Urban Flexibility.. Innovative Solution for Climate Adaptation Led by “Group of Seven”

The largest cities of the Group of Seven are the main drivers of the gross domestic product (GDP) for each of them, but growth slowed in 2023. Realizing the need for more sustainable and resilient growth in cities, urban development ministers from the major industrialized countries of the Group of Seven met in Japan in July to focus on cities and urban expansion. Before that, industry leaders met with senior officials to shape a path for more sustainable, inclusive, and digital cities across the Group of Seven and beyond, and to create a call to action for the global community. The Group of Seven – an informal bloc of industrial democracies, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom – has been meeting annually since 1975 to discuss issues such as global economic governance, international security, and energy policy. Last year, Germany sent a clear signal to the global community by inviting urban development ministers to meet for the first time. The opportunity is “sustainable” Urban development ministers from the Group of Seven countries met in the Japanese city of Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, on July 8 and 9, 2023, to identify available opportunities to increase global alignment. In preparation for this, the World Economic Forum and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) invited senior officials from industry, academia, and governments of the Group of Seven countries to a series of high-level roundtable discussions to help identify the nature of these opportunities. The ministers of the Group discussed common ideas on securing green spaces in urban areas; the United Nations says that cities are responsible for over 70% of carbon dioxide emissions. The Group agreed on an official list of shared goals, including developing nature-based solutions, reducing social inequalities, and accelerating the role of data in urban transformation. These goals represent a step forward in public-private collaboration on urban issues, and ministers will build on these goals when they meet in July. The World Economic Forum has set out six calls to action, identified through high-level roundtable discussions that will support ministers and industry stakeholders in driving further progress towards shared goals and accelerating sustainable urban development across the Group of Seven countries and globally. These six action points are divided into three categories: sustainable cities, inclusive cities, and digital cities. First: Sustainable Cities To withstand increasing shocks and pressures, the value of nature must be considered and enhanced in cities. There are clear opportunities for the Group of Seven, but there is a need for more coordinated policies and practices among national, sub-national, and non-governmental actors to decarbonize urban development, renew nature, and enhance resilience. Increase spending on green urban infrastructure Governments of the major seven countries, cities, industry, and international institutions must work together to significantly increase the budget spent on green urban infrastructure. Seek nature-based infrastructure solutions Efforts should be made to enhance and enable low-carbon building design and nature-based solutions for infrastructure. Governments and industry are also invited to adopt the principles of BiodiverCities and green buildings by 2030 to encourage nature-positive cities and carbon-free real estate. Second: Inclusive Cities Cities are growing rapidly. Many countries within the Group of Seven also face an aging population. These factors exacerbate challenges related to equality and access to basic public services and infrastructure. Make cities accessible and affordable for all Efforts should be made to develop a sustainable urban environment and affordable, accessible infrastructure for a wide range of individuals, while enhancing access to quality for all. Enhance social value and well-being for all Governments, cities, industry, and international institutions within the Group of Seven should work together to promote long-term investments that enhance social value and prioritize the well-being of diverse communities, particularly in affordable housing, inclusive infrastructure, comprehensive energy, and food security. Third: Digitalization in Cities Digitalization offers significant opportunities for cities, including increased efficiency, improved mobility, and better public services. There is also increasing global consensus that digitalization strategies for cities should focus on people – prioritizing the well-being, health, and happiness of citizens. The use of city data will be a crucial aspect of people-centered smart cities. Artificial intelligence will continue to change the way cities analyze and use data, opening up more possibilities for ambitious goals, such as meeting net-zero commitments or revolutionizing urban mobility. Develop international guidelines for people-centered smart cities Governments of the Group of Seven must support the development of international guidelines for people-centered smart cities. Use data to achieve critical urban goals Governments of the Group of Seven, industry, and international institutions must work together to support cities in accelerating their use of data to achieve critical urban goals, such as decarbonization and energy transition, and help municipalities develop and adopt global best practices in using and managing city data.