Cities face 'climate whiplash' – and other urban transformation stories to read this month

Cities worldwide are facing increasingly severe and frequent climate extremes, with many experiencing both floods and droughts in quick succession, according to a report from WaterAid.

This "climate whiplash" is expected to worsen as global temperatures rise, putting urban infrastructure and populations under immense stress.

China's eastern city of Hangzhou and Indonesia's capital of Jakarta topped the list of cities suffering from "climate whiplash", with around 15% of the cities surveyed also facing extreme flood and drought risks rising at the same time.

It came after more than 5,000 residents in Jakarta were forced to evacuate their homes due to severe flooding in March, which disrupted daily life, caused power outages and forced the closure of some roads.

Less than a fifth of cities worldwide - and only seven countries - are meeting the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality standards.

The most polluted city in 2024 was Byrnihat in India, which recorded an average PM2.5 level of 128.2 μg/m3 - over 25 times the WHO guideline, according to data from Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

Indian cities accounted for 11 of the top 20 most polluted urban areas globally, highlighting the severe air quality challenges faced by the country's metropolitan regions.

Cities in Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo also experienced dangerously high levels of pollution, with climate change adding to the issue.

Japan's land prices experienced their most rapid surge in 34 years during 2024, with popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Osaka showing continued increases. This recovery is extending to other regional areas due to sustained economic growth, Reuters reports.

Gig workers in parts of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu will be offered a subsidy to buy e-scooters, as growing numbers of young people take on food and grocery deliveries.

The UK government has ordered an investigation into a fire at a substation that caused London's Heathrow airport to close for 18 hours, affecting thousands of passengers around the world and impacting supply chains.

Germany must build 320,000 new apartments each year by 2030 to address housing shortages, particularly in cities like Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, according to a new study.

China's property slump continued in February, with official figures showing declines in prices, investment and sales. As new home prices dip 0.1% after two months of relative stability, policymakers are urging city-specific measures to stimulate demand, Reuters reports.

As the world continues to urbanize, balancing the art and science of city building requires a holistic approach that once again puts culture at the centre of community building practices. The Davos Baukultur Quality System balances the tension between human-centred design as an underlying structure with geographic, social and economic contexts. Here's an explainer video below on just what Baukultur is.

Innovation districts must balance economic growth with local benefits, write two experts - and sustainability and adaptability are critical for their long-term success. Find out how digital infrastructure is shaping the future of urban economies.

Geopolitical tensions, protectionist measures and industrial policies are driving a massive transformation in the global economy. Companies are having to rethink everything from where they produce goods to how they recruit talent and grow their businesses. A new report highlights how cities in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East are leveraging this moment as an opportunity for growth.

Regenerative design can restore ecosystems, enhance biodiversity and strengthen community resilience. This article outlines three examples of regenerative design, all of which have become social hubs, in the city of Calgary, Canada.