This article examines whether current smart city models are sufficient to address the complex challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban resilience. While cities increasingly adopt data-driven technologies to optimise infrastructure and services, these systems often overlook ecological processes and living systems that are critical to long-term sustainability.
Read MoreAre Smart Cities Smart Enough? Beyond the Dashboard
For more than a decade, falling solar panel prices fueled the rapid expansion of urban solar energy. Now costs may begin to rise. This article explores what a potential 20–30% increase in module prices could mean for cities, municipal budgets, and future energy planning.
Read MoreThe End of Ultra-Cheap Solar? What Rising Module Prices Mean for Urban Solar Energy
Urban transformation requires more than ambitious strategies, it demands communities of practitioners willing to test ideas, share failures, and act. In this interview, Gerald Babel-Sutter explains how Urban Future 2026 in Ljubljana aims to empower city leaders to turn knowledge into real change.
Read MoreUrban Future 2026 in Ljubljana: Why City Change-Makers Need Action, Not Just Ideas
Energy Week Black Sea 2026 in Bucharest gathered regional policymakers, investors and industry leaders to discuss the next phase of the Black Sea energy transition. The conference focused on grid modernization, cross-border interconnections, renewables and the growing impact of digital infrastructure on electricity demand, while structured B2B meetings enabled concrete partnerships and investment dialogue.
Read MoreEnergy Week Black Sea 2026: Infrastructure, Investment and Regional Coordination
The Smart Engineering for Urban Development conference in Belgrade brought together experts from Serbia and Nordic countries to discuss how Western Balkan cities can move beyond isolated smart city projects toward systemic urban transformation. The discussions highlighted that sustainable and smart urban development depends not only on technology, but on governance, planning, financing and cross-sector cooperation.
Read MoreSmart Cities Need Systems, Not Just Technology: Lessons from “Smart Engineering for Urban Development”
In 2025, ESG reporting moved from promises to proof. This article explores ESG reporting trends 2026, explaining how CSRD, Omnibus simplification and CBAM are reshaping sustainability reporting and what companies must do to stay credible and competitive.
Read MoreESG Reporting Trends 2026: 7 Moves for Sustainable Business After the 2025 Reset
The second part of the article examines how cities shape energy resilience in Central and Eastern Europe, from managing rising demand to addressing energy poverty. It explores what local governments need — in policy, funding, and coordination — to turn urban energy systems into pillars of regional security.
Read MoreThe New Energy Frontline:Energy Resilience in Central and Eastern Europe (II).
In this interview, Milica Raičković discusses how noise and air pollution affect public health and urban quality of life across Serbia and the Western Balkans. Drawing on insights from a major regional conference, she explains why systematic monitoring, interdisciplinary planning, and data-driven decision-making are essential for healthier cities.
Read MoreHow Noise and Air Pollution Shape Healthier Cities: Interview with Milica Raičković
How can cities strengthen resilience while keeping energy value within their communities? This article explores the case of Güssing, a small Austrian town that achieved local energy independence through community-led renewables and smart governance. Its experience offers practical lessons for municipalities seeking sustainable energy systems and local economic renewal.
Read MoreWhen Communities Take Charge: Lessons from Güssing and Local Energy Independence
The Western Balkans ESG Conference 2025 convened regional leaders to assess how climate stress, regulation, and generational change are reshaping corporate sustainability. Discussions highlighted water security, data governance, financing barriers, and the importance of ESG literacy across institutions. The event underscored a clear shift: ESG is evolving from a compliance obligation into a cultural and strategic transformation for the region.
Read MoreThe Western Balkans ESG Conference 2025: From Regulation to Culture in a Region Under Climate Stress