The way cities are organized and the urban life style make energy a central element, together with water and food security. To discuss the stress nexus in cities, Shell promoted the debate “The cities of the future”, that took place in June 2015. The event was conducted by Catavento and had the presence of six specialists separated in two sessions: supply, with Milton Costa Filho (IBP – Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute), Lavinia Hollanda (FGV Energia) and Tom Burke (E3G); and demand, with Suzana Kahn (COPPE), José Luiz Alquéres (JLAlquéres Consultores Associados) and Carlos Antônio da Silva (Secretaria de Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro).

The paper available below aims to present trends related to critical urban aspects, to specify which are the main challenges cities will face and to explain what are the possible means to face them and promote more quality of life to the citizens.  Furthermore, some Rio de Janeiro’s challenges are presented, with exemples of how the city is preparing itself to overcome them.