Creating a better world, with Ruben Langbroek
Ruben has more than eighteen years’ experience in the real asset investment sector, of which the last decade has been focused on the Asia-Pacific region. He is currently the Head of Asia Pacific for GRESB, a mission-driven and industry-led organisation that provides actionable and transparent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data to financial markets.
What do you love about cities?
It’s a sense of community and dynamics that cities provide that’s always attracted me in some way. It’s also the buzz of energy, the diversity, the authenticity that they provide. Cities are great in terms of providing a community or a place to meet – people are typically out and about standing or chatting on the street or against buildings, street corners and enjoying things such as bars, restaurants, theatres and big squares where people meet and connect.
What changes have you seen in cities over the past 20 years that matter the most to you?
Over the last 20 years, I've seen that cities definitely have modernized. Especially in the last decade, my generation, as well as the younger generations, they've really been driving a revival of cities across the globe. People are seeking more genuine or richer and more authentic connection with the community and also with the people that they know and interact with.
As a consequence, I've seen that the urban built environment really has adapted itself to offer this urban dynamic. But also interestingly, many cities have incorporated the love of nature into the fabric of urban life. Think about rooftop bars, farmer's markets, waterfront promenades, and new parks and greenery that all have been developed or regenerated in many urban centres. But you can also see that there's been a certain urbanization of suburban life, which I think is really great.
To be a great ancestor for future generations, what does our sector need to focus on today?
Winston Churchill once said, "We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us." And I fully agree that the buildings we live in and work in and meet in and interact have an impact on us. And as such, we need to develop and manage them with that particular belief in mind. I believe we should aim to maximize the positive outcomes that buildings can have on the users and the communities that they serve by minimizing negative impacts on the environment. And that's where sustainability starts to make real world sense because the built environment is part of the solution for the major environmental and social challenges we're facing.
It starts with raising awareness that indeed the built environment is both part of the problem as well as the solution, but also that our industry has a unique opportunity to embrace new models of working together, collaboration, partnerships, but probably with the same outcome, which is a circular economy for the built environment. Think about protection or even regeneration of natural resources. Think about contributing to the solutions to climate change. Think about providing social benefits to the communities in which they stand. It's very much about that awareness and making sure that all stakeholders in our sector are able to be aware of the role they play to achieve those positive outcomes, and I think that's pretty exciting in itself.
What has to change or be amplified in our system to make these things a priority?
Many of the current and massive challenges that we face including climate change, loss of biodiversity, depletion of natural resources, poverty, growing inequality, health and wellbeing issues, they all require us to think long-term and this allows us to create solutions that benefit, not just our society, but importantly, also future generations. Now more than ever we need to demonstrate that our ambitions are more than just words. We should focus on generating positive, long-term outcomes for future generations.
“Now more than ever we need to demonstrate that our ambitions are more than just words. We should focus on generating positive, long-term outcomes for future generations. ”
We should also find new ways to communicate those actions as well as measure our impacts. This also means engaging with communities and empowering them to be part of urban change processes. Deep and genuine collaboration allows us to transition to sustainable, circular and inclusive urban built environments, which is a win-win for everyone.
What's one piece of advice you would give to emerging urban leaders?
The pandemic has heightened the awareness of how interconnected we are, it showed how rapidly shocks can work through the global economy, as well as through local communities and as such, it reminded us that we are extremely dependent on many different things that make up our systems. Think about our natural resources, economies, environmental, social and economic elements. But it also showed that trust and transparency are very central to our society. The pandemic made us realize that the change we face cannot be solved alone, but also not with a business-as-usual approach.
As such, our emerging urban leaders need to respond by building back better, embracing innovation, empowering communities, seeking collaboration by building long-term partnerships, and importantly, sharing their success stories to show that transformative change is possible.
