Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Smart cities are the talk of the town right now and so they should be to cope when over 60% of us will live in cities by 2030. E-bikes, Driverless- connected vehicles, buildings that talk to each other will help but many cities are susceptible to climate change and pandemics. Explore the issues faced by cities and the new ideas that will change the way urban dwellers live in the 21st century.

• [New] In the European Union, BEVs reached a 43% sales share among city buses in 2023, demonstrating clear progress towards the proposed target of 100% of city bus sales being zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035. IEA
• [New] With climate change making smog and bushfires more common, it's likely more people will die from air pollution in coming years - especially in densely populated cities. CodeBlue
• [New] The Kenya Urban Roads Authority partially closed four roads that were heavily affected and warned of flooding on two others. CNN
• [New] The City of New Orleans was recently awarded $398,500 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Compost and Food Waste Reduction Program to increase the capacity of local composting organizations that will make it more accessible for residents. NOLA.gov
• [New] Many cities and areas worldwide are developing strategies for managing the risks of climate change and sea-level rise. ScienceDaily
• [New] Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa region offer opportunities for manned eVTOL crafts to provide transportation solutions in rapidly growing urban centers like Dubai, Riyadh, and Nairobi. MarkWide Research
• [New] The world and industry that Calgary is positioned to be a leader in managing climate change and is a city where industry can invest, confidently set up shop and transition to net-zero by 2050. https://www.calgary.ca
• [New] Within the next five years, autonomous drones will handle 30% of urban deliveries, reducing delivery times and costs dramatically. Times of India
• [New] Cities such as Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, and Phoenix are expected to be both warmer and cloudier in response to climate change, which will significantly decrease the electrical output of rooftop solar. Futurity
• [New] In 2021, the City of Seattle released the ambitious Transportation Electrification Blueprint to significantly reduce emissions by 2030 and move Seattle's transportation sector toward a clean, equitable future. SDOT Blog
• [New] By leveraging partnerships and embracing innovative solutions, stakeholders can work together to bridge the digital divide and unlock the full potential of Africa's urban centers for economic and social development. Telecom Review Africa
• [New] Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine, and its wartime experiences epitomize the risk of the use of explosive weapons to urban cultural heritage. Human Rights Watch
• [New] Demographic evolution: China, India, the Middle East, and Africa are and will continue to be centers of population growth and urbanization. Passle
• [New] Hong Kong is poised to create unstoppable momentum towards an autonomous future and unlock its tremendous potential as a leading smart city in the world. Astri - Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Resear
• [New] Russia's persistent strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure have raised concerns about the potential for widespread environmental disasters and the repercussions for global food security. Trendy Digests
• [New] Hyderabad will be the fourth fastest growing city in the world by GDP growth rate between 2019-35. BizzBuzz
• [New] The top 10 fastest growing cities in the world by GDP growth rate in between 2019-35 will be in India. BizzBuzz
• [New] Czech intelligence services have warned of a rise in cyberattacks in the energy and transport sectors, a trend confirmed by electronic warfare actions orchestrated from the Russian city of Kaliningrad. Army Recognition
• [New] Birmingham City Council has seen expected costs on its SAP-to-Oracle migration mushroom from £20 million to £130 million, while Surrey County Council saw its migration from SAP to Unit4 delayed, accrue additional costs, and ultimately cause disruption to pay. The Register
• [New] Cities worldwide have two strategies available to decarbonize their transport sectors, but neither alone will be sufficient to address the impacts of climate change. Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
• [New] Satellites have allowed scientists to meticulously measure the rate of sinking across Mexico City, mapping where subsidence has the potential to damage railways. Wired

Last updated: 27 April 2024