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.

Close up of air condition vent in office ceiling.

Why indoor air quality is the next public health frontier

Perspective / "A significant blind spot remains in our national health strategy " writes Sarah West in Government Business magazine.

27 March 2026 / About Cities and Pollution

Same same but different: mobility and spatial justice in Tallinn and Bangkok

Collection / This visual series explores how everyday journeys reveal inequality, access and belonging in cities.

About Behaviour and choice, Cities, Participation, Public policy and Transport

Integrating SLCP and methane mitigation into national plans in Guatemala

Project / Guatemala will develop a national SLCP plan outlining clear reduction actions, shaped through an inclusive stakeholder process and rigorous peer review.

2026 - 2027 / About Cities, Pollution and Short lived climate pollutants

State of the Climate in Kenya 2025

Other publication / This report examines key weather events during the year and puts them in the context of 1991–2020 climatology.

23 March 2026 / About Cities

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

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

Reinforcing vulnerability? Evaluation of unintended consequences in knowledge co-production for urban adaptation

Journal article / Through a knowledge co-production process in Malmö, this article explores its unintended consequences and implications for epistemic injustice.

5 December 2025 / About Cities and Mitigation

Why heat is the defining climate challenge for cities

SEI podcast / Deep dive into the science of shifting heat patterns, the inequalities in who suffers the most, and the lessons from urban design innovations in Asia and Europe

1 December 2025 / Environment and policy in Asia / Adaptation, Cities and Wellbeing

Bosnian municipalities learning from Swedish sustainability efforts

Feature / As part of the BiH SuTra project, a delegation of mayors and municipal staff visited sustainable Sweden.

9 June 2025 / About Cities, Innovation, Sustainable lifestyles and Water resources

Engagement around risk, informality and nature-based solutions in Nakuru, Kenya

Journal article / This study explores at risks in informal settlements from hazards and inequalities, highlighting the potential of nature-based solutions for equitable planning.

4 April 2025 / About Adaptation, Cities, Disaster risk and Wellbeing

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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People sitting and standing round a table engaged in a group activity.

Citizen science: what it is and what it isn’t (CHILI seminar)

Event on 12 May / In this third CHILI seminar, Sarah West will talk about citizen science and its growing role in understanding the environments we live in.

00:00 BST / Available online