Atlanta and Duluth are featured in National Geographic's special April 2019 edition on cities.
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Atlanta and Duluth are featured in National Geographic's special April 2019 edition on cities.

By 2050, the world's population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people. According to a report by the United Nations, nearly 70% of them are projected to live in urban areas. 

If current patterns hold, those who flock to the megacities of the future will face issues with affordable housing and increased hours in traffic. The impact on low-income pepole and the environment will be especially acute.

National Geographic's special edition issue on the future of cities explores how planners, innovators and policymakers will cope with the influx. Rob Kunzig, the magazine's senior environment editor, visited cities across the world, including Atlanta and Duluth. He wrote about his findings in a feature called "Rethinking Cities." Kunzig joined On Second Thought from NPR in Washington with more on the future of urban life.

On Second Thought host Virginia Prescott speaks with Rob Kunzig.

For more on the future of cities, visit natgeo.com/cities

 

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In its special April issue on cities, National Geographic maps out the future of urban life.
Caption

In its special April issue on cities, National Geographic maps out the future of urban life.