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 Asia Pacific region is expected to lead global growth in the snack sector for the next decade as rapid urbanization in China and India creates massive new consumer bases for convenience foods. Market Data Forecast
• [New] In 2026, Saudi Arabia will dedicate USD 100 billion to collaborative investment programs in AI, smart cities, and advanced digital infrastructure to facilitate autonomous systems integration initiatives. Precedence Research
• [New] Seattle's Building Emissions Performance Standard adds a city-level emissions requirement for existing buildings over 20,000 square feet, with targets beginning in 2031 and a net-zero emissions end point in 2050. Environment+Energy Leader
• [New] Asia-Pacific is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period, driven by rapid digitalization, a large technology-savvy population, expanding e-commerce ecosystems, and increasing investments in AI, IoT, and smart city initiatives. Market Data Forecast
• [New] By 2050, Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Jakarta (Indonesia) are projected to be the world's two largest cities, each with more than 50 million inhabitants following decades of rapid growth. United Nations Western Europe
• [New] Emerging economies across Asia-Pacific, particularly India, China, and Southeast Asian countries, are expected to witness substantial growth owing to rapid urbanization, increasing infrastructure investments, and supportive government initiatives. Spherical Insights
• [New] North America and Europe remain key revenue-generating regions due to strong cheese consumption and established snacking cultures, while Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth owing to urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and changing food preferences. Spherical Insights
• [New] Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and massive infrastructure development. Spherical Insights
• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period due to extensive smart city development initiatives, population expansion, and fast urbanization. Precedence Research
• [New] 68% of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, concentrating climate vulnerabilities in cities where heat islands, flooding, and infrastructure failures can affect millions. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region, forecast to expand at a 19.4% CAGR during 2026-2033, driven by large-scale urban resilience initiatives, smart city programs, high climate vulnerability, and multilateral development financing. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The global smart city market's growth, projected to accelerate through 2030, underscores the increasing reliance on GPS for urban planning, public transit, and connected infrastructure. Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence
• [New] Police officers from all 11 US host cities have undergone specialized counter-drone training covering drone identification, detection equipment, coordinated response procedures, and techniques for protecting spectators while minimizing disruptions. DroneDJ
• [New] Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific is expected to achieve a 9.5% CAGR to 2033, driven by intensifying monsoons, rapid urbanization in flood-prone zones, and government programs strengthening disaster resilience across China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Persistence Market Research
• [New] With urban populations projected to reach 6.7Bn by 2050, according to the United Nations, cities face increasing traffic congestion, necessitating advanced traffic management systems. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The International Transport Forum demonstrates that in a theoretical urban ecosystem where all private transport is replaced by shared autonomous mobility on demand, the total number of vehicles on city streets could drop significantly. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Over the next 25 years, one billion people will move into cities, roughly the equivalent of adding one New York City every two months. Tech Explorist
• [New] Projects like smart cities & Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation is expected to lead a surge in the demand for cement. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Asia Pacific offers large-scale growth opportunities due to rapid urbanization, transport modernization, and extensive public infrastructure programs. ReAnIn
• [New] Some data centers that are currently under construction will use more energy than large cities. CNet
• The rate of urbanization in South-East Asia will increase from 48% in 2015 to 65% by 2050 and there is mounting pressure on governments to find solutions to challenge and improve their efficiency in the distribution of public services. Shaping Tomorrow
• Asia Pacific is expected to witness 15.2% CAGR during the forecast period, due to rapid urbanization, population expansion, and infrastructure development. Polaris

Last updated: 11 July 2026