Better Cities Dec 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 19 December 2025
Better Cities | Dec 2025
Message from the Executive Director
Image Source: HYS_NP, shutterstock
World Cities Summit 2026 – Get your Conference Delegate Pass now!
The 10th edition of the World Cities Summit takes place in Singapore from 14 – 16 June 2026. Join city leaders, innovators, and changemakers from around the world to be part of how cities can accelerate progress, collabrate for impact, and transform for a more liveable and sustainable future.
ACT Now to transform cities with bold leadership and shape a more liveable future for all! Secure your 30% Early Bird discount at https://go.gov.sg/wcs26reg-generaldelegate.
City Network of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Webinar Series: Urban Regeneration and Leadership in City Transformation
Join us for the inaugural edition of the City Network of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize (LKYWCP Network) webinar series, featuring a sharing by Mr Asier Abaunza, Councillor Delegate from Bilbao City Council, as he explores Bilbao’s remarkable urban transformation.
This lecture will examine the city’s history and the crisis of the 1980s, followed by an exploration of the transformation and new opportunities that emerged. The session will also highlight Zorrotzaurre (a major urban renewal project in Bilbao) and other ongoing and future strategic projects, whilst also delving into insights on mobility, economic development, and social cohesion. This will be followed by a moderated Q&A session with Eugene Lau, Directorof the Architecture and Urban Design, Industry and Innovation Department, Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Details:
22 January 2026, Thursday
7.00pm – 8.30pm, Singapore (GMT+8)
12.00pm – 1.30pm, Bilbao (GMT+1)
Zoom
Image Source: Urban Redevelopment Authority
Shaping Smarter, Resilient Cities: CLC Programme for Officials in the Asia Pacific
CLC hosted 24 senior officials from across the Asia-Pacific at the 7th iteration of the Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21) to convened to learn and share about “Urban Development Towards a Smart Nation Vision”.
3 min read
Urban Solutions #27: Resilience and Regeneration II
This edition of Urban Solutions continues to examine the theme of resilient and regenerative cities. Reflecting on the opportunities and challenges of operationalising regenerative design, Issue 27 unpacks enablers that drive integration and outcomes that build resilience.
Resilient and Regenerative Cities for a Climate-Changed World
Co-authors Professor Winston Chow, Elaine Tan, and Andy Tan, explore the role, challenges, and opportunities of cities in a climate-changed world. They look at resilient and regenerative urban development strategies and enablers that cities can undertake.
Image Source: Chuttersnap, Unsplash
12 min read
Freetown’s Innovative and Collaborative Climate Agenda
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown, shares about the city’s first Climate Action Plan which was developed in 2020 based on international standards such as C40 Cities’ Climate Action Planning Framework. Set to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement—to limit global warming to 1.5°C and strengthen climate resilience by 2050—it comes after the broader “Transform Freetown— Transforming Lives” agenda, in which climate action is one of four strategic clusters.
Image Source: Freetown City Council | Capital of Sierra Leone
10 min read