Introducing Urban Futures—our new initiative
Economist Impact
We combine think-tank rigour, media brand creativity and global influence to catalyse growth and change in the world.
Transforming cities for people and planet
Inform your discussions and decisions this week. Today, 56% of the world’s population lives in cities, a proportion that is expected to rise to two-thirds by 2050.
Cities already generate more than 80% of global GDP. Yet, many are not prepared for the far-reaching effects of climate change, including on their economic performance. By rethinking the way cities are planned and built, policymakers and planners can create urban hubs that are resilient, equitable and sustainable. Achieving this, however, requires careful planning and cooperation. To start with, we urgently need reliable data to measure progress on critical aspects of sustainable urban development, yet such data remains scarce.
These challenges also give rise to opportunities. This week, at the UN’s 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, we launched our latest Initiative, Urban Futures, which collects data, insights and analysis to explore ways of creating urban areas that benefit people and the planet.
On the hub you can find our latest research, including our Urban Performance Index (UPI). Supported by UN-Habitat, this framework measures cities’ progress on sustainable urban development across 30 indicators covering health, the economy, the environment, culture and governance. The index helps leaders identify best practices and develop pathways for change.
You can also explore perspectives from those living in urban areas. Supported by Zurich Insurance Group, Economist Impact’s “Resilience from the ground up: assessing city-level approaches to climate risk and adaptation”, is a new research programme that draws on insights from 5,000 residents across ten cities. Alongside interviews with industry experts, this research outlines how urban populations view climate change and what they think cities can do successfully to build resilience.
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Visit Urban Futures to learn more about our ambition to aid the creation of sustainable and equitable urban areas across the globe.
Best wishes,
Global head of policy & insights, Economist Impact