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] Uber will be able to offer short-haul flights between airports and city centers, as well as helping to ease congestion. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] Connectivity development (broadband networks) in Latin America and increasing smart-city rollout projects in the Middle East will further compound demand for high-performance fibers. Custom Market Insights
• [New] Roughly 125,000 V2 G-ready cars would be able to power the city of Munich for an hour, showing the huge potential of unlocking the power in batteries on wheels to help make energy cleaner and more flexible. Octopus Energy
• [New] Rapid advances in technological innovation, an ageing global population, increasing urbanization, shifts in global economic powers, and resource scarcity due to climate change are all predicted megatrends that will shape the workforce of the future. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The U.S. will need roughly 118 gigawatts (the equivalent of 12 New York Cities) of new power generation in the next four years to prevent price spikes and potential shortages. PRG
• [New] Many of the world's cities are urbanizing in a largely unplanned manner, which has high negative externalities including poor air quality, infrastructure that is not climate resilient, inadequate provisioning of basic services and a lack of social inclusion and opportunity. GGGI - Global Green Growth Institute
• [New] Urban last-mile delivery emissions could rise by over 30% in the top 100 cities by 2030 without intervention. All Things Supply Chain
• [New] The fastest-growing cities will be in Africa and Asia. The Population Project
• [New] Cities such as Lagos and Kinshasa are expected to grow by tens of millions in the coming decades. The Population Project
• [New] Flooding: Unchecked urbanization and poor drainage make two-thirds of residents vulnerable; economic damages may cross $30 B by 2070. INSIGHTS IAS - Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation
• [New] From a planning perspective, integrating green pockets into urban infrastructure reflects the shift toward smarter, more resilient cities, which is a core part of Vision 2030. Arab News
• [New] Median apartment rents are likely to grow by 24% between 2025 and 2030, across Australian capital cities, according to the latest report by International Property Consultancy, CBRE. Property Update
• [New] If all goes well, Pakistani telecom operators could start deploying 5G networks in early 2026, ushering in a new era of high-speed connectivity - from smart cities to telemedicine - in a country where 4G is currently the norm. TS2 Space
• [New] With global cities increasingly prioritizing accessibility, travelers with disabilities now have unprecedented opportunities to explore the world comfortably and confidently, supported by innovative travel solutions from companies like Baboo Travel. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Gaza City, once a busy commercial and cultural hub, is now the target of a new Israeli offensive which threatens to displace its million or more estimated inhabitants. The Guardian
• [New] Amazon plans on expanding its Prime Air delivery services into three other Texas cities, Richardson, San Antonio and Waco, and across the country with sites planned for Detroit and Kansas City. DRONELIFE
• Just as smart cities promised efficiency in the 2010s, omni cities will deliver the resilience needed to face the looming threats of the next decade. Govtech
• In the future, if capacity becomes abundant (thanks to thousands of V2's), Starlink might actively target cities with a different approach - perhaps very small, window-mounted terminals or even a device that works from a balcony. Bez Kabli
• As urbanization, connected vehicles, and sustainability demands rise, intelligent transport systems will remain pivotal in transforming global transportation networks. Web3Wire
• Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a projected CAGR of 9%, fueled by rapid urbanization and government-led smart city projects in China and India. Web3Wire
• Coastal cities like Miami, New Orleans, and even New York could find themselves grappling with storm surges and flooding events that overwhelm existing infrastructure. GreenPacks
• With Australia's economic recovery underway as of mid-2025, coupled with historically low interest rates and delayed listings, some capital cities (like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne) may transition into seller's markets by peak spring selling season in 2025 or mid-2026. Aus Property Professionals

Last updated: 13 September 2025