DEVELOPMENT

4 The Afd2025 scenarios
Box 12
A general trend, the “global cities” networks
Global city, alpha city or world city are some of the names used to denote a city that plays
a strategic role, organizes flows and is part of international networks. These global cities,
not necessarily the most populated but the most influential, stand as the powerhouses of
globalization.
Foresighting for Development
Development agencies, steering through future worlds. Afd2025
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A global city displays the following characteristics: (i) it is a command center for economic
decision-making (headquarters of transnational firms, global economic governance institutions)
and/or brings together the actors of globalization that organize the international
division of labor; (ii) it concentrates training and research capabilities, contributes to
innovation and constitutes a consumer market for innovative products; (iii) it concentrates
transport and communication infrastructure, is highly accessible internationally; (iv) it
polarizes all types of flows: goods, capital, information; and (v) it helps drive globalization
and globalization helps shape its evolution (tertiarization, verticalization, gentrification,
crowding-out and segregation)...
The number and role of these global cities are constantly expanding. Although most cities
with these characteristics are located in the West and Asia, other large cities have been
emerging over recent years. In addition to global cities, many local governments (communities
of municipalities, regions, provinces…) are also acting more and more on global issues.
The size and clout of these local governments very often enable them to act independently
of States, especially as they increasingly operate in partnerships or networks. For example,
in 2014, three major city networks (ICLEI, UCLG and C40) launched the Compact of
Mayors, which is the biggest concerted global initiative launched by cities to combat
climate change. Of course, cities can only participate in international climate negotiations
as observers (the COPs are inter-state negotiations), but their influence is constantly on
the rise, as nearly 70% of greenhouse gases are emitted in urban areas. These global city
networks can in fact serve as a link between global issues such as climate change and local
actions. The fact that cities and other local authorities are in close proximity to their
populations also means that they can drive the behavioral changes needed for more
sustainable development pathways. Another illustration of this general trend is the
introduction of sub-national carbon markets that do not require central government
approval, such as California’s market in operation since 2013.
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