Publications
Happy City Index 2026: What Does It Really Measure?
The Happy City Index 2026 ranks 250 cities using 64 indicators, but does it actually measure happiness? New Polis examines the methodology and compares the ranking with residents’ own assessments of urban life, revealing where the two perspectives align and where they diverge.
Read MoreHappy City Index 2026: What Does It Really Measure?Beyond Iconic Architecture: Dimitrije Milić on Designing with Consequence
In conversation with MVRDV architect Dimitrije Milić, we explore what changes when carbon, density, ecology, and uncertainty are treated not as themes around architecture, but as material within the design process.
Read MoreBeyond Iconic Architecture: Dimitrije Milić on Designing with ConsequenceThe Missing 100 MW: Why Balkan Grid Readiness Is Becoming an Investment Bottleneck
For a new data centre or industrial project, having enough electricity in the national power system is only the beginning. New Polis examines whether Balkan grids can deliver 100 MW where it is needed, how transparency affects investment decisions, and why flexibility is becoming the next test.
Read MoreThe Missing 100 MW: Why Balkan Grid Readiness Is Becoming an Investment BottleneckWildfire Risk in Europe: What the 2026 Fire Season Is Really Costing
Europe’s 2026 wildfire season shows how heat, drought and extreme weather are reshaping wildfire risk across the continent. From Spain and France to the Balkans, the growing costs point to an urgent need for fire-resilient landscapes and stronger prevention
Read MoreWildfire Risk in Europe: What the 2026 Fire Season Is Really CostingUrban Light Pollution: How Cities Can Balance Safety, Nature and the Night Sky
Artificial light at night supports urban safety and mobility, yet excessive and poorly designed lighting affects ecosystems, sleep, energy use and the visibility of the night sky. This article examines the pace of light pollution, its consequences in Europe, and three possible approaches to designing safer and more sustainable urban lighting.
Read MoreUrban Light Pollution: How Cities Can Balance Safety, Nature and the Night SkyFrom Granada to Every European City: iQuantum, Built to Test and Scale Urban Innovation Across Europe
Granada is positioning artificial intelligence as a key tool for urban innovation, with iQuantum providing a real-world environment to test, demonstrate and scale AI solutions for cities. In this partner interview, Vito Episcopo, Deputy Mayor of Granada, discusses the city’s AI strategy, its innovation ecosystem, and opportunities for collaboration between European cities.
Read MoreFrom Granada to Every European City: iQuantum, Built to Test and Scale Urban Innovation Across EuropeDigital Energy, New Vulnerabilities: Why Cyber Resilience Matters for the Energy Transition
How secure is an energy system increasingly run through software, data and millions of connected devices? This article explores how digitalisation is reshaping energy security, from smart grids and battery storage to cyber resilience, regulation and the vulnerabilities emerging across an increasingly connected power system.
Read MoreDigital Energy, New Vulnerabilities: Why Cyber Resilience Matters for the Energy TransitionThe Environmental Impact of AI: Energy, Water and Land Behind the Digital Boom
AI may seem weightless and digital, but its rapid expansion depends on increasingly resource-intensive infrastructure. Drawing on new research from UNU-INWEH and the IEA, this article looks beyond carbon emissions to explore how the AI boom is reshaping demand for energy, water and land, and why these pressures are becoming an issue for infrastructure planning.
Read MoreThe Environmental Impact of AI: Energy, Water and Land Behind the Digital BoomLow River Levels and Urban Resilience: Europe’s Hidden Infrastructure Risk
Europe’s record-low river levels in the summer of 2026 disrupted far more than navigation, affecting power generation, transport, tourism and industrial supply chains. The events reveal why rivers should be viewed not only as natural landscapes but also as critical infrastructure essential to urban resilience.
Read MoreLow River Levels and Urban Resilience: Europe’s Hidden Infrastructure RiskCycling Infrastructure in the Western Balkans: Why Streets Must Work for People, Not Cars
Cycling is increasingly recognised as one of the most effective investments in sustainable urban mobility, yet cities across the Western Balkans continue to struggle with car dependency and limited cycling infrastructure. In this interview, one of Serbia’s leading cycling advocates discusses the progress being made, the political and cultural barriers that remain, and why cycling infrastructure in the Western Balkans is essential for healthier, more liveable and more resilient cities.
Read MoreCycling Infrastructure in the Western Balkans: Why Streets Must Work for People, Not Cars