New Polis

04/05/2026

Cities are getting older. But the real question is not demographic — it’s economic.

Across OECD countries, the number of people aged 65+ is projected to reach 55 per 100 working-age individuals by 2050. This is already reshaping how economies function and how cities are designed.
Can ageing societies remain competitive? And what role do cities play in this shift?
In a new article, Prof. Dr. Ernest Vlačić explores the idea of longevity cities — urban systems that turn longer life into a source of productivity, wellbeing and economic resilience.
From healthcare as a cost centre to health as a driver of competitiveness.
From ageing populations to healthivity.
From infrastructure to human-centred urban systems.
Read the full article here: https://newpolis.media/from-smart-to-longevity-cities-rethinking-urban-competitiveness/

Longevity cities are reshaping urban competitiveness as ageing populations transform economies, health systems and smart city strategies

31/03/2026

Energy strategies are no longer just national, but urban.
How are cities in Central and Eastern Europe reacting to energy shocks?
Can cities actually influence energy security?
What does Local Energy Security mean in practice?
Jon Glasco continues to examine various strategies for energy security in Central and Eastern Europe.

Read more https://newpolis.media/local-energy-security-in-central-and-eastern-europe-the-urban-energy-shift/

Local Energy Security in CEE cities: urban energy transition, resilience, renewables, and governance challenges shaping Europe’s energy future

16/03/2026

For more than a decade, one quiet trend helped accelerate the global energy transition: solar panels kept getting cheaper.
Between 2010 and 2024, the average price of photovoltaic modules fell from roughly $2 per watt to about $0.09–0.10. This dramatic decline made rooftop solar and distributed energy projects financially viable for cities around the world.
But the assumption that solar will keep getting cheaper every year may no longer hold.
Industry analysts now warn that solar module prices could rise by 20–30% by 2026. Solar will remain one of the most competitive energy sources, but this shift could change how cities plan renewable energy projects — from rooftop installations on schools and municipal buildings to large urban solar programs.
At the same time, the next phase of the energy transition may depend less on falling technology costs and more on how effectively cities integrate solar, storage, and flexible energy systems.
In our new analysis we explore what rising solar module prices could mean for urban solar energy projects, municipal budgets, and long-term energy planning.
Read the full article here:

Rising solar module prices may reshape urban solar energy projects. What a 20–30% increase means for cities, budgets, and future energy planning

11/03/2026

All Urban Unicorns Gather in Ljubljana 🦄

On 24–27 March, Ljubljana will host Urban Future, one of Europe’s most dynamic gatherings of urban innovators, city leaders, and changemakers.

In an interview with New Polis, Gerald Babel-Sutter, founder and CEO of Urban Future, explains why this event is designed for those who actually make change happen. As he puts it, the conference is not about the usual smart city events or polished success stories.
Instead, Urban Future focuses on something far more valuable: honest conversations about what really works in cities, and what doesn’t.
For four days, Ljubljana will become a meeting point for what Gerald Babel-Sutter calls “urban unicorns”-people who see opportunities where others see only obstacles.
Read the full interview https://newpolis.media/urban-future-2026-in-ljubljana-why-city-change-makers-need-action-not-just-ideas/.

Interview with Urban Future CEO Gerald Babel-Sutter on Urban Future 2026 in Ljubljana, city changemakers, governance innovation, and practical urban transformation

23/02/2026

Is there really a single “smartest city” in the world?
Every year, global rankings confidently name their winners. But what exactly do these rankings measure?
Some focus on citizen perception. Others prioritize digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, or municipal digital maturity. The results often diverge — not because one ranking is wrong, but because they are built on different methodologies and definitions of “smartness.”
In our new analysis, we compare four widely cited smart city rankings — IMD, IESE Cities in Motion, ProptechOS, and Bitkom — and examine how their methodologies shape outcomes.
Understanding how these indices are constructed is essential for policymakers, urban experts, and anyone working in the field of smart cities.
Read the full article here:
🔗https://newpolis.media/smart-city-rankings-methodology-beyond-the-top-10-cities-of-2025-i/

19/02/2026

We like to think of cities as places that protect us from winter.
Warmer streets. Less extreme cold. A little more comfort during long dark months.
But sometimes, that extra urban warmth comes with a hidden cost.
In some regions, winter temperature differences between cities and surrounding areas can reach almost 10°C. Sounds cozy — until you realize what that warmth can do to air quality, infrastructure, and public health.
In places like Salt Lake City, winter inversions combined with urban warming have historically created pollution episodes where fine particle pollution climbed above 130 µg/m³ — levels considered dangerous for everyone, not just vulnerable groups. During prolonged pollution events, asthma emergency visits were reported to be 42% higher.
Across parts of the Balkans, winter air pollution is already a daily reality for many people. When urban heat, valley geography, and solid-fuel heating combine, pollution can stay exactly where people live, walk, and breathe.
And in cold-climate regions, urban warmth doesn’t just affect air — it can destabilize the ground itself. Permafrost thaw linked to warming could cost Alaska alone up to $51 billion in infrastructure damage in some future scenarios.
Winter urban heat islands are not just a climate science topic.
They are about how safe, healthy, and livable our cities really are — even in winter.
📖 Read the full article here:
👉https://newpolis.media/when-warmth-becomes-a-trap-the-hidden-costs-of-winter-urban-heat-islands/

09/02/2026

What happens to a megacity when a global event meets the evening rush hour?
As Mexico City prepares to host World Cup matches in 2026, the real mobility challenge is not only about infrastructure. It is about timing. The city’s metro system already carries more than 600 million trips per year, and some key corridors operate close to capacity. During the tournament, daily visitor flows could add tens of thousands of additional trips on top of normal commuter demand.
The Mexico City case shows how major events can expose mobility risks that already exist in large cities — and why coordination between transport operations, city management, and travel demand is becoming just as important as building new infrastructure.
You can read more in the article by Jonathan Jiménez Mendoza on New Polis site: https://newpolis.media/mexico-city-2026-can-megacity-mobility-coordination-keep-a-world-cup-city-moving/

02/02/2026

❄️ Recent snowstorms have raised uncomfortable but important questions.

When cities clear roads first and sidewalks last, winter maintenance stops being “neutral.”
It quietly decides whose daily mobility matters — and whose safety is negotiable.

Gender-sensitive snow clearance shows that:
▪️ prioritising sidewalks, bike lanes, schools, and transit stops
▪️ reduces injuries
▪️ improves accessibility
▪️ and costs no more than traditional approaches

Whose everyday life are we designing our cities for?
read more:https://newpolis.media/gender-sensitive-snow-clearance-why-winter-maintenance-is-a-question-of-urban-accessibility/

27/01/2026

We’re happy to announce a new media partnership!

New Polis is now an official media partner of Smart City Asia 2026, Vietnam’s leading exhibition for smart cities and urban innovation.

The event will take place on May 6–8, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, bringing together 15,000+ international professionals. Alongside the main exhibition, Smart City Asia 2026 will feature B2B Business Matching, Smart Solution Experience, and TECHCON, a conference program focused on global trends and future technologies.

We look forward to sharing insights and highlights from one of Asia’s key smart city events.

21/01/2026

🌫️ Air pollution isn’t just a weather problem — it’s an urban health crisis.
In many Serbian cities, smoggy winter days are more than an inconvenience. They reflect a deeper mix of challenges: household heating with solid fuels, traffic emissions, industrial activity, and uneven access to cleaner energy.
Our new article takes a closer look at what’s really happening in Serbia’s urban air — and why pollutants like PM₂․₅ and NO₂ are especially harmful when they combine with other factors like ozone, sulfur dioxide, and seasonal conditions.
🏙️ The article explores:
• the main sources of urban air pollution in Serbia
• why PM₂․₅ becomes more toxic in polluted conditions
• which cities face the highest risks (from Belgrade to Niš and Novi Pazar)
• how air pollution affects health and inequality
• what long-term solutions could actually improve air quality
Clean air isn’t only an environmental issue. It’s about public health, social equity, and the future of sustainable cities.
👉 Read the full article here: https://newpolis.media/air-pollution-in-serbian-cities-sources-health-risks-and-ways-to-improve-urban-air-quality/

Air pollution in Serbian cities: key sources, PM₂․₅ and NO₂ risks, health impacts, and sustainable solutions for cleaner urban air

14/01/2026

Energy resilience doesn’t stop at national borders — it is built, tested, and felt most directly in cities.
In Part II of our analysis on energy resilience in Central and Eastern Europe, journalist Jon Glasco shifts the focus to the urban level. Cities consume most of the region’s energy, host critical infrastructure, and are where rising demand, grid congestion, and energy poverty hit hardest.
The article explores what local governments can actually do — from modernizing district heating and electricity grids to addressing hidden energy poverty, using data and AI in public buildings, and gaining better access to EU funding.
Without empowered cities and stronger local leadership, energy resilience in the region will remain incomplete.
👉 Read Part II of the article on New Polis:
https://newpolis.media/the-new-energy-frontlineenergy-resilience-in-central-and-eastern-europe-ii/

How cities can strengthen energy resilience in Central and Eastern Europe. Part II explores urban energy security, energy poverty, and local solutions.