Financing Cities of Tomorrow
G20/OECD Report for the G20 Infrastructure Working Group under the Indian Presidency
By 2050, the global population living in cities is projected to reach 5 billion, growing
from 3.5 billion in 2015. Massive investment in infrastructure will be needed to accommodate
this growth, and to adapt infrastructure to climate change and benefit from the digital
transition. This report explores three ways to meet this challenge. Firstly, it outlines
how new forms of urban planning can help to mobilise private finance for inclusive,
resilient and sustainable urban investment. Secondly, it explores how leveraging private
investment can help to strengthen cities capacity to support needed investment in
a tighter fiscal environment. Finally, it considers the potential opportunities and
challenges for mobilising sustainable finance – green, social and sustainable bonds
and loans, sustainability-linked bonds and catastrophe bonds – for infrastructure
investment by City Governments. The report also includes 17 short case studies from
12 countries that demonstrate innovative practices for creating the Cities of Tomorrow.
Published on July 18, 2023