Economic activity in cities is increasingly focused on services, knowledge, technology and innovation, and cities, as hubs of connectivity and innovation, offer greater opportunities for work, business, development, wellbeing and leisure for their residents, visitors and entrepreneurs.
Trends in urban internationalisation
Tallinn’s internationalisation is shaped by external trends
Cities are playing an increasingly important role in national economies: the United Nations estimates that by 2050, 68% of the world’s population and nearly 85% of Europe’s population will live in cities and the World Bank (2023) estimates that cities account for more than 80% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The growing international role of cities is also reflected in the fact that international banks and lenders are increasingly targeting their lending products and financing directly to cities and to international networks and fora linked to cities.
The speed and scale of urbanisation also raise challenges such as pressures on land use and natural resources, and increases the demand for affordable housing, public transport, basic services and jobs. Cities also consume around two-thirds of the world’s energy and produce over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.
These global changes and trends have prompted cities to seek more actively than in the past, through international cooperation and internationalisation, further development opportunities and solutions to challenges. This search has led to the emergence of city diplomacy.
City diplomacy has two dimensions
The competitive dimension
Cities compete to attract talent, investment, tourists and major international events to support their economies. This is evidenced by league tables that measure cities’ success in quality of life, cost of living, education, sustainability, digital services, innovation and provide benchmarks for investors and global companies. Achieving a good position in these rankings will help to boost cities’ competitiveness.
The collaborative dimension
Cities and mayors are increasingly working together through international networks such as C40, ICLEI, OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, UNECE, UN-Habitat, Eurocities. Sharing best practice and knowledge and working together provides cities with the opportunity to showcase their strengths internationally and to draw inspiration from other cities to develop and add value.
Cities need to work together, both at EU level and globally, to jointly shape urban policies and ensure better access to EU funds and other sources of finance. The opportunities for cities to act internationally have multiplied, making a smart internationalisation strategy crucial to promoting urban development.
Trends in urban internationalisation
Economic activity in cities is increasingly focused on services, knowledge, technology and innovation, and cities, as hubs of connectivity and innovation, offer greater opportunities for work, business, development, wellbeing and leisure for their residents, visitors and entrepreneurs.
Tallinn’s internationalisation is shaped by external trends
Cities are playing an increasingly important role in national economies: the United Nations estimates that by 2050, 68% of the world’s population and nearly 85% of Europe’s population will live in cities and the World Bank (2023) estimates that cities account for more than 80% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The growing international role of cities is also reflected in the fact that international banks and lenders are increasingly targeting their lending products and financing directly to cities and to international networks and fora linked to cities.
The speed and scale of urbanisation also raise challenges such as pressures on land use and natural resources, and increases the demand for affordable housing, public transport, basic services and jobs. Cities also consume around two-thirds of the world’s energy and produce over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.
These global changes and trends have prompted cities to seek more actively than in the past, through international cooperation and internationalisation, further development opportunities and solutions to challenges. This search has led to the emergence of city diplomacy.
City diplomacy has two dimensions
The competitive dimension
Cities compete to attract talent, investment, tourists and major international events to support their economies. This is evidenced by league tables that measure cities’ success in quality of life, cost of living, education, sustainability, digital services, innovation and provide benchmarks for investors and global companies. Achieving a good position in these rankings will help to boost cities’ competitiveness.
The collaborative dimension
Cities and mayors are increasingly working together through international networks such as C40, ICLEI, OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, UNECE, UN-Habitat, Eurocities. Sharing best practice and knowledge and working together provides cities with the opportunity to showcase their strengths internationally and to draw inspiration from other cities to develop and add value.
Cities need to work together, both at EU level and globally, to jointly shape urban policies and ensure better access to EU funds and other sources of finance. The opportunities for cities to act internationally have multiplied, making a smart internationalisation strategy crucial to promoting urban development.
Trends in urban internationalisation
Published
Author
Economic activity in cities is increasingly focused on services, knowledge, technology and innovation, and cities, as hubs of connectivity and innovation, offer greater opportunities for work, business, development, wellbeing and leisure for their residents, visitors and entrepreneurs.
Published
Author
Tallinn’s internationalisation is shaped by external trends
Cities are playing an increasingly important role in national economies: the United Nations estimates that by 2050, 68% of the world’s population and nearly 85% of Europe’s population will live in cities and the World Bank (2023) estimates that cities account for more than 80% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The growing international role of cities is also reflected in the fact that international banks and lenders are increasingly targeting their lending products and financing directly to cities and to international networks and fora linked to cities.
The speed and scale of urbanisation also raise challenges such as pressures on land use and natural resources, and increases the demand for affordable housing, public transport, basic services and jobs. Cities also consume around two-thirds of the world’s energy and produce over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.
These global changes and trends have prompted cities to seek more actively than in the past, through international cooperation and internationalisation, further development opportunities and solutions to challenges. This search has led to the emergence of city diplomacy.
City diplomacy has two dimensions
The competitive dimension
Cities compete to attract talent, investment, tourists and major international events to support their economies. This is evidenced by league tables that measure cities’ success in quality of life, cost of living, education, sustainability, digital services, innovation and provide benchmarks for investors and global companies. Achieving a good position in these rankings will help to boost cities’ competitiveness.
The collaborative dimension
Cities and mayors are increasingly working together through international networks such as C40, ICLEI, OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, UNECE, UN-Habitat, Eurocities. Sharing best practice and knowledge and working together provides cities with the opportunity to showcase their strengths internationally and to draw inspiration from other cities to develop and add value.
Cities need to work together, both at EU level and globally, to jointly shape urban policies and ensure better access to EU funds and other sources of finance. The opportunities for cities to act internationally have multiplied, making a smart internationalisation strategy crucial to promoting urban development.