Others Specials Asia's Future Cities Are Being Measured Differently. Here's Why That Matters. As Asia's cities continue to expand, the challenge is no longer simply accommodating more people. Increasingly, governments, investors and urban planners are asking a different question. How can cities remain resilient, livable and economically competitive in the face of climate change, aging infrastructure and rising expectations for quality of life? "I was born and raised in HCMC," Vietnamese content creator FABO Nguyen shared. "I have a lot of memories. My favorite thing was riding a motorcycle around the city, seeing how it was changing and getting inspired. But today, there are times during the day when you simply shouldn't go outside." He reflects on the city's rapid transformation with both admiration and concern. "The city has never stood still. Look around, construction cranes are reshaping the skyline. In the next 10 to 20 years, it's going to become even more crowded and busier." According to the United Nations, nearly 70% of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050, adding billions of new residents to cities already under pressure. At the same time, the IMD Smart City Index has shown that residents increasingly judge cities by their ability to improve everyday life through effective public services, mobility, environmental quality and transparent governance rather than technology alone. These shifts are also reshaping real estate. Investors are increasingly looking beyond location and scale to evaluate whether developments can demonstrate measurable environmental performance, operational resilience and long-term social value. International standards such as ISO 37122, which establishes indicators for smart cities, have therefore become an increasingly important benchmark for cities seeking to translate sustainability ambitions into measurable outcomes. Across Asia, younger generations increasingly expect cities to offer not only economic opportunity but also healthier environments and