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] The Korea Meteorological Administration issued its first severe heatwave warning for Seoul, saying some districts in the city of nine million people could expect more roasting temperatures to come. BSS
• [New] Seoul, Daejeon and other western cities were forecast to reach 37 degrees, while Gwangju was expected to top out at 39 degrees. Aju Press
• [New] Dubai will be more than a city; it will be a global epicenter of construction innovation, shaping the future of urban living. Khaleej Times
• [New] Nearly 40% of outages were associated with severe weather events, with parts of New York City, including eastern Queens, upper Manhattan, and the Bronx, experiencing some of the highest burdens of weather-related disruptions. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] The Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland will continue their Columbia River cyanotoxin monitoring activities during the 2026 algal bloom season. Washington State Department of Health
• [New] Water heading downstream from hard-hit areas of Texas is expected to continue arriving in area reservoirs, potentially easing water-use restrictions for city residents and giving Corpus Christi added time and breathing room to strengthen its water system. Insurance Journal
• [New] Smart Cities World Autonomous vehicles are expected to significantly decrease traffic accidents and fatalities. The Journll Blog
• [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

Last updated: 08 August 2026