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] Rapid global urbanization, with 68% of the world's population projected to live in urban areas by 2050 (UN DESA), combined with 5G IoT deployment, AI-driven urban analytics, and government-mandated digital infrastructure investment programs are primary growth factors. Persistence Market Research
• [New] 68% of the global population will reside in urban areas by 2050, adding 2.5 billion more city dwellers, creating unprecedented demand for intelligent urban infrastructure managing traffic, energy, water, and public safety at scale across rapidly expanding municipal boundaries. Persistence Market Research
• [New] India's Department of Telecommunications launched 100 5G Use Case Labs at educational institutions under the national 5G Innovation Initiative, while South Korea's Ministry of Science allocated KRW 390 Bn to smart city 5G integration through 2027. Persistence Market Research
• [New] India, China, and Nigeria collectively account for 35% of projected global urban population growth between 2018 and 2050, positioning them as the world's most concentrated smart city technology procurement opportunities within a defined macro-regional investment horizon. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Asia Pacific is likely to be the fastest-growing region, with a projected CAGR of 27.18%, driven by rapid urbanization, expanding digital infrastructure, and large-scale deployment of connected technologies. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Over the next few weeks, Waymo will cover over 1,400 square miles across 11 cities-continuing to set the global benchmark for autonomous mobility at scale. Waymo
• [New] Waymo driverless taxis could be operating in Philadelphia by the end of the year, but city leaders and rideshare drivers are voicing concerns about safety and job security. FOX 29 Philadelphia
• [New] Tesla's robotaxi expansion targets 12 states by year-end, but fewer than 50 driverless vehicles will operate in 2026, far below Waymo's 10-city, 1M + weekly rides scale. Ainvest
• [New] Cities will have to close many schools, as Italy, Japan, and numerous U.S. cities are already doing. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to draw millions of foreign and domestic visitors, and individuals visiting or residing near host cities may be vulnerable to sex or labour trafficking by perpetrators seeking to exploit the surge in economic activity. / USA FinCEN.gov
• [New] Areas of New York City could be flooded by several feet of water during strong storms with projected rates in sea level rise. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
• [New] Barcelona is among the European cities expected to see the greatest number of heat-related deaths by the end of the century. Reasons to be Cheerful
• [New] Strengthening connections between northern cities - Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and beyond - could increase effective economic mass, deepen labour markets and unlock agglomeration effects. Frontier Economics
• [New] Offshore wind resources are abundant: Offshore wind could deliver large amounts of energy to fulfill the electrical needs of cities along U.S. coastlines. Energy.gov
• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth through 2033, driven by urbanization, dietary shifts, and expanding e-commerce access. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest growth during 2026-2033, fueled by smart city programs, mobile payment proliferation, and surging automated retail demand across China, India, and Southeast Asia. Persistence Market Research
• [New] KSA: Demand in Saudi Arabia is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.2% through 2036, supported by Vision 2030 initiatives, rapid expansion of smart cities, large-scale renewable energy investments, and increasing adoption of digital sustainability and carbon management solutions. FactMr
• [New] Demand in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.4% through 2036, driven by rapid expansion of IT and digital services, increasing corporate ESG compliance adoption, and growing implementation of smart city and industrial efficiency programs. FactMr
• [New] As urban population density and traffic congestion in UK major cities continue to intensify, the demand for congestion-bypassing urban air mobility solutions will grow proportionally with the severity of the surface transportation problem eVTOL addresses. Mobility Foresights
• [New] Government urban air mobility development programs, designated UAM corridor investments, and smart city infrastructure initiatives in UK are providing institutional investment that de-risks private sector eVTOL ecosystem development. Mobility Foresights
• [New] More than 1.6 billion people in nearly 1,000 cities could regularly face perilous conditions within three decades. Reasons to be Cheerful

Last updated: 23 May 2026