Cities are home to a growing majority of the world’s population and generate more than 80% of global GDP. As global challenges increase – from inequality to climate change – cities are on the frontline of disruptions and serve as incubators and accelerators of new solutions.
The Centre for Urban Transformation advances public-private collaboration in cities to enable more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities and local economies.
UpLink, the Forum's early-stage innovation initiative for scaling purpose-driven start-ups, in collaboration with the Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation and Deloitte, has launched Yes Cities, a global initiative to transform urban life through groundbreaking innovations.
This briefing paper presents four plausible scenarios for 2030—ranging from fragmentation and sustainability transitions to digital acceleration and renewed global integration—each highlighting distinct risks and opportunities for the industry’s future.
The world is confronted with a range of unprecedented challenges, and it's crucial for businesses, governments, and civil society to work together to find common solutions and take decisive action.
Through its Centres, the Forum integrates public-private efforts to achieve greater impact.