Unequal access to resources and rights is the cause of some of society’s largest problems:
Poverty, racism, gender discrimination, illness, lack of access to education, health and
cultural resources, as well as safe housing, communities and work opportunities.
Global income and wealth inequalities are also tightly connected to ecological inequalities
and to inequalities in contributions to climate change. The world’s population is growing,
putting pressure on our cities and communities. While the gap between rich and poor keeps
widening and the richest 10% of the global population own 76% of all wealth, it is urgent to
find solutions.
How can more equal opportunities be achieved through our built environment and public
spaces? And how can we as a collective industry help protect basic human rights and
create a fairer society for future generations?
In this session, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co-founder of design and architecture practice
Snøhetta, will explore these questions and challenge invited stakeholders on how the
building industry can use architecture as a tool for social equality, thriving communities
and a healthier planet.
