Cities are the laboratory of the planet’s future. Nowhere is this transformation more visible than across the Global South. From Lagos to Cairo, Mumbai to Riyadh, cities are expanding at a rapid pace, unleashing huge potential amid acute systemic challenges.
More than half of the world’s people live in cities, and projections show that the figure will approach 70% by 2050. Most of this gravitation will occur in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. These urban trajectories are not just regional stories. They will dictate the planet’s sustainability and climate stability.
In this collection, along with Nature India, Nature Middle East and Nature Cities, we look at the emerging, highly interdisciplinary science of cities.
In Africa, we explore the complexity of emerging megacities, where the challenge is how to balance the relentless pressure for growth with the non-negotiable need for inclusivity, affordable housing, and public health infrastructure.
Voices from across the continent reflect on how proactive, community-led planning, investment in innovation hubs, and smart green infrastructure can create cities that work for people and the planet.
South Asia grapples with sheer population density. Millions in this region are on the front lines, vulnerable to escalating climate risks, from monsoon flooding to lethal urban heat waves. We explore data-driven solutions in planning and disaster risk reduction, and the vital need to scale sustainable transport to deliver equitable access to services and opportunities for all residents.
In the Middle East, where centuries-old settlements coexist with some of the world’s most rapid urban development, we examine how design, governance, and cutting-edge technology are redefining what ‘liveable’ means in a warming world. From demanding energy-efficient architecture to pioneering climate-smart mobility, these stories demonstrate that adaptation is an urgent, present-day imperative.
Together, these perspectives reinforce the need to acknowledge that cities are far more than just a mass of people, they are fertile ground for innovation and opportunity. The fundamental challenge now is ensuring that the pace of urban expansion never outstrips capacity to root it in evidence-based policy and make it genuinely equitable and sustainable.
As urban centres expand and transform, the demand for research-driven, inclusive, and forward-looking approaches is paramount. The future of cities in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will undeniably shape the future of humanity itself.
