Following a competitive judging process, the global shortlist for the RICS Cities for our Future challenge has been revealed.

Featuring innovative ideas to tackle climate change, urbanisation, pollution and homelessness, the shortlist includes a solution to resource shortages facing those living in slums from James Browning, a student at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand – an ACU member institution.

Over 1,200 entries were received and assessed by an expert panels of judges from across the world who narrowed it down to the final 12, highlighting the competitive nature of the selection process.

• View the full shortlist here

The next step in the Cities for our Future competition run by RICS, in partnership with the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, will see each of the 12 finalists given an expert mentor to help them develop their concepts into a viable project in advance of the final judging in November.

Sean Tompkins, RICS Global CEO said: 'Our aim with the Cities for our Future competition was to harness the ideas of our diverse and talented young people to help solve the challenges of the cities they care about and make them better for generations to come. We hope that the leaders of the world's cities are listening and will work with us and all of our shortlisted entries to make these ideas a reality and help tackle some of the most pressing issues facing their cities.'

About Cities for our Future

Cities for our Future is a competition run by RICS, in partnership with the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, in which young people around the world have been invited to offer inventive, but practical solutions to the most pressing challenges facing the world's rapidly expanding cities. Read more here.

Summary of James Browning's idea

James Browning, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand: James has proposed a system to improve access to resources in the slums of Caracas. The idea begins with the construction of small towers that harvest rainwater and generate power. The water and power generated can go on to cultivate arable farming and street lighting. Following this, households will be able to connect directly to the system supplying water and electricity throughout the community. This basic infrastructure system will then allow Caracas, and similarly underdeveloped cities, to further develop.

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