and more. Michael dives into the inspiration behind each company and how they see themselves evolving in the coming years. This series will equip you with a plethora of valuable knowledge, and if nothing else, enjoy Michael’s amazing Boston accent.
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Have you ever looked at a city skyline and wondered—what if our buildings could do more than just stand tall? What if they could actively fight climate change? Every year, our cities emit millions of tons of carbon, contributing to a crisis so urgent that by 2050 we’ll need to remove over six billion tons of CO₂ annually just to stay on track with global climate goals. But what if the solution isn’t just cutting emissions—but designing environments that capture them? Now, imagine a future whe...
Have you ever tried to make the right choice—only to find out later you didn’t have the full picture? Whether it’s picking a healthy meal or choosing the “eco-friendly” product off the shelf, too often we rely on labels that tell only part of the story. Now imagine being a company trying to choose suppliers—where one misstep could mean reputational damage, regulatory risk, or contributing to climate change. With more than 75% of a company’s emissions buried deep in the supply chain, tran...
Have you ever had that dream where you’re trying to speak, but no sound comes out? Or maybe you’ve found yourself in a foreign country, needing help but unable to find the right words to use? For 66 million people in the U.S.—from non-English speakers to the Deaf Community—this feeling of voicelessness is a daily reality, especially when it comes to accessing essential services like education, healthcare, and government assistance. But what if there was a way to break through these barriers, ...
Imagine a city map that doesn’t just display streets and landmarks—but reveals where environmental risks are greatest, from scorching heat islands to flood-prone neighborhoods. This kind of map becomes more than just a planning tool; it’s a survival guide, directing cities on where to plant trees, cool communities, and safeguard vulnerable populations. In this episode of Preview of Tomorrow, host Mike Lake sits down with Imeshi Weerasinghe, CEO and co-founder of WEO, to explore how satellite ...
Imagine standing in the middle of a critical decision-making moment—one where the wrong move could cost millions or even put lives at risk. Now imagine that you don’t have the tools or resources to see the full picture, to understand the consequences of your options in real time. This is the reality for countless organizations today. From emergency response to urban planning, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Yet, many teams lack the means to visualize complex data and scenarios quickly enough t...
Picture this: Plaster, paint, and grout oozing down embankments, forming toxic sludge that drips into waterways, contaminating the water and seeping into the bodies of fish and other wildlife. It sounds like a horror scene, but believe it or not, this is a daily reality at countless construction sites around the world. Did you know that every year, an estimated 60 billion liters of polluted water, filled with chemicals and microplastics, is discharged from construction sites—affecting not jus...
Imagine waking up to a world where water is a luxury—where entire cities are parched, and communities are left to scramble for every drop. Unfortunately, this isn’t a far-off dystopia. By 2050, over half of the global population will be living in water-stressed areas, and saltwater intrusion is projected to contaminate vital groundwater sources, affecting up to 1.5 billion people. As climate disasters intensify, the systems we rely on for water are at risk of total failure. But amidst this cr...
In a world where over 40% of urban flash floods strike with little to no warning, modern communities are constantly on edge, facing unpredictable threats that can disrupt lives and devastate economies. The lack of accurate, real-time weather prediction doesn’t just challenge urban areas—it’s a global issue. The agricultural sector, which feeds billions, suffers immensely from this unpredictability, losing an estimated 16% of global crop production each year simply due to unexpected weather ev...
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Water. It’s the essence of life, flowing through every corner of our planet, sustaining all forms of life. However, an alarming 32 billion cubic meters of water are lost every year through leaks and inefficiencies in our water systems. This staggering waste not only translates to billions of dollars in economic losses but also exacerbates the global water crisis, leaving countless communities without access to clean, safe water. The harsh reality is that by 2025, half of the world’s populatio...
On December 5th, 1933, the 21st amendment of The U.S. Constitution was ratified, effectively ending Prohibition in the United States. 90 years later, alcohol has become a well-studied substance with universally accepted quantities for what constitutes a single drink. But recently, there’s been a new player in town. Cannabis. Across the United States, widespread legalization of marijuana has hurtled our country into uncharted territory. In 2018, more than 12 million Americans admitted to drivi...
In the time it took you to brush your teeth this morning, there were over 900 calls placed to 911 emergency services in the United States alone. But would you believe that out of these 900 calls made, almost 300 of them were either non-emergencies or complete butt dials? Unfortunately, within the past couple years, the coronavirus pandemic has spurred an increase in call volume to emergency services, while simultaneously introducing a myriad of understaffing issues. In fact, 77% of public-saf...
When was the last time you had a meal? Maybe it was a quick granola bar before work, or possibly you’re eating some lunch right now. Whatever the case may be, I bet you didn’t realize that you were consuming a resource that, in about 40 years, will be as precious as gold. It has been estimated that, in order to keep up with the current population growth, humans will need to produce more food in the next 40 years than in the previous 10,000 years combined. But here’s the kicker. If we increase...
Just a few decades ago, the concept of unmanned aerial vehicles, or, as you may know them: drones, was a reality confined only to science fiction films and comic books. In fact, if you told someone just 30 years ago that there are over 900,000 drones registered in the United States, with over half of them being used for recreational use, they’d probably look at you like you were crazy. But the truth is, unmanned aerial vehicles are quickly becoming a close companion to the concept of smart ci...
When it comes to our plumbing, we usually take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach. Once we don’t see it anymore, we don’t think about it anymore - but for the waste that we put in our drains and plumbing systems, the initial flush is only the beginning of its journey. After flowing through mazes of pipes below our cities, waste ends up at a sewage treatment site, where tanks and aerators process the waste into byproducts. But want to hear a dirty little secret? These byproducts can contain...
Potholes: the modern car driver’s worst enemy. How many times have YOU hit a pothole just a little too hard, eyes darting to the dashboard, hoping and praying that you don’t see that flat tire light blink on? In the U.S alone, there are reportedly 220 million flat tires that happen every year on our roadways, posing a risk to the driver and everyone around them. Flat tires aren’t the only threat: heartbreakingly, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for both Australians and Americ...
The first ever solar panel cell was created more than eighty years ago: and like many other innovations, it was created by pure accident. Yet since then, those signature rectangular structures can be spotted on the roofs of houses and buildings all over the world. In fact, the number of US solar panel installations is 23 times higher today than in 2014. While this is a clear win for environmental sustainability, it remains near impossible to measure and manage one’s clean energy consumption w...
A recent study in Texas found that, in local governmental elections, the first name listed on the ballot earns an average of ten percentage points more than the last name on the ballot. This is no coincidence, as it turns out that many voters simply chose a random name if they’re unfamiliar with a particular election. With an average of only 19% of eligible voters casting a vote in their local elections at all, municipal governments rely that much more heavily on those who do vote. It has bec...
Is your office building suffering from a cold? As strange as this sounds, Sick Building Syndrome is a serious and legitimate problem that can be found in buildings, like your very own corporate office. The culprit of this sickness? Tiny, invisible, airborne pathogens. These tiny villains cause infections, illnesses, and overall reduced productivity in the office. It’s not just your office that’s in danger though. In the hotel industry, a tiny bacteria called Legionella is commonly detected in...
With more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than at any time in human history, and sea levels rising faster than ever before, it is clear our world is facing a global climate crisis. Despite our urgency, did you know that over two thirds of businesses have reported having no plan for sustainability? With small businesses comprising over 99% of all businesses in both the US and UK, their participation is critical in making a significant environmental impact. Corporate social responsibilit...
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