In this episode, recorded at the Neext Future Summit 2024 in Berlin powered by Drees & Sommer, we welcome Adam Pustelnik, Deputy Mayor of Łódź, Poland, to discuss the city’s transformation journey.

From its post-industrial roots to becoming a sustainable, investor-friendly hub, Adam shares how Łódź is tackling urban challenges with bold strategies. Topics include the city’s recent recognition as an investor-friendly hub, measures to curb urban sprawl, resilience plans to counter climate impacts like flooding, and projects to restore natural rivers for green infrastructure.

Travel back to our first episode about Łódź with Anna Wierzbicka, Director at the City of Łódź!

Overview of the episode:

[00:03:02] Teaser Question - "If you had to describe Łódź in three words, what would they be?"

[00:03:34] Our Guest's Background - Adam Pustelnik shares his career journey, background in politics, and the motivations behind his role as Deputy Mayor.

[00:08:23] Challenges in Transforming Words into Action - Adam discusses the complexities of moving from ideas to implementation in a political environment.

[00:10:52] Investor-Friendly City Award - Insight into Łódź’s journey to winning the Prime Property Prize 2024 as an investor-friendly city.

[00:13:39] Addressing Urban Sprawl and Sustainability - Łódź’s plans to control urban sprawl and protect natural resources through careful urban planning.

[00:16:13] Climate Resilience and Flood Preparedness - Łódź’s initiatives to open up rivers and create green-blue infrastructure to mitigate flood risks.

[00:22:06] Reindustrialisation and Economic Transformation - How Łódź is leveraging its industrial legacy to support economic growth and resilience, particularly through nearshoring and partnerships.

[00:25:25] Future Hopes and Goals - Adam shares his wishes for a strong, united Europe and for an end to the war in Ukraine to support stability in the region.

[00:28:51] Flip the Script - Adam asks Alexander questions on building resilient, future-ready cities.

[00:34:10] Ending Question - "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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