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.

Silhouette of man working at construction site under orange sky at sunset

Accelerating the EU’s uptake of green public procurement

Project / This project uses case studies to generate lessons learned and foster stronger Green Public Procurement policy in EU member states.

2022 - 2023 / About Business, Cities, Public policy, Supply chains, Sustainable Development Goals and Transport

Blurred pedestrians at busy city crosswalk

The impact of walking in different urban environments on brain activity in older people

Journal article / This study uses mobile electroencephalography (EEG) to understand the different impacts of busy, quiet and green urban spaces on brain activity.

24 June 2019 / About Cities and Wellbeing

Dryland nature based solutions for informal settlement upgrading schemes in Africa

Other publication / This policy brief shares ten practical recommendations for urban policy makers, planners, designers and local authorities in dryland areas in Africa.

1 February 2021 / About Cities

Skyscrapers and aeroplane flying above taken from ground up, Singapore

Research for city practice

Journal article / This article introduces the first issue of <i>Cities & Health</i> volume 4. It covers topics such as urban density, active travel and climate change adaptation.

16 June 2020 / About Adaptation, Cities and Wellbeing

City park in Thailand with walkway towered by green trees, Bangkok, Thailand

Health and wellbeing in cities – Cultural contributions from urban form in the Global South context

Journal article / This paper explores the links between urban public realm spaces, both natural and built, and residents' wellbeing in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).

19 January 2022 / About Cities, Pollution and Wellbeing

Four researchers standing beneath a tree with measurement equipment tied to a branch

Opportunity: Join the Programme Life Cycle Support

Feature / SweDev and the Development and Aid Policy Team is announcing an opportunity for development practitioners to show interest in the Programme Life Cycle Support.

12 January 2022 / About Adaptation, Behaviour and choice, Business, Cities, Climate policy, Disaster risk, Finance, Geopolitics, Public policy and Sustainable Development Goals

Science for a secure society: Hydro-climatic hazard, risk, and crisis management in Sweden (CrisAct)

Project / CrisAct aims to provide a comprehensive science-based framework to monitor and manage hydroclimatically driven natural hazard crisis and disaster responses.

2022 - 2025 / About Adaptation, Cities, Disaster risk, Innovation and Public policy

Aerial view of Guanajuato, Mexico with white and orange-coloured colonial-era buildings, including churches, hotels and houses

Seizing the urban opportunity: how national governments can recover from Covid-19, secure shared prosperity and tackle the climate crisis through cities

Other publication / Cities provide critical venues to advance climate resiliency and decarbonize. We examine six economies and propose how cities can lead on climate action.

17 March 2021 / About Adaptation, Cities, Climate policy, Finance, Innovation, Participation, Public policy, Sustainable lifestyles and Transport

Man hoses down mattress storefront, Yelahanka New Town, Bengaluru, India

A model-based estimate of the groundwater budget and associated uncertainties in Bengaluru, India

Journal article / This study seeks to fill in some gaps in groundwater data in India in an effort to measure how natural and man-made factors affect water supply levels.

16 December 2020 / About Cities, Planning and modelling and Water resources