Big Think Interview with Mitchell Joachim | Big Think

TL;DR

Dr. Mitchell Joakim proposes a future where New York City is 100% self-sufficient in terms of food, energy, and waste, with innovative ideas like vertical farms and solar panels on rooftops.

Transcript

my name is Dr Mitchell Joakim I a professor at Columbia University and Parson's the new school for design I'm co-founder of the nonprofit philanthropic organization terraform one here in Brooklyn New York one of the many projects we're working on at terraform terraform one is to uh rethink New York City to look at New York City as if it was 100% se... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤳 Rethinking New York City as a self-sufficient entity is a provocative and grand solution to address the global problem of climate change.
• 😋 Implementing vertical farms in urban areas like Central Park can significantly contribute to local food production and reduce dependence on external sources.
• 🤳 Rooftop solar panels, along with other renewable energy sources, can potentially make New York City self-sufficient in terms of energy production.
• 🤳 The transformation of a city to achieve self-sufficiency is a long-term process that requires overcoming various challenges, including technological and societal adoption.
• 🖐️ Architecture and urban design can play a humanitarian role by focusing on projects that prioritize the well-being of communities and the environment.
• 📱 Suburban areas can be reimagined as mobile communities connected to a smart and renewable grid, providing flexibility and sustainability.
• 🍉 The term "sustainability" might not adequately capture the urgency and transformative nature required to address global environmental challenges.
• 👳 Architects could contribute to politics by bringing innovative and holistic solutions to major problems such as housing and urban development.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some proposed solutions to make New York City self-sufficient in terms of food production?

One proposed solution is the implementation of vertical farms, such as towers in Central Park that can produce enough food to feed thousands of people. These farms could grow crops like dwarf wheat and dwarf corn using innovative techniques.

Q: How could New York City achieve self-sufficiency in energy production?

By covering unshaded roof space in the city with solar panels, along with integrating other renewable sources like wind turbines and wave harvesting, New York City could potentially generate enough energy to power itself solely from the sun.

Q: How long would it take for New York City to fully implement these self-sufficiency measures?

According to Dr. Joakim, changing a city's infrastructure takes a considerable amount of time. While technological advancements like cell phones took around 5-7 years to become widespread, architectural changes on a city-wide scale can take 100-150 years to fully implement.

Q: How does Dr. Joakim's organization, Terraform One, contribute to humanitarian efforts through architecture and urban design?

Terraform One focuses on projects that benefit communities and elements of the environment that lack a voice, such as water, trees, and air. By creating designs that are tailored to these specific needs, they aim to provide inclusive and sustainable environments for communities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Joakim discusses the concept of reimagining New York City as a self-sufficient entity, producing all its own food, energy, and managing waste within its boundaries.

• Ideas such as vertical farms in Central Park and solar panels on rooftops are suggested as potential measures to achieve self-sufficiency.

• While the transformation of New York City into a self-sufficient entity is theoretical, Dr. Joakim argues for the importance of considering grander solutions to address the global problem of climate change.