Better Cities Jul 2026
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 2026
Better Cities | Jul 2026
Building Cities for All
CLC Warmly Welcomes Executive Director, Hwang Yu-Ning
Ms Hwang Yu-Ning has joined the Centre for Liveable Cities as Executive Director from 1 July 2026. She is also Chief, Urban Innovation & Excellence, Ministry of National Development.
Ms Hwang continues her distinguished career in the Singapore Public Service, marked by strong leadership and a breadth of experience across policy and operational roles. Before her current role, she has held a series of senior appointments in ministries and statutory boards, from her role as Deputy CEO and Chief Planner at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), to CEO of National Parks Board (NParks).
"As I join CLC, I am deeply inspired by the strong foundation that has been laid. I look forward to building our knowledge and impact across CLC’s areas of work, deepening partnerships with stakeholders in Singapore and internationally, and strengthening Singapore's thought leadership through our platforms and programmes. In today’s complex and rapidly evolving global landscape, we must go beyond creating and sharing knowledge, to engaging at every level to foster richer conversations and drive more lasting impact. I look forward to this journey together.”
— Hwang Yu-Ning, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities
Thank You for Joining Us at the 10th Edition of the World Cities Summit!
From 14 – 16 June 2026, the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2026 held its milestone 10th edition, welcoming close to 4,200 delegates and trade visitors from 263 unique cities, including 112 mayors and city leaders at the Mayors Forum.
Journey with us through the years as we look back at past editions since the inaugural WCS in 2008!
From Learning to Action: SPARKS Programme Concludes Three-Year Journey with Pacific Island Forum States
The three-year Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing (SPARKS) Programme concluded in June 2026, equipping Pacific Island Forum member states with knowledge and action plans for climate resilience.
4 min read
Catalysing Regenerative Urban Development for Liveable and Resilient Cities
The third Regenerative Cities Forum at the London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026, comprising three sessions held on 23 – 24 June, advanced global collaboration on regenerative urban development, climate adaptation, and city resilience.
Image Source: Arup
5 min read
Driving Global Innovation at UCLG World Congress and Metropolis General Assembly in Tangier
CLC’s Executive Director, Hwang Yu-Ning, shared about Singapore's urban innovations at the 2026 United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Congress and Metropolis General Assembly in Tangier, strengthening international partnerships to advance sustainable and liveable cities.
3 min read
WCS Science of Cities Symposium Poster Exhibition
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The WCS Science of Cities Symposium (SOCS) featured a Poster Exhibition with 79 posters from over 40 institutions globally.
Spanning the two Symposium themes “AI-Powered Urban Analytics” and “Human-Centred Smart Cities”, topics include
Urban AI, data analytics and modelling
Climate adaptation and environmental resilience
Inclusive design and accessibility
Community-centred planning and participatory methods
Smart city governance and digital infrastructure
Health, well-being and the built environment
Publications Launched at WCS 2026
Several publications were launched at the World Cities Summit this year across different topics including regenerative city approaches to balancing development and nature, and sustainable mobility.
Urban Solutions #28: ACT Now!
This edition of Urban Solutions follows the theme of 10th edition of the World Cities Summit 2026 “ACT Now!” and explores how cities can Accelerate, Collaborate and Transform to actively shape a more liveable and sustainable future for all. The 28th issue features best practices and thought leadership from around the world, showcasing how cities are addressing urban challenges and unlocking new opportunities.
Urban Solutions #28 | Planning for Tomorrow: Singapore’s Blueprint to Stay Liveable, Agile and Pro-Enterprise
Chee Hong Tat, Singapore's Minister for National Development, shares how Singapore is adapting to emerging opportunities in urban planning and the built environment sector.
Image Source: Ministry of National Development, Singapore
10 min read
Urban Solutions #28 | Building a Fairer, Greener, Safer, and More Prosperous London
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, shares his plans to make London a more liveable city. London was recently awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2026 Laureate at the recent WCS in June.
Image Source: Greater London Authority
10 min read
Urban Solutions #28 | Planning and Designing the City for All Ages: Evolving Urban Planning for Demographic Change, Health and Well-Being
Brent D. Ryan, Professor of Urban Design and Public Policy at MIT, shares his views on the approaches and considerations in planning and designing a city for all ages.
Image Source: New York City Department of Transportation, CC BY-NC-ND 4
12 min read