Although the interplay between geopolitics and economics, urbanization and emerging technologies are three very different fields of enquiry, two common themes emerge: the importance of governance and the need for proactivity.

The analysis of the interplay between geopolitics and economics focuses attention on the need to find ways to minimize incentives for national governments to engage in negative tactics, including by making the mechanisms of global governance more effective in resolving tensions among nation states. As this interplay leads to regional institutions gaining in significance, proactive attention to the quality and effectiveness of their governance also becomes more important in creating the capacity to address risks. 

There is no doubt that urbanization will continue, so improving the governance of cities will be relevant to a broad spectrum of global risks. An opportunity also exists to be proactive in fostering more effective links between city governments around the world, for mutual learning and collaboration on risks that affect them.

Emerging technologies promise to play a leading role in improving the governance of smart cities, but also present risks. Proactivity is especially crucial here given that the risks that might emerge from entirely new fields of knowledge are impossible to predict. Effective governance at all levels, from industry codes of conduct to national regulations and global cooperation, will determine how well risks from emerging technologies are foreseen and minimized.