World Cities Summit

Cities today face the urgent challenges of a changing global climate and ageing population. Yet, cities can turn these obstacles into opportunities to build a more sustainable future. In a special address at the Opening Plenary of the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2024, Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Singapore, outlined three guiding principles for building smart, resilient, and regenerative cities: Embrace innovation: Cities must invest in research, science, and technology to tackle complex urban challenges Prioritise people: Urban innovation should focus on improving lives through community-driven solutions Collaborate globally: Cities should partner and learn from one another to address shared challenges and create impactful urban solutions As urban landscapes evolve, collaboration becomes more crucial. The WCS is committed to bringing together city leaders, industry experts, and academia to exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge partnerships to shape sustainable and liveable cities of the future.  #SpotlightonWCS #WorldCitiesSummit #LiveableCities #SustainableCities

Speaking at the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2024 Opening Plenary, Mr Ernst Woller, First President of Provincial Parliament, Vienna, highlighted Vienna’s approach to governance and its ability to adapt to crises as key reasons why the city has been able to maintain a high quality of life for its residents while navigating the challenges of climate change impacts and rapid urbanisation. Public ownership of infrastructure has empowered Vienna to dedicate 50% of its land area to creating green spaces, and the city’s innovation in water management has enabled the use of sewage sludge to produce clean energy and heating for over 50,000 households. Together with constant and direct engagement with residents, city officials can understand what immediate improvements need to be made to better improve quality of life. As the 2020 LKY World City Prize Laureate, Vienna will be the host city for the WCS Mayors Forum in July 2025. We look forward to greater knowledge sharing between city leaders as we continue to shape more resilient, regenerative, and liveable cities together. #SpotlightonWCS #WorldCitiesSummit #LiveableCities #SustainableCities

In August 2024, Hugh Lim, CLC Executive Director, led a delegation to Vienna to discuss preparations for hosting the 2025 Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit (WCSMF 2025) with representatives from the City of Vienna and UIV Urban Innovation Vienna (UIV). While there, the team held meetings with government officials and stakeholders including Dr. Margareta Grießler-Hermann, Director of Decentralisation, Interface between Vienna’s Districts and the City Administration; Mrs Alena Sirka-Bred, Head of the Group for European and International Affairs at the CEO’s Office of the City of Vienna; Mr Walter Kling, President, International Association of Waterworks in the Danube Catchment Area; Mr Dominic Weiss, Managing Director, Urban Innovation Vienna; and Dr Johannes Lutter, Head, Urban Development & Mobility, Urban Innovation Vienna. The team also visited several venues which may form part of the programme of site visits for the WCSMF 2025. We look forward to working closely with the City of Vienna and UIV to organise an exciting programme for our delegates at WCSMF2025 from 2-4 July 2025! For more updates, follow us on social media or subscribe to our mailing list via https://lnkd.in/guBi4PDd Centre for Liveable Cities #WCSMF2025 #LiveableCities #SustainableCities #LeeKuanYewWorldCityPrize

Collaboration between cities is crucial as urban challenges are frequently interconnected. At the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2024, the City Network for the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize was launched to facilitate greater knowledge exchange on building liveable and sustainable cities. Founding members of the Network include the seven Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize laureate cities, such as Mexico City, Vienna, and Seoul, as well as nominated knowledge organisations from these cities. We expect further membership from Special Mention cities in the near future. The Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) will serve as Network Secretariats. Speaking at the summit, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee highlighted that the Network will not only enable cities to tackle current and future urban challenges but also build strong inter-city relationships across different levels – governors, mayors, city planning departments, and knowledge organisations. Read the full article on The Straits Times to learn more about the urban challenges faced by cities today and how initiatives like The City Network for the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize can help cities build more liveable and sustainable cities through greater knowledge sharing in urban development: https://lnkd.in/gYcaUaAQ #WCS2024 #LiveableCities #SustainableCities #LeeKuanYewWorldCityPrize

At every edition of the World Cities Summit (WCS), we proudly present the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Lecture where representatives from the latest Prize Laureates and Special Mention Cities share their experiences in advancing urban development for their cities.   The foresight, good governance, and innovation that these cities display in the face of pressing urban challenges serve as inspiration for other cities looking to create more liveable and sustainable urban environments.   Nominations for the 2026 LKY World City Prize are open until 31 March 2025. Cities interested in applying must secure a nomination from an independent third-party expert in urban planning, such as professors in academia, representatives from international organisations, or industry specialists/consultants.   We look forward to hearing from the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureate and Special Mention cities at the World Cities Summit 2026 in Singapore.   Nominate your city or others at: www.go.gov.sg/nominate

In his opening address at the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2024 Opening Plenary, Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, Singapore, spoke about the need for global collaborative efforts in tackling common urban challenges. Mr Lee also launched Centre for Liveable Cities’ refreshed Liveability Framework, a future-focused framework that provides an updated understanding of liveability outcomes for cities, featuring global perspectives and case studies. Rejuvenating, Reinventing, and Reimagining sustainable cities of the future requires a multi-stakeholder approach between governments, cities, businesses, think tanks, solution providers, and communities. WCS is committed to fostering a collaborative ecosystem to facilitate deeper and sustained partnerships that enable a more sustainable future. #SpotlightonWCS #WorldCitiesSummit #LiveableCities #SustainableCities

As the needs and aspirations of residents evolve, so does our understanding of what makes a city truly liveable. Issues such as overcrowding due to rapid urbanisation, loss of green spaces in cities, and changing population demographics are common in cities across the world. The Centre for Liveable Cities' (CLC) refreshed Liveability Framework reflects the expanded understanding of a liveable city that goes beyond addressing basic needs, incorporating current and emerging views from city leaders, experts, and members of the public. In his address at the World Cities Summit 2024 Opening Plenary, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee emphasised the growing complexity of urban issues and the evolving nature of liveability, underscoring the importance of this reviewed framework. For cities to continue to play a vital role for residents to play, learn, relax, and connect, they need to undergo renewal. New York City’s Open Street programme, for example, aims to transform streets into open spaces with outdoor dining, retail, and bike-friendly features to inject vibrancy into street life. Read the full article by The Business Times to learn how cities are evolving to foster more liveable and supportive environments for everyone: https://lnkd.in/g8H25ry8 #WCS2024 #LiveableCities #SustainableCities #LiveabilityFramework

Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) launched "Building Liveable & Sustainable Cities: A Framework For The Future" at the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2024, an update of CLC's 2014 Liveability Framework. This future-focused framework presents a refreshed understanding of liveability outcomes for cities and the planning, governance, and collaborative systems that enable them to function smoothly. This report features top-down and bottom-up views to provide a holistic understanding of liveability outcomes, highlights the intersections and tensions in achieving liveability goals, and showcases global case studies that highlight the principles outlined in the framework. Discover how cities today can navigate the complexities of urban development to create more liveable and sustainable environments: https://lnkd.in/gRC2V_q3 #WCS2024 #LiveableCities #SustainableCities #LiveabilityFramework

Another publication launched at the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2024, "The Future of CBDs: Perspectives from 6 APAC Cities" — a joint research collaboration between Centre for Liveable Cities and Arup focuses on the future of Central Business Districts (CBDs) in six APAC cities (Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo).    Serving as a reference point for other CBDs undergoing rejuvenation, it uncovers the challenges faced in these CBDs, their broad aspirations, and key initiatives for improvement and innovation.     Read the full report to discover how cities can enhance their CBDs' vibrancy and resilience today: https://lnkd.in/gE_F55BG   #WCS2024 #LiveableCities #SustainableCities

Centre for Liveable Cities’ Executive Director, Hugh Lim, and President of Provincial Parliament, Vienna, Ernst Woller, signed a letter of intent for the City of Vienna to host the World Cities Summit (WCS) Mayors Forum 2025.   The City of Vienna is the 2020 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureate city – awarded for reinventing itself for success in the 21st century without losing its distinctive identity as a capital for culture, music, and history. The city has also been The Economist’s “most liveable” city for the third year since 2022.   The WCS Mayors Forum is a by-invite global platform for mayors and city leaders to discuss pressing urban challenges and share best practices in sustainable urban development. We look forward to fostering greater knowledge exchange and collaboration between cities as we continue to shape the sustainable and liveable cities of tomorrow.   #WCS2024 #LiveableCities #SustainableCities