Linking to cities around the world and learning how we best approach the challenges of urbanization, such as housing, transport and social care, will help us to improve our own delivery. We can avoid repeating mistakes others have made, and can apply their learning in our own neighbourhoods, while standing ready to share our own.

For development to be truly sustainable, language and culture must be granted full attention to address these mounting anxieties and search for belonging, which are core elements of sustainability.

The ideals of global citizenship encompass the notion of a culture of peace and non-violence, and can be fostered at home and in school by linking the news, literature and popular music to discussions of everyday and historical topics, by teaching respectful critical thinking and expression, and by emphasizing compassion and cooperation in the face of multiple forces which give priority to competition.