Cities Today - Connecting the world's urban leaders • 16th February 2020

Should cities ban facial recognition technology?

Facial recognition technology is a powerful tool to help fight crime but several cities have chosen to ban its use citing concerns over privacy. In the US, regulations are being implemented at a local city level: San Francisco and Oakland in California and Somerville in the state of Massachusetts have all introduced bans, and Cambridge, also in Massachusetts, followed suit this month.

Cities Today - Connecting the world's urban leaders • 3rd February 2020

Washington State trials new e-voting platform

A district encompassing Greater Seattle is set to become the first in the US to allow voters to cast their ballot using a smartphone. Voting is currently underway to fill a spot on the board of the King Conservation District, a state-authorised agency that manages natural resources in King County, Washington State. More than 1.2 million voters have the option to vote using their smartphones, an initiative that will cost approximately US$300,000, according to KCD figures.

Cities Today - Connecting the world's urban leaders • 24th January 2020

Cyber attacks: it is not a matter of if but when, says New Orleans' CIO

Las Vegas was hit by a cyber attack on 7 January which followed an earlier attack in New Orleans, with the city declaring a state of emergency on 13 December. The threat of cyber attacks is growing as cities digitalise their services and use datasets to provide more efficient delivery to citizens. According to the Cisco/Cybersecurity Ventures 2019 Cybersecurity Almanac, governments rank among the most vulnerable sectors for the last five years.

Cities Today • 17th January 2020

Cities urged not to invest in fossil fuels

The mayors of London and New York are calling on cities to move municipal pension funds away from fossil-fuel assets in a bid to help avert climate breakdown. In a new C40 report, “Divesting from Fossil Fuels, Investing in Our Future: A Toolkit for Cities”, the mayors encourage cities to follow their lead and look to more sustainable investments.

Cities Today • 20th December 2019

Seattle launches online data portal to track city initiatives

The City of Seattle has launched an online platform to allow residents to track the progress and success of city initiatives. Performance Seattle was launched this month and is currently in a testing phase. Data is presented as visualisations, including maps, charts, graphs and infographics. Details of projects are clearly laid out with links to city teams who are responsible for responding to matters such as homelessness, health and safety, environmental issues and more.

Cities Today • 17th December 2019

New app helps local businesses in Tel Aviv during light rail construction

Businesses were closing down and angry business owners were taking to the streets in protest over light rail construction work which was preventing customers from accessing 230 stores on Tel Aviv’s Jerusalem Boulevard in the Jaffa district.

Cities Today • 6th December 2019

Hyperconnected cities to reap US$60 billion, says new report

A new study has found that cities should be aiming to become ‘hyperconnected’ rather than just ‘smart’ as economists behind the report estimate that worldwide, cities could collectively enjoy a return on investment of as much as US$60 billion if they were to become fully hyperconnected.

Cities Today • 1st July 2019

The Social Network

The Impact Hub has created a global network of social entrepreneurs to drive innovation and bottom-up development in cities. Kirsty Tuxford highlights the success of the model, which has founded over 6,000 start-ups

Cities Today • 1st July 2019

What makes a successful innovation district?

Being seen as a tech or creative hub or having an innovation district is the new badge of honour for cities. Get it right and the economy grows, new businesses spring up, and the rise in living standards puts the city on the map. Get it wrong and gentrification can push residents out and entrepreneurs will choose to set up elsewhere. Kirsty Tuxford highlights how cities can develop successful districts for innovation

Development Finance • 1st September 2017

Fighting food insecurity in southern Africa

Innovative use of ICT to aid food production in Africa

Development Finance • 20th March 2015

How creative finance can save lives

With one child dying from malaria every minute, Kirsty Tuxford examines the innovative financing mechanisms being employed to help fund the development of a malaria vaccine and pay for the distribution of life-saving medication.

Cities Today • 5th January 2014

New sanitation solution for Nairobi's slums

Sanergy's award-winning sanitation scheme providing jobs for the poor and cleaning up the slums

Cities Today • 5th March 2013

Going for gold

Holding a prestigious event such as the Olympics or the FIFA World Cup is a great marketing opportunity for a city but does it really provide long-term benefits?

Cities Today • 5th September 2012

Can vertical farms help feed our cities?

Farmland is becoming more limited as cities expand, climate change is affecting crop yields, and the transportation of food to cities leaves a significant carbon footprint. Kirsty Tuxford asks if vertical urban farms could help ensure food security for future city dwellers.

Cities Today • 10th June 2012

The challenge of training India's city leaders

With cities growing rapidly, especially in developing countries, the question arises not only how to finance and build the right infrastructure but also how to train people to manage the increasing demand for services. Kirsty Tuxford looks at capacity building in India to find out how governments are preparing their local of officials for the task of managing cities.

Cities Today • 10th April 2012

How bus rapid transit can offer workers a better quality of life

The daily commute for thousands of people in Latin American cities is an extraordinary feat of endurance. Long journeys, overcrowding, dilapidated vehicles and comparatively expensive fares combined with the knock-on effects of ill health and fatigue leads to low productivity at work and a poorer standard of living. Kirsty Tuxford investigates what cities are doing to combat transport problems for their working population.

Cities Today • 5th April 2012

Climate change news

A selection of NIBs on climate change around the world

Cities Today • 5th April 2012

Energy efficiency news

A selection of NIBs on global sustainable energy issues

United Cities • 16th November 2011

Bringing new homes to the townships

Visitors to South Africa are often shocked when they drive out of the upmarket areas of major cities and suddenly find themselves passing vast expanses of slums. These informal settlements are the legacy of apartheid, but now that that regime has been abolished, why are the shacks still standing?

United Cities • 5th August 2011

Free public transport: A solution for city congestion?

There are many ways to reduce congestion in cities: walking and cycling initiatives, new metro and BRT systems, carpooling, car rentals and smart technology are all being used. One argument states that simply making public transport free is the most effective solution to reducing car use. Sarah Marks reports.