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] Renewable energy can be a driver for economic growth and New York City agencies and City Hall have a historic opportunity to create a more permanent, predictable jobs engine. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] While many proposed data centers and other large-load facilities are expected to be located outside New York City, their growth has implications for the entire state electric system. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] Annual electricity demand in Zone J / New York City could approach 65,000 gigawatt-hours by 2050, a 25-30% increase from the approximately 50,000 gigawatt-hours today. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] Coordinated reforms, including clearer standards and streamlined reviews at FDNY, support for staffing levels to review applications, and greater accountability, could accelerate deployment while making New York City more competitive for clean energy investment. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] Smart technologies such as police AI could help cities reduce crime by 30-40% and reduce response times for emergency services by 20-35%. Rev
• [New] DHL has committed to zero-emission last-mile logistics in 225 cities by 2030 and already operates one of the largest electric vehicle fleets in European logistics. Zineps
• [New] Saudi Arabia has been moving forward with Vision 2030 with large-scale smart cities initiatives like NEOM to foster AI, IoT, smart mobility, and digital infrastructure. Precedence Research
• [New] Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam are leading the charge with green transportation initiatives powered by AI, showcasing the potential for technology to drive environmental change. The Journll Blog
• [New] Coordination between utilities and distributed options will be essential for New York City to meet its clean energy and climate goals, particularly as it looks to reduce emissions from buildings. Yahoo! Finance
• [New] The City of Boston migrated more than 30 million records without service disruption, enabling permit applications, appeals, and hearings to be processed approximately three times faster than under its previous system. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Climate resilience must be built into how New York City plans for its future. The official website of the City of New York
• [New] As one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities, Phoenix's investment in scalable digital infrastructure positions it as one of the smartest cities in the U.S. to watch as we head toward smart cities 2030. Digi International
• [New] US$ 106 trillion is required in global infrastructure investment through 2040, and the decisions taken today will determine the future of tomorrow's cities. Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit 2025
• [New] Rapid urbanization and sustained government subsidies solidify the Asia Pacific's dominant position through 2032. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Eastern Border Cities: Urban areas in Eastern New Mexico, most notably Clovis and Portales, are facing severe long-term threats to their survival as their primary water reserves dry up. Coyote Gulch
• [New] Looking ahead, Europe is expected to maintain its dominant position as MaaS adoption continues to expand across major cities and secondary urban centers. Advantia Business Consulting LLP
• [New] As city authorities and service providers focus on improving mobility efficiency and user experience, urban mobility will remain the dominant end-use segment within the global MaaS ecosystem. Advantia Business Consulting LLP
• [New] The U.S. Census Bureau reports e-commerce has surpassed 16% of total retail sales, driving warehouse absorption, while the United Nations projects nearly 68% of the global population will live in cities by 2050, deepening office and retail demand. Persistence Market Research
• [New] More than 35 major European cities, including Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Milan, are expected to enforce stricter zero-emission or restricted-access delivery zones by 2026 under broader EU decarbonization initiatives. Persistence Market Research
• [New] USC researchers have developed a new, free AI tool that could help cities better understand one of their best defences against rising temperatures: trees. TechNet
• [New] South Korea issues its first extreme heat warning under a new system, covering the North Gyeongsang cities of Gyeongsan and Pohang after temperatures meet severe criteria. News as Facts

Last updated: 01 August 2026