Cities

More than 65% of the world's population are projected to live in urban areas by 2050, with major implications resource use, energy, water and sanitation, and health and well-being. At the same time urbanization can bring benefits, especially efficiency gains. SEI examines these challenges in the round to advance sustainable urbanization.

Somalia’s technical experts convene to build air quality capacity

Feature / A three-day workshop in Mogadishu, supported by SEI Africa, ended with a new multisectoral working group to guide Somalia's air quality policy.

25 August 2026 / About Cities and Short lived climate pollutants

Development of the Estonian national street space standard

Project / The project develops a national street space standard with uniform quality requirements for liveable, safe, accessible and sustainable urban space in Estonia.

2026 - 2028 / About Cities and Public policy

Monitoring nature-based solutions is key for compliance, co-creation and practice improvement

Journal article / The authors argue that monitoring and evaluation for nature-based solutions (NBS) should be treated as a collective learning process.

30 July 2026 / About Cities

Methane action for people and planet from discovery to solution: the Angera Declaration, what are the implications for Africa?

Journal article / The authors present an African perspective on the Angera Declaration: a methane action statement signed by over 150 scientists around the world.

10 July 2026 / About Cities, Food and agriculture, Household energy, Pollution, Short lived climate pollutants and Transport

Woman with purple glasses and white jacket smiles in front of trees

Meet Cassilde Muhoza, Research Fellow

Meet SEI / SEI lead researcher Cassilde Muhoza shares her work on and vision for Africa's cities.

9 June 2026 / About Cities and Planning and modelling

Social Impact Framework for assessing the impacts of NBS on human well-being and justice and its relation to biodiversity

Other publication / This brief helps local planners and stakeholders understand how NbS can enhance wellbeing through effective design, governance, and impact assessment.

25 May 2026 / About Adaptation, Cities and Participation

Devising strategies to reduce consumption-based emissions

SEI report / This report explores the value of - and offers guidance for - engaging citizens in governance to build climate-neutral, sustainable and resilient cities.

29 April 2026 / About Behaviour and choice, Cities and Sustainable lifestyles

Understanding urban heat: climate knowledge for the next generation of urban heat islanders

Project / The project makes the hidden heat risks of climate change visible and helps young people and communities better understand urban heat islands and their effects.

2026 / About Adaptation, Cities and Wellbeing

Adult cycling on a dedicated bike path with a young child in a rear-mounted child seat, surrounded by wildflower meadows and urban greenery, with residential apartment blocks and a construction crane visible in the background on a sunny summer day.

B.Green handbook for green urban planning

Other publication / The aim of the handbook is to guide urban planners and other stakeholders interested in promoting green infrastructure planning

1 August 2022 / About Cities

From policy to practice: lessons on making circular economy work in tourism from Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo

Perspective / This article offers lessons from Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on turning circular economy policy into local action.

11 August 2026 / About Behaviour and choice, Business and Cities

How do urban heat islands affect our cities and communities?

Feature / This story explains and visualizes how urban heat islands form, why they matter and how they impact the most vulnerable people in our cities.

11 February 2026 / About Adaptation and Cities

Why intermediate cities can drive future sustainability and wellbeing: a view through urban mobility lens

Perspective / Global climate action can be won or lost in intermediate-sized cities. SEI experts offer insights on transport policy changes that can drive a greener future.

5 January 2026 / About Cities

Building urban climate resilience street by street

Perspective / Andreas Hoy argues that a measure of the Paris Agreement's success will be the degree to which urban areas can become resilient to climate change.

6 December 2025 / About Adaptation, Cities and Climate services

Assessing the conditions for circularity and entrepreneurship for urban sanitation and waste management in Basrah City

SEI report / This assessment of urban sanitation and waste management in Basrah City identifies service gaps, evaluates current practices, and explores opportunities.

20 October 2025 / About Cities, Sanitation and Water resources

Marine plastic pollution and extended producer responsibility in the G20

SEI report / This scoping review resulted in recommendations for policymakers to advance EPR and other complementary measures to prevent further growth of plastic pollution.

8 August 2025 / About Behaviour and choice and Cities

Gridless water configurations in growing cities in India and Kenya

SEI brief / Urban and water planning authorities can consider integrating decentralized and off-grid (“gridless”) solutions to improve water services in growing cities.

22 May 2025 / About Cities

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