World Urban Forum: Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight for Climate Resilient and Inclusive Urban Development
At the World Urban Forum 12 (WUF12) in Cairo, the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub, in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF), and UN-Habitat co-hosted a side-event to explore how futures thinking and strategic foresight can transform urban planning for climate-resilient and inclusive development. A distinguished panel featuring representatives from CFF, UN-Habitat, the Barcelona City Council, and the Government of the State of Queretaro shared insights on leveraging foresight to navigate urban complexity, foster innovation, and balance immediate priorities with long-term visions. Discussions underscored the importance of using foresight to foster local ownership, shift paradigms, and translate insights into actionable strategies across government, practitioner, and community levels.
Following the panel discussion, participants engaged in a participatory foresight session to identify key trends and drivers shaping the cities of tomorrow, highlighting critical issues such as:
- Digital citizen assemblies and evolving governance structures
- Water management conflicts and climate adaptation readiness
- Changing economic behaviours and transboundary movements
- Shrinking households and shifting urban dynamics
Why it matters
Cities are at the forefront of climate challenges and future uncertainties. This event demonstrated the transformative potential of integrating foresight into urban planning to anticipate trends, foster innovation, and build resilience. By prioritizing local engagement and leveraging diverse knowledge systems—including indigenous and informal expertise—foresight creates a collective understanding of climate impacts and actionable solutions for more sustainable and inclusive urban development.
