- London has been rated the world’s most “magnetic” city for the ninth consecutive year.
- Rating is based on its ability to attract people, capital and global businesses.
- London increased its scores this year, pulling away from second-placed New York.
- But storm clouds are gathering as Brexit and COVID-19 threaten its success, with 1.6 million citizens saying they want to leave.
London has been rated the world’s most “magnetic” city for the ninth consecutive year, confounding critics who said Brexit, and the political turmoil it generated, would harm its standing as the globe’s most attractive capital.
Not only has London increased its lead over its nearest rival, New York, but its popularity has continued to grow despite the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020.
The Global Power City Index is compiled by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies and is based on official data and interviews with roughly 1,000 people in each of the 48 cities surveyed.
The Index ranks major world cities on their “magnetism”, or power to attract people, capital and enterprises from around the world using 70 measures covering their economy, research and development activity, cultural interaction, livability and accessibility.
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The 2020 rankings place London in the top 10 for all categories except environment. The city had the highest score for cultural interaction as well as accessibility, a title previously held by Paris. A decline in GDP saw its economy score fall for the second consecutive year.
New York was again rated number one on economic criteria, although its livability score declined this year. Third-placed Tokyo also saw its livability score slip in 2020 but it improved its rating for environment and accessibility.
Paris was placed fourth, Singapore fifth and Amsterdam sixth, followed by Berlin, Seoul and Hong Kong. Shanghai entered the top 10 for the first time this year, overtaking Sydney and rising dramatically from 30th place last year thanks to improved scores in all but one category.
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Defying the critics...
Despite news headlines warning that the UK was hemorrhaging foreign-born workers as a result of Brexit, the number of people born in the EU working in the UK increased by 133,000 to 2.44 million last year, according to official figures, the largest annual increase since January 2017.
London’s global attractiveness is also demonstrated by official figures, showing that more than a third of the capital’s residents were born outside the UK. Mayor Sadiq Khan says it is one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities with more than 300 languages spoken.
During the 2017 French presidential campaign, Emmanuel Macron held an election rally in London declaring that it was the sixth largest French city, with more French citizens than cities like Bordeaux, although that claim has been disputed.
London vies with New York for the status of the world’s leading financial centre with nearly half of the world’s euro currency trading taking place in the city. A separate survey, the Global Financial Centres Index, found London closed the gap on New York in 2020 despite Brexit fears.
...but for how long?
Yet doubts remain. The Centre for Cities think tank says London’s success may be at risk of being derailed by a combination of COVID-19 and Brexit, while a survey for recruitment site Totaljobs found 1.6 million Londoners are planning to move out of the capital.
The rise of remote working means that people can now work for London-based organizations from anywhere in the world. Data from real estate agents, Hamptons International, show that rents in London are falling after years of steady rises.
The full impact of both the pandemic and Brexit will become apparent in the next few years but, for now, London seems to be riding high despite the gathering storm clouds.
The World Economic Forum’s Inspiring Future Cities report says that, as urban populations continue to grow, cities must plan for a sustainable and resilient future by balancing economic and social development with environmental protection.
What is the World Economic Forum doing to promote sustainable urban development?
Cities are responsible for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are home to over half of the world’s population—a number that will grow to two-thirds by 2050. By going greener, cities could contribute more than half of the emissions cuts needed to keep global warming to less than 2°c, which would be in line with the Paris Agreement.
To achieve net-zero urban emissions by 2050, the World Economic Forum is partnering with other stakeholders to drive various initiatives to promote sustainable urban development. Here are just a few:
- The Coalition for Urban Transitions is the first major global initiative aimed at helping countries achieve inclusive, sustainable economic growth through better urban policies. Consisting of 50 partner organizations, the coalition brings national governments into the process of decarbonizing our cities by connecting them with city leaders. Read our impact story to learn how this coalition is making a difference.
- The Zero Carbon Buildings for All Initiative pledges to fully decarbonize all new buildings by 2030 and all existing buildings by 2050.
- The Systemic Efficiency project arose from the Zero Carbon Buildings for All Initiative. Jointly led by the Forum’s Platform for Shaping the Future of Energy and Materials and the Platform for Shaping the Future of Cities, Infrastructure and Urban Services, the Systemic Efficiency project brings global policy-makers, financiers and the private sector together to create systemic change in the urban ecosystem by optimizing energy efficiency in buildings, transport and various industries.
To learn more about our initiatives to promote zero-carbon cities and to see how you can be part of our efforts to facilitate urban transformation, reach out to us here.
