The newly released COST Association report Shaping Sustainable Cities (August 2025) underscores the need for European cities to become more sustainable, resilient and inclusive. The publication emphasises the integration of clean energy, green technologies, the circular economy and smart urban design as key pathways to building healthier urban environments.
Among the COST Actions featured is NET4Age-Friendly, recognised for its work in fostering local and regional ecosystems that create smart and healthy indoor and outdoor environments for both present and future generations. The initiative has addressed multiple dimensions of urban sustainability, including user-centred design, integrated health and wellbeing, the deployment of digital solutions, and the development of supportive policy and funding frameworks.
The report also resonates strongly with the SHAFE (Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments) Foundation, which provides both the conceptual and practical backbone for this work. By advocating for the alignment of health, social care, the built environment and digital tools, SHAFE promotes communities that are accessible and supportive for people of all ages and abilities.
This recognition by COST highlights the importance of designing not only “smart cities” in the technological sense, but cities that are truly age-friendly, healthy, equitable and inclusive. As Europe’s demographics shift, scalable frameworks that connect citizens, researchers, public authorities, businesses and NGOs will be critical to ensure urban environments meet diverse community needs.
Applying the insights of the report through SHAFE and NET4Age-Friendly offers a path from vision to practice — translating policy into tangible change across public spaces, housing, ICT, transport and social participation.
The inclusion of NET4Age-Friendly and the SHAFE Foundation in this key COST publication marks an important step in promoting integrated and inclusive approaches to sustainable urban transformation in Europe.
Read the full report at: https://www.cost.eu/shaping-sustainable-cities/
