Urbanization

Urbanization continues to grow throughout the world, and projections indicate that growing majority of earth’s population will live in cities. Most of the growth is expected to take place in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Urbanization can offer higher quality of life for residents, and become hubs for culture, sustainability, innovation, and economic growth. However, improperly managed urbanization can exacerbate infrastructure issues, inequality, and poverty. In order to mitigate these challenges, the reports emphasize the importance of long-term urban planning, and governance models that empower city governments. This may lead to cities having more power on the global and regional stage, and increased cooperation between cities.

Future State 2030: The global megatrends shaping governments by KPMG International and the Mowat Centre examines global mega-trends likely to impact the public and private sectors through 2030, and delves into the megatrends' implications for governments. One of the 9 megatrends identified is urbanization.

Almost two-thirds of the world’s population will reside in cities by 2030. Urbanization is creating significant opportunities for social and economic development and more sustainable living, but is also exerting pressure on infrastructure and resources, particularly energy.

Thinking MENA Futures: The Next Five Years and Beyond by the Middle East Institute, is a series of essays looking at the next 5 years (2021-2026) for the Middle East and North Africa. One of the essays, A Viable Future for Cities in the Middle East by Mona Fawaz argues that a transformation in urban governance is needed in order for cities to act on climate change.

Exploring europe's capability requirements for 2035 and beyond by RAND for the European Defense Agency aims to address defense and military challenges in Europe over the long-term. One factor in the strategic enviornment for 2035 and beyond is urbanization. As urbanization grows throughout the world, it puts increasing pressure on infrastructure, which creates tension within urban populations. Poorly managed urbanization could lead to crime and unrest.

10 Emerging Technologies 2020 published by KISTEP in 2020 looks at technologies that could have a large social, economic, and environmental impact on South Korea in the new era triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Urbanization was identified as a major future issue through the project's literature review and interviews with experts.

Future of Highways by ARUP examines the future of mobility and transport infrastructure. ARUP identifies 'An Urban World' as a megatrend with global implications for the future of highways. Rapid urbanization in cities reliant on cars could cause greater congestion and gridlock, higher vehicle emissions, an urban sprawl.

African Futures 2035: Key Trends by Institute for Security Studies and pulished in the Journal of Futures Studies looks at major trends in Africa and how they will shape the future of the continent. Although the outlook is postive, it is not stable, even, or guaranteed. One key trend is urbanization, which can accelerate economic and social development, but is more likely to compound existing structural challenges like poverty, inequality, and violence.

The Future of Rail by OECD in collaboration with International Energy Agency argues that changes in transportation systems are necessary to achieve a global energy transition and mitigate climate change, and examines the role of rail in reducing the environmental impact of transport services through the use of scenarios looking through 2050. Urbanization and the growth of mega-cities are cited as key trends informing the future of rail.

Sustainable Health Systems - Visions, Strategies, Critical Uncertainties and Scenarios by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with McKinsey & Company interviewed over 200 leaders in healthcare to provide a systemic analysis of the healthcare industry and answer the question: what could health systems look like in 2040? As the experts described their ideal visions for the future of healthcare, three strategy options emerged to achieve those aspirations. One of strategies is Build healthy cities and countries of the future. As cities grow and new cities emerge, they need to be designed to give residents sufficient access to health care and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Future of Consumption in Fast-Growth Consumer Markets: India by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Bain & Company examines the future of India's consumer market, anchored in the growth of the upper-middle and high income classes. WEF identifies steady and dispersed urbanization as a driver of future consumption in India, with a narrowing urban-rural gap in income and consumer spending.

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