The curator of the Mayor of London Global Debates gives a brief overview on what the debates series is trying to achieve and how London and people around the globe can participate.

David Adam - of Global Cities -  curator of the Mayor of London Global Debates - gives a brief overview on what the debates series is trying to achieve and how London and people around the globe can participate.

Over half the world’s population now live in cities and by 2050 the UN predicts that figure will be two thirds. If globalisation presents a problem to be solved then cities present an answer. Cities are driving the global economy; they are the junction boxes of economic exchange. As people, capital and culture become increasingly mobile, every city is competing to ensure it is positioned to capture value from global shifts.

This debate series has been commissioned by the Mayor to ensure that when the eyes of the world are on London during the Olympics, London takes this opportunity to lead in setting out responses to some of the major economic, demographic and technological challenges the world faces today.

The debates in the chamber are the start of a conversation and people can engage through multiple channels. This blog will invite our speakers and participants to share their views; people can also join the conversation on twitter through #londondebates; to engage with us through our partner Facebook’s Democracy Online page; and the debates will be highlighted on CNBC. They will also be streamed live through city hall TV. This is the start of a conversation about how cities and in particular London can provide leadership on these big issues.

Highlights of the programme include participation from keynote speakers such as Jim O’Neill, Matt Ridley, Saskia Sassen and Jimmy Wales but we will also be participation from  the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes and London’s Mayor Boris Johnson.

We look forward to you joining us in this discussion at this exciting moment in London’s cultural and intellectual life, in which we celebrate London’s role as a truly Global City.