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Since 2022, Manchester’s In Our Nature programme has been weaving climate action into everyday life. Jane Houldsworth, Deputy Director, and Ellie Sherlock, Communications Lead at Manchester Climate Ready, explain how the programme is delivering climate action that is fashionable, affordable and even delicious. Hitting zero carbon by 2038 Manchester has a science-based target of zero carbon by 2038, but hitting that target means bringing everyone along. “Climate change is a massive issue and it’s never going to be tackled by any one organisation alone,” says Jane. “It’s got to be done as a partnership, as a collective.” For In Our Nature, that means ensuring the transition is just and equitable, and that no community or individual is left behind. In Our Nature is closely aligned to and informed by the city’s climate ambitions and in 2025, In Our Nature also supported residents to take part in a Citizen’s Panel to inform Manchester’s climate strategy for the next five years. Climate change is a massive issue and it's never going to be tackled by any one organisation alone. It's got to be done as a partnership, as a collective. Over the last three years, 87 projects have engaged over 4,800 people across 121 community groups. Together, they have saved 67 tonnes of carbon. Working through trusted partners and local organisations, faith groups, schools, community groups, and sports clubs, In Our Nature has been rolled out across the city, creating a movement that is inclusive and reflects Manchester’s diverse population. “It’s not just about the climate” Manchester is the second most deprived local authority in England and Wales, with a rapidly growing population spanning multiple faiths, languages and cultures. For Mancunians, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. “When we say we’re speaking to the people of Manchester, we’re speaking to lots of very
As millions of pilgrims prepare to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, Madinah is becoming the site of one of the region’s most ambitious digital infrastructure experiments. Beneath the city sits a live urban twin designed to model crowd movement, predict congestion and coordinate dozens of agencies in real time. Most Gulf cities now market themselves as “smart”, from Dubai’s real-time operations dashboards to Riyadh’s AI-driven urban developments. But Madinah is attempting something more difficult: retrofitting a digital operating system onto one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world – while preserving its religious and historical identity. By 2030, Madinah is expected to receive 30 million annual visitors. Many arrive during compressed religious periods where crowd pressure, heat and transport bottlenecks can escalate rapidly. At the World Economic Forum’s Davos 2026, Abdulrahman Ibrahim, chief data and innovation officer at the Madinah Region Development Authority (MDA), argued that most smart-city initiatives collapse under “digital chaos”: fragmented systems layered across agencies that do not cooperate. Madinah’s solution, he said, is a “system of systems” designed to treat the city as a single connected organism. At the centre of Madinah’s digital infrastructure sits the Manarah Urban Data Platform. The city has modelled 55 square kilometres, integrated 475 geospatial data layers and scanned more than 300,000 building facades. Saudi authorities also signed a $100 million deal with South Korean company Naver Corp to create high-precision 3D models across Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. On the planning side, Madinah has already used digital modelling to redesign and stress-test the 3km corridor linking the Prophet’s Mosque and Qeba Mosque before construction work began. During the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities used the platform to cross-reference business and building registries and enforce district-level quarantine boundaries. Richard Vestner, vice president of market development at Bentley Systems – the infrastructure
How cities are scaling AI into operations 22 May 2026 by Jonathan Andrews We spoke to three members of the City Innovation Network—Boston in North America and Prague and Sunderland in Europe—about how they are deploying AI to implement city-wide impact The deployment of artificial intelligence is forcing a fundamental rethink of how public services are designed, delivered and improved, particularly as pressure grows to demonstrate tangible outcomes rather than isolated innovation. Across Europe and North America, local governments have spent several years testing AI through pilots, ranging from chatbots and optimisation tools to predictive analytics and automation. While such projects have demonstrated value in controlled environments, most cities are a long way from bringing AI into day-to-day operations. The opportunity to implement data-driven decision-making, optimised workflows and outcomes at scale is yet to be realised. Silicon Highway, an AI delivery partner working with cities to take projects from proof of concept to full deployment, says that just 7 percent of pilots reach enterprise scale, with many failing to move beyond early validation stages. That gap is not driven by a lack of technical capability, but by the difficulty of embedding those capabilities into the operational and organisational structures that define how cities function. “Cities often stall at the point where insight needs to become action,” says Nadeem Ullah, Programme Management Director, Silicon Highway. “The technology works, but the operational model hasn’t changed. Moving from pilots to scale means redesigning workflows, not just automating them. You can prove a concept technically, but unless you change how a service operates, you don’t create real value.” That distinction is becoming central to how cities approach AI. It is no longer enough to demonstrate that a tool can produce better analysis. The real test is whether it can change how decisions are made,
Overview - Outlines the approaches and challenges of smart city concept in promoting sustainable and urban development - Aims to deepen the understanding of smart city initiatives and improve their implementation - Drawing on detailed case studies and analyzing concrete results as well as obstacles Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology (GREEN) Access this book Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout Other ways to access About this book This book delves into the concept of smart cities, namely how modern technologies and excellent governance may transform urban landscapes into more sustainable, efficient, and habitable spaces. Faced with the challenges of increasing urbanization and rising environmental concerns, urban planning must handle issues such as population increase, heightened urban problems, and extensive use of mobile communication technology. These issues underscore the need of smart cities as innovative solutions to contemporary urban challenges. The goal is to offer a thorough introduction to many areas of smart city development, such as smart governance, ethical issues, smart education systems, sustainable energy solutions, and the incorporation of digital technologies into municipal administration. Drawing on detailed case studies and analyzing concrete results as well as obstacles encountered in various smart city projects, this book aims to offer valuable insights and strategies. Intended for decision-makers, researchers, and professionals in the field, this book aims to deepen the understanding of smart city initiatives and improve their implementation, with a view to supporting sustainable urban growth in the face of current demographic, social, and technological challenges. Similar content being viewed by others Table of contents (43 chapters) Editors and Affiliations About the editors Hicham Kaddouri works at the National School of Applied Sciences in Al-Hoceima, Morocco. He is dedicated to research in the field of energy efficiency, with a particular focus on bio-based materials in the
Nature-based solutions key to cities: UN official By EDITH MUTETHYA in Nairobi | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2026-05-22 09:27 Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, or UN-Habitat, says cities must place housing, resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions at the center of urban planning to withstand growing climate threats such as floods, heat waves and droughts. In an interview with China Daily on the sidelines of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, or WUF13, being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Rossbach said rapid and often unplanned urbanization is concentrating people and infrastructure in highly climate-vulnerable areas, exposing millions of residents, especially low-income communities, to escalating climate risks. She said more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements, often located in flood-prone or environmentally fragile areas globally, while nearly 3 billion people face some form of housing inadequacy. "Without stronger climate action, inequality and housing insecurity will only deepen," Rossbach said. She stressed that urban planning must become more "housing-first and resilience-driven", aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. "This means investing in affordable, climate-smart housing with resilient building standards, passive cooling, water-resistant materials and secure tenure, while upgrading informal settlements," Rossbach said. She said cities should address climate risks in informal settlements through community-centered upgrading rather than forced displacement. Rossbach said that participatory risk mapping can help identify areas where relocation may be unavoidable, emphasizing that any resettlement must follow due process to protect livelihoods. "When cities align housing, land management, infrastructure and social protection policies, they can reduce climate risks while keeping communities connected to jobs, schools and services," Rossbach said. Looking ahead, Rossbach said a truly climate-smart city will balance lower emissions, stronger climate resilience and improved access to services, while ensuring better housing conditions for all residents. The forum running through
Ford Energy Secures 20 GWh of Energy Storage with EDF Power Ford has established Ford Energy as a wholly owned subsidiary to manufacture battery energy storage systems. The company could become a supplier for utility-scale projects and residential energy storage markets by repurposing EV battery manufacturing infrastructure in Kentucky. The automaker plans to deploy at least 20 GWh of battery energy storage systems each year. First customer deliveries are planned for 2027. "Ford Energy allows us to maximise the value of our battery manufacturing capabilities," says Lisa Drake, President of Ford Energy. "We're building a business focused first on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large customers while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage solutions." Repurposing existing manufacturing facilities Ford Energy will operate from a site in Glendale, Kentucky. The facility was previously part of BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and SK On that manufactured EV batteries. The Glendale site contains two of three plants that were intended for the joint venture. In December 2025, Ford announced a US$19.5bn strategic reset that cancelled plans for next-gen large electric trucks and pure-EV commercial vans. The company dissolved the joint venture with SK On. All workers at the Kentucky plant were laid off in February 2026. The facility now houses Ford Energy and will manufacture battery energy storage systems instead of EV batteries. Framework agreement with EDF EDF Power Solutions North America has signed a five-year framework agreement with Ford Energy. The agreement gives EDF the ability to procure up to 4 GWh of battery energy storage systems each year. Total potential volume under the agreement could reach 20 GWh over the full term. Deliveries under this agreement are expected to begin in 2028. "As we continue to expand our energy storage portfolio, supply chain reliability and product
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The Vietnam Economic Association (VEA), Vietnam Economic Times /VnEconomy, and the Tech for Good Institute (TFGI), in collaboration with the Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies (IPSS), on May 21 co-organized a seminar on the role of artificial intelligence, mobility models, and societal expectations in reshaping the future of the transportation sector in Vietnam. In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Economic Association, noted that transportation is not just technical infrastructure for commuting, but more importantly, it is about the operational methods to facilitate vital circulation and minimize the limitations to achieve the same level of investment while maximizing the effectiveness of human mobility. Along with high economic growth, during its urbanization process, Vietnam is facing significant pressures on transportation, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Prolonged traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and traffic accidents are prevalent. Overloaded infrastructure and a lack of connectivity among various transport modes not only lead to significant waste of time, fuel, and logistics costs but also directly impact the health, productivity, and quality of life of the community. "In this context, the demand for a development mindset in transportation and the construction of a modern, intelligent mobility ecosystem is becoming more crucial than ever. The strong development of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, multi-functional batteries, the Internet and safety, IP, sensor technology, and digital phones is creating tremendous opportunities to develop an intelligent transportation system that serves human development. The application of AI and the development of smart transportation can help us optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion and accidents, enhance operational management efficiency of infrastructure, reduce emissions, and move towards green transportation. At the same time, it can improve logistics efficiency and the competitiveness of the economy, gradually forming smart cities and a
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McKinsey: Changing Capital for the Rise in Cleantech Clean technology finance is entering a phase where large-scale deployment and commercial discipline matter more than growth alone. According to McKinsey, the firm analysed more than 11,000 cleantech companies globally and found that investors now reward sustainable business models over expansion at any cost. Annual cleantech funding stabilised at US$70bn between 2023 and 2025, nearly four times the pre-2020 average. The key change goes beyond the amount of capital being raised to the way it is structured. Debt replaces venture capital Cleantech finance is moving from speculative venture capital to institutional debt. According to McKinsey, debt now makes up about 25% of post-boom funding, up from 10% in previous periods. This increase could show that lenders have greater confidence in the maturity of technology. Of the US$80bn in debt deployed since 2015, two-thirds was raised in the past three years. As technology models mature, financing is moving to support companies ready for large-scale deployment. Regional differences are emerging in how this capital is structured. In Europe, start-ups rely heavily on public funding, which accounts for 30% of venture capital, compared with 4% in the US. This reliance leaves European firms more vulnerable to changes in public policy and security priorities, which have reduced funding for sustainability, according to McKinsey. Europe faces scaling challenge "Our research suggests that Europe's challenge is now less about innovation and more about scaling," says Anna Granskog, Partner at McKinsey. "To compete globally, European scale-ups will likely need to combine public funding with greater access to private growth capital and strategic partnerships." "While capital deployment today is still skewed toward the US, the funds being raised are increasingly concentrated in Europe, which suggests there is investor appetite and the potential for greater clean-tech investment and deployment in the
Smart cities and surveillance: why democracies must not lose control The dominance of private companies in urban technology makes surveillance possible even in democratic systems like Switzerland, warns digital surveillance expert Jasmin Dall’Agnola. That is why citizens and governments must remain vigilant. Imagine you are living in a city where every part of your life is monitored: cameras on every street corner, your online activities tracked, and even your financial transactions scrutinised through a social credit system. What is the first place that comes to mind? For many, the answer comes almost instinctively: China, Russia, North Korea. During my fieldwork in the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in 2022External link, I experienced this kind of surveillance firsthand. I was followed in public spaces, monitored online, and at one point had to reboot my iPhone 13 due to suspected spyware. But today, surveillanceExternal link is no longer confined to authoritarian regimes; it operates through platforms, apps, cloud systems, sensors and CCTV infrastructures that together make up what we call “smart cities”. The dynamics I experienced in Central Asia are not absent in democratic societies, they simply take different forms, and are often enabled by – or through – private corporations. More Swiss smart cities promise efficiency – at the price of your data Switzerland, often seen as a stronghold of democratic values and privacy protections, is not immune to encroaching surveillance. While the country’s legal framework appears robust on paperExternal link, gaps remain. Data protection lawsExternal link are comparatively business-friendlyExternal link, enforcement powers are limitedExternal link, and many emerging technologies, such as AI systemsExternal link, are still only loosely regulated. Jasmin Dall’Agnola is a lecturer at the Department of Political Science (IPZ) at the University of Zurich. Her research focuses on how states and technology companies use
Swiss smart cities promise efficiency – at the price of your data Swiss cities aim to become “smarter”, more efficient and citizen-friendly. But they increasingly rely on personal data, loosely regulated AI technologies and private companies. Who really controls urban systems, and what safeguards exist for citizens? Instant parking, public services at the click of a button, real-time traffic optimisation: Swiss cities are investing heavily in digital technologies to become more efficient and liveable. Zurich is widely seen as a model of urban innovation and one of the world’s most advanced smart citiesExternal link. “We want to be a sustainable city, a social city, and a less congested city,” says David Weber, head of Smart City Zurich. But smart technologies rely on the collection and analysis of large volumes of data, including personal information, often managed in ways that are not transparent to citizens. Many of these systems also depend on solutions developed by private providers, including major international tech companies, especially for cloud infrastructure. “Dependence on big tech companies is a reality in Zurich, as elsewhere. It’s something we are aware of and actively trying to reduce,” Weber says. Less vigilance in high-trust societies As digitalisation accelerates, it is becoming increasingly difficult for citizens to understand how much data is being collected about them and by whom. In democracies such as Switzerland, where trust in institutions is high, people tend to be less vigilant about data collection, according to Jasmin Dall’Agnola, a lecturer at the University of Zurich specialising in smart cities, surveillance and authoritarianism. “In Switzerland, we still have this naivety of thinking that in a democratic society our data will not be used against us,” she says. Dall’Agnola points out that data held by US tech companies can be accessed by US authorities under the US CLOUD
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For a long time, cities have competed the way builders do: by focusing on more roads, more homes, bigger airports, and cleaner utilities. They’ve measured success in technical scores and visible assets. Today, the real contest is about how cities turn those assets into everyday gains that residents can feel, whether that’s time returned to their day, friction removed from life, or a richer set of experiences that make living there worth it. Furthermore, successful and competitive cities are fast-changing ones—because people and capital are attracted to their future potential as well as current achievements. These are some of the critical findings from BCG’s research conducted in 2025, and they have significant long-term implications for city governments around the world as they work to build resident advocacy, attract digital nomads, and advance their fortunes. We believe the city fundamentals underpinning this research are stable and strong and can even help cities sustain themselves through crises or conflicts such as the one now occurring in the Middle East. A New Competitive Era In an era of city rivalries, cities win when they raise real take-home life value without making the city unaffordable. For example, better mobility doesn’t mean just faster traffic flows. It’s surplus time: minutes and hours saved through smart transport, better demand management, and simple digital services that let people handle life in a few taps instead of wasting a morning. Better comfort doesn’t mean just nicer buildings and bigger parks. It’s the variety and depth of life—culture, learning, community, nature, and opportunity—that’s available. And prosperity isn’t only about salaries; it’s about investable surplus—what people have left after paying housing and daily costs, as well as taxes. But even having a strong take-home life value isn’t enough if a city stands still. Expectations move fast, and residents compare cities
Here’s What’s Changed in the Revised ROAD to Housing Bill Smart Cities Dive, May 20, 2026-Julie Strupp Last week, the U.S House of Representatives released an amended version of the Senate’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that notably removes a provision the housing industry said would effectively eliminate the production of build-to-rent single-family housing. That’s not the only important change between the two versions of the major bipartisan housing legislation, however. Click here for more
Minor Hotels has opened the Porta Rossa Hotel Firenze in Italy as the first property under its new Colbert Collection brand. The hotel began welcoming guests following a renovation aimed at establishing it as the flagship of the Colbert Collection. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Located on Via Porta Rossa in Florence’s historic city centre, the hotel occupies a building first recorded in 1386. Porta Rossa Hotel Firenze, Colbert Collection comprises 69 guest rooms and suites designed to reflect the private quarters commonly found in Renaissance palazzos. Among the hotel’s accommodation options are six suites notable for features such as 18th-century frescoes. The property’s Torre Monalda Signature Suite is set within a 13th-century medieval tower. Public areas of the hotel include spaces intended for both informal gatherings and scheduled events, with two meeting rooms available for business use, each accommodating up to 40 attendees. A bistro bar operates on the premises, and a new restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Paulo Airaudo is scheduled to open in June. The hotel is situated within walking distance of major Florentine landmarks such as the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo complex. Minor Hotels Europe & Americas CEO Gonzalo Aguilar said: “Colbert Collection represents a new chapter for Minor Hotels. The brand celebrates individuality and invites guests to discover hotels that are deeply rooted in their own world while bonded by a common sensibility. “Porta Rossa Hotel Firenze perfectly expresses this philosophy, being a hotel with a soul – rich in story, generous in spirit, and deeply connected to its city. We are honoured to usher it into a new chapter while preserving everything that makes it extraordinary.” After the Florence opening, Minor Hotels plans to expand the
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These are the safest midsize cities in the US, according to a new study: See the list A new national analysis of midsize cities found that safety is shaped by more than crime rates alone, determining where Americans may feel most secure. Financial technology company Smart Asset reviewed more than 300 U.S. cities with populations between 65,000 and 250,000 to identify the safest midsize cities in the United States. The study combined four factors into a composite ranking: violent crime, property crime, traffic fatality rates and natural disaster risk. Broomfield, Colorado is safest midsize city By the numbers: According to the report, Broomfield, Colorado, ranked as the safest midsize city in America. The Denver-area community recorded relatively low crime rates, with violent crime at 1.5 incidents per 1,000 residents and property crime at 19 per 1,000 residents. The city also posted a modest traffic fatality rate of roughly five deaths per 100,000 residents. Aerial view of Broomfield, Colorado. (Credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) What also helped distinguish Broomfield from every other city in the study was its natural disaster profile. It was the only city evaluated to receive a "very low" disaster risk designation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index, which measures expected disaster losses. In contrast, Little Rock, Arkansas, placed last among the midsize cities analyzed. Researchers cited high violent and property crime rates, elevated disaster risk and above-average traffic fatalities as key reasons for the city’s low ranking. Inland cities dominate list Dig deeper: The findings also revealed a geographic trend: inland communities dominated the top of the list. Fourteen of the 20 safest midsize cities were located in noncoastal states, suggesting that reduced exposure to hurricanes, flooding and other natural hazards contributed to stronger overall safety scores. The report underscored that low crime rates
How Ecolab Tackles AI Data Centre Energy & Water Demands Ecolab has published its 2025 Growth & Impact Report, outlining a strategy that links business performance to environmental outcomes. The company provides water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions across more than 170 countries, combining science with digital intelligence. A team of 48,000 associates works to protect resources while supporting customer operations. The approach could show a pathway to separate economic growth from resource intensity, according to the report. AI infrastructure and water management Artificial intelligence is creating new demands on energy and cooling water systems. According to Ecolab, data centres powering AI advancements could consume more than one trillion gallons of global freshwater each year by 2027. This projection could mean new constraints for operators in water-scarce regions. Ecolab has implemented a site-to-chip approach using 3D TRASAR technology. The system provides continuous monitoring and optimisation of water quality. Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling, combined with AI-enhanced insights, helps organisations protect servers and improve reliability where water is limited. The company aims to improve water use efficiency by 40% across its enterprise. The technology turns data into operational intelligence for digital infrastructure. "Water is the foundation of life and business," says Christophe Beck, Chairman, President and CEO at Ecolab. "We cannot create more water, but we can reimagine how we use it. Companies that act decisively, apply proven solutions and work in partnership will lead the next era of growth." Energy efficiency and decarbonisation Ecolab supports customer decarbonisation through energy-saving technologies such as low-temperature laundry and cleaning programmes. In 2025, the company helped customers avoid 4.7 million tonnes of GHG emissions using verified eROI methodologies, according to the report. Within its own operations, Ecolab has cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 44% from a 2018 base year. The company now powers