The highly anticipated Municipal Forecast 2024 has been released, building on the success of last year’s inaugural edition launched by the Urban Journalism Institute with support from UCLG. The Municipal Forecast aims to gather and highlight the urban trends of the upcoming year. Focusing on cities, the publication underscores the importance of the decisions and processes happening at the local level in shaping global dynamics.
In this year’s edition, the Municipal Forecast explores several key themes ranging from the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on our everyday lives to the imperative of local multilateralism, the significance of the super-election year, the new challenges posed by climate change, and the ongoing implementation of the SDGs.
The discourse surrounding AI, particularly ChatGPT, remains at the forefront. While the world is learning how to integrate AI and make the most use of it, governments are stepping up and introducing policies to set regulations for AI technology to ensure against its misuse and discrimination.
Implementing the SDGs is critical to many global challenges, from combating inequality and poverty to healthcare, education, and sustainable urbanisation. These challenges are often experienced and addressed at the local level. Therefore, local governments play a key role in tackling these challenges effectively. A Decalogue of high-impact coalitions to localise the 2030 Agenda can be found on the last pages of the Forecast.
Moreover, 2024 marks a super-election year, with over 70 countries preparing for national or legislative elections alongside numerous local elections. There is also hope that this year, the number of women in local and global leadership will increase, bringing the share closer to the 50 per cent mark. In 2023, this milestone was only reached by three countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Iceland, and Bolivia. While there is some progress, UN Women’s projection is sobering: at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be realised for another 130 years.
Another topic that cannot be overlooked is climate change. Both last year’s and this year’s Municipal Forecast spotlight the existential threat posed by climate change cities worldwide. As the discussion of the main outcomes of COP28 in Dubai and how they will shape the future of our cities and the world, the urgency of addressing climate-related challenges cannot be overstated. In 2024, the impact of climate change will be exacerbated by the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. This means that heatwaves and record-breaking summer temperatures will again hit the world, particularly affecting cities and their most vulnerable citizens.
Culture and art are also part of the Forecast, including how artists are trying to challenge gender prejudices in Japan’s written language or illustrating the concept of loss and damage through photography, music or architecture.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of UCLG and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.