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Better Cities Jul 2025
Better Cities, a monthly e-newsletter, updates friends and partners about the Centre’s work. The newsletter reaches an international audience of readers from government, media, academia, private sector and non-governmental organisations.
Last updated 31 July 2025
Better Cities | Jul 2025
14th Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit
61 mayors and city leaders from 58 global cities convened at the 14th Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit held from 2 – 4 July this year.
Hosted by the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureate 2020, Vienna, the Forum focused on the theme “Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Local Solutions, Global Impact,” with discussions centred on affordable housing, municipal services efficiency, collaborative city actions, urban energy transition, and water resilience.
Insights and practical solutions gleaned from Forum sessions emphasised the importance of cross-sector partnerships and data-driven decision-making to enhance urban liveability, while reinforcing the need for streamlined policies, innovative funding models, and active citizen participation for successful urban transformation.
The dialogue continues at the 10th World Cities Summit 2026 in Singapore.
World Cities Summit 2026
Mark your calendars for the World Cities Summit 2026!
The Summit takes place from 14 – 16 June 2026, in Singapore, with the theme “Liveable and Sustainable Cities: ACT Now!”
Cities around the world are facing pressing urban challenges.
Cities, thus, need to Act NOW to:
Accelerate sustainable and innovative urban climate and infrastructure solutions
Collaborate across boundaries, borders and sectors
Transform urban living for future generations through bold leadership and partnership
Delegates will engage in six tracks: Cities for People, Resilient & Regenerative Cities, Smart Cities, Financing of Cities, Future Cities and a new track helmed by the team behind WRLDCTY.
This milestone 10th edition of the World Cities Summit 2026 will celebrate how cities are transforming through bold leadership and partnerships, to actively shape a more liveable future for all.
Follow us on our digital platforms for exciting updates:
Urban Science Week 2025
Cities today face increasingly complex challenges that require solutions backed by science and data. Urban science helps cities work better - from building stronger defences against climate change to creating smarter transportation systems that reduce congestion.
Running from 1 - 5 September 2025, CLC’s Urban Science Week showcases thought leadership on research and innovative solutions, presenting an opportunity to glean insights from Singapore’s experience, where international expertise converges with local knowledge to shape resilient, sustainable, and liveable urban futures.
Bringing CLC’s Research to the Global Stage - London Climate Action Week 2025
CLC was part of the London Climate Action Week in June 2025, with a lecture on regenerative cities helmed by a Mayoral panel, and a multi-sectoral workshop. Both were organised with strategic partners C40 and Arup. CLC also signed our first Memorandum of Understanding with C40.
Source: Sarah Bastin
5 min read
Publication Launches
Several new publications were launched at the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit this year, presenting a range of topics from public housing innovations to strategies for global CBD revitalisations. The refreshed Liveability Framework now also boosts a dedicated webpage and video for bite-sized takeaways.
The refreshed Liveability Framework now also boosts a dedicated webpage and video for bite-sized takeaways.
Explore our newest publications here.
Urban Solutions #26: Harnessing Collaborative Ecosystems
This edition of Urban Solutions, titled “Harnessing Collaborative Ecosystems”, focuses on how cities can generate local solutions that can have a global impact. The 26th issue features inspiring stories of innovation and partnership from the City Network for the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize cities to navigate complexity, address interconnected systems, and build resilience.
Harnessing Inter-agency Collab & Community Partnerships to Improve Municipal Services Delivery and Transform Municipal Operations
In Singapore, municipal services are delivered by various government agencies and town councils. However, dividing up responsibilities has sometimes resulted in inefficiencies and fragmentation in municipal services delivery. Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Sim Ann, highlights how a collaborative ecosystem can unlock pilot solutions, data-driven strategies, and strong partnerships to address Singapore’s complex municipal challenges.
Source: Municipal Services Office
10 min read
The Viennese Path to Sustainability and Civic Participation
Dr Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna, shares insights on how the city, the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureate 2020, is successfully combining its rich architectural heritage with climate adaptation and technological innovation.
Source: Gerhard Wild / picturedesk.com
10 min read