Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

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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 addition to the direct economic benefits, a self-governing city in the UK could create a liveable community and would unlock opportunities for more regulatory innovation on a local scale, allowing experimentation with policies in contentious areas such as planning. Institute of Economic Affairs
• [New] Plans for dedicated EV taxi lanes in Cape Town highlight the potential for EV adoption to transform urban transport, reduce emissions and modernise public transportation. Engineering News
• [New] Israeli forces will pull back into a buffer zone in Gaza and near the Israeli border that will allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in Gaza City and northern Gaza. New York Post
• [New] The city of Manchester and the surrounding areas are expected to witness some transformations in the form of new towers, homes, cultural landmarks and more. Secret Manchester
• [New] The Nusantara Capital City Authority is working to commercialise flying taxis or sky taxis by 2029 as part of the smart air mobility initiative in the future capital. YOG INFRA
• [New] Key project will connect people and places in Dublin with improved public transit services and support climate response and critical infrastructure in Ireland's largest city. Infrastructure Global
• [New] The widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles will not only alter travel patterns but could reshape urban planning and infrastructure development globally. elblog.pl
• [New] Levi's strategy for India includes an aggressive push into new markets, particularly Tier II and III cities, where untapped potential offers significant growth opportunities. Indian Retailer
• [New] For CDH events, despite alleviated droughts in most parts of China, CDH indicators are expected to increase at most grids, with durations doubling for China's most urban clusters. Nature
• [New] Congestion pricing is going to begin to reset the relationship of New Yorkers to automobiles in a way that is going to be very exciting and enhancing and even liberating for the vast majority of people in the city of New York. CNN
• [New] With Asia and North America leading innovations in autonomous vehicles and smart infrastructure, the next decade might witness unparalleled transformations in how cities manage their transportation networks. elblog.pl
• [New] The significance of IoT in smart cities is obvious from the projected growth forecast by Markets & Markets, showcasing a compound annual growth rate of 19%. Mapsted Blog
• [New] New York's City of Yes plan includes ADUs as part of its densification strategy; California has made it possible to build granny flats statewide; Chicago's ADU pilot program could be extended to the entire city in 2025. Dwell
• [New] By 2050 several cities can be sunk due to sea level rising, namely New York, Dhaka, Mumbai, Shanghai. Dailynews
• [New] BRICS membership offers opportunities for technological and industrial collaboration, particularly in renewable energy, rail development, and smart city innovations, as demonstrated by China and India. GhanaWeb
• [New] Singapore uses a digital twin of the entire city to predict the impact of infrastructure projects and optimize land use. Knowridge Science Report
• [New] Congestion pricing has finally arrived in New York City after decades of delays and challenges, including a failed, last-ditch effort by the State of New Jersey to end a program that will charge most drivers $9 to cross into the heart of Manhattan. Greater Auckland
• [New] City plans are afoot to increase stormwater capture to 150,000 acre-feet per year by 2035, in part by using urban parks as infiltration grounds. CALmatters
• [New] Zepto, the quick commerce platform, has expanded its retail operations in India with the rollout of Zepto Cafe in major cities, targeting a revenue run-rate of Rs1,000 crore by 2026. Indian Retailer
• [New] HCM City - Ho Chi Minh City has set a target of achieving at least one square metre of green space per capita and an additional ten hectares of public green areas by 2030. Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)
• [New] As Japan refines the convergence of technology with its unique geography, both established high-density urban centers and newer growth corridors will continue to receive specialized solutions. AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.
• [New] The research case is a UK city where food wastes could be used for food production and beverage production waste could be used to produce building materials. Springer Nature Switzerland
• [New] In the U.S., where sprawling cities and long commutes are common, the integration of flying cars into existing transportation networks could alleviate traffic congestion and improve accessibility. Autoraiders

Last updated: 18 January 2025