1: Introduction

We have already passed half of the way to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda is a comprehensive and very ambitious goal for us as humanity. However, we also know that it is not a will, but a must. According to science, if we don’t act to transform our society, we will likely compromise the future of human life on the Earth, both from a social and environmental standpoint. Therefore, there is a need for urgent and accelerated transformation of our societal model.

Cities play a fundamental role in this transformation. More than half of world’s population lives in cities, and the United Nations projections show that this percentage would increase to 68% in 2050.¹ Moreover, cities are currently responsible for 65% of total global energy consumption and more than 70% of CO₂ emissions.² Cities also act as centers for innovation as social, technological, and political innovations easily meet people and are closely connected to their needs. Even more, they are experimentation hubs that can drive the implementation of the SDGs. Therefore, cities are critical to transform our society.