EDITORIAL Dear Readers, This month I intended to talk about
other topics but, unfortunately, I still have to focus on the impending climate change and its tangible effects. As usual, also this year I attended the Reset Connect conference organised in London where I heard very interesting comments and learned useful information on climate change and sustainability from excellent panels.... |
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WEBSITE OF THE MONTH The "Website of the Month" is a spotlight
feature in our email newsletter, where we showcase a standout website, recognising its exceptional tools, valuable resources or content. |
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| Trees in Cities
ChallengeThe United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) launched the “Trees in Cities Challenge” in 2019. This initiative invites mayors and local governments worldwide to make a tree-planting pledge and set
objectives for making their cities greener, resilient and more sustainable to offer their residents the benefits of the many ecosystem services that trees and forests in and around cities provide. |
NYC expands AI traffic sensor network to 100 locations
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is rolling out AI-powered street activity sensors to approximately 100 locations across the five boroughs, building on a pilot programme that began
in 2023 at 20 intersections. The sensors are mounted on existing street infrastructure and anonymously track pedestrians, cyclists, buses and vehicles in real time. Video is processed on-device and immediately discarded; only anonymous aggregate data is retained, with faces and licence plates obscured from any footage.
The Sustainable Development Report 2026 just published With less than four years remaining in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains
significantly off track: Only 16% of targets are projected to be achieved by the deadline. The vast majority of UN Member States remain committed to the framework, but a small number of countries, most notably the United States, have moved into active opposition to the paradigm of sustainable development and the multilateral institutions that underpin it. |
Uber and Wayve to deliver commercial robotaxi service in London this summer For those living in London, the sight of a robotaxi navigating the city streets has moved from the space age to the everyday. Since earlier this year, Alaphabet-owned Waymo and UK start up Wayve have
been piloting their autonomous robotaxis in the UK capital, testing them against the city’s notoriously challenging roads. Now, for the first time, Londoners will be able to try autonomy first-hand following Uber’s announcement that it will be opening an interest list on its platform for customers eager to try a Wayve robotaxi for themselves. Cities launch global data centre pact as AI demand grows More than 40 cities have launched a global initiative aimed at shaping how data centres are developed in urban areas as demand for AI infrastructure
accelerates worldwide. Announced during London Climate Action Week, the Global Urban Data Centres Pact brings together 41 cities across six continents, representing more than 90 million residents, to establish a shared framework for managing the growth of digital infrastructure. |
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