Unlocking the Value of-24-Hours Cities 2025

The night as a lever for urban resilience  The night is increasingly recognized as a vital dimension in urban climate strategies, not only in managing environmental impacts, but also as a promising space for adaptation.23 As daytime temperatures rise, many cities are witnessing a shift in public activity into the evening. This trend is prompting city leaders to reimagine the night not just as an economic frontier, but as a potential climate refuge. In Paris, for instance, policy-makers are exploring ways to keep parks, plazas and open spaces accessible later into the night, recognizing their role in offering thermal comfort, natural ventilation and opportunities for social connection.24 Night-time adaptation, however, places new demands on infrastructure, energy systems and public services, and carries socio-economic costs. Citizens are adjusting the timing of their activities to avoid extreme heat, reducing daytime spending and shifting consumption into evening hours.25 This kind of adaptation, while intuitive, can lead to real economic and welfare impacts, especially for households and businesses with less flexibility to shift schedules. Cities like Seoul are responding with solutions such as extending public library hours into the night, reducing household cooling needs and offering safe, climate-controlled spaces during extreme weather.26 These types of investments, combined with night-friendly services like late-hour transit or off-peak deliveries, can help cities and companies manage new climate realities while promoting equity, resilience and operational efficiency. Unlocking the Potential of 24-Hour Economies 9