Increasing importance of cities

Strategic Foresight

Cities are estimated to generate 80% of all economic growth.
OECD studies showed that, for each doubling of population size, the productivity level of a city increases by 2-5% as a result of better labour distribution, education, entrepreneurship, spread of ideas, etc.
The organisations of mayors now represent an emergent global governance power and platforms for addressing the most important challenges – e.g. the C40 networks.
In the last two decades, cities ambition has risen remarkably to go beyond the national governments’ climate-change targets: for example, the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C warns that current nationally determined contributions for the Paris Agreement are not sufficient.

Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17)

Taking action for nature

NEWS | 30 Sep 2026

Commissioner Roswall holds roundtable on revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Talks focused on better protecting the health of our seas and oceans, improving implementation, and simplifying the EU’s main framework for achieving healthy seas.

PUBLICATION | 11 Sep 2026

The Socio-Economic impacts of agroforestry systems in Africa - a Knowledge Review

Agroforestry is one of Africa’s most promising pathways towards sustainable agri-food systems. This systematic review gathers and synthesizes knowledge from 63 sources (including 17 review...

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Originally Published \| Last Updated	02 Oct 2018 \| 03 Jul 2020
Knowledge service \| Metadata	Strategic Foresight \| The Megatrends Hub \| Continuing urbanisation
Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET)	Internet of Things population dynamics public health quality of life smart city urbanisation sustainable development

Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17)

Commissioner Roswall holds roundtable on revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

The Socio-Economic impacts of agroforestry systems in Africa - a Knowledge Review

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