COGITO Talks… Labels matter: Putting people over profit

Reading Time: 11 minutesWith hundreds of sustainability and impact labels in circulation, how can consumers, policymakers and investors identify organisations that really do put people over profit? In this episode, Shayne MacLachlan is joined by Ruben Rebelo from the European Commission and Sofija Rakcejeva from the OECD to explore how labels can do more than just make social economy more visible and easier to support but also help people do better.

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COGITO Talks… Roots of Wisdom: Indigenous perspectives for policymakers

Reading Time: 10 minutesThe 2025 OECD Report Reinforcing Rural Resilience reveals that OECD regions have seen a significant loss of forests, with approximately 10% of their forest cover disappearing between 2000 and 2020. To discuss solution-based approaches to this issue, we do not need to necessarily turn to new innovations or technologies, but rather we can look to past wisdom of indigenous knowledge in how to care for nature in a long-sustaining manner.

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COGITO Talks… From vanishing villages to vital visions: The future of rural Kazakhstan

Reading Time: 10 minutesIn 11 of the 29 OECD countries included in the OECD Reinforcing Rural Resilience report, rural populations are declining. Discussing all things decentralisation, digitalisation and democracy in Kazakhstan, Shayne MacLachlan from the OECD has a conversation with Zhanerke Kochiigit. This conversation took place at the 2025 OECD Latin American Rural Development Conference, Rural-Urban Connections: Pathways to Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Have a listen. 

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Forging a child-friendly future for Tokyo

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn recent years, birth rates have been declining worldwide. But children are society’s treasure, and their radiant faces are hope for the future. That is why it is crucial for those of us here today to have a solid “strategy” and maintain a strong “will” to prepare an environment where those who wish to have and raise children can feel confident about doing so, and where children can grow up healthy and strong.

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Greater Paris Metropolis: Powering the local digital transition

Reading Time: 4 minutesFrance is now sixth in the European rankings of countries with the most smart cities – and the Greater Paris area is leading the charge. Innovation is no longer optional for municipalities facing complex social and environmental challenges. It is now essential for cities build on the lessons from early pilots and to deliver transformative long-term digital strategies for the benefit of all. 

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Métropole du Grand Paris : accélérer la transition numérique des territoires

Reading Time: 4 minutesLa France occupe désormais la sixième place du classement européen des pays comptant le plus de villes intelligentes, et la région parisienne est en tête. Face à des défis sociaux et environnementaux complexes, l’innovation n’est plus une option pour les municipalités. Elle est devenue essentielle pour tirer les enseignements des premiers projets pilotes et mettre en œuvre des stratégies numériques transformatrices à long terme, au bénéfice de tous.

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Tourism at a Turning Point: The Next Generation of Policy Making

Reading Time: 3 minutesTourism holds extraordinary potential as a catalyst for positive change. If driven by data, innovation and collaboration, it can strengthen communities, build more resilient economies and support healthier ecosystems. Tourism’s future, and its capacity to bring inclusive prosperity, rests on the ability to measure what matters, anticipate what is coming and act with purpose. Is the sector ready to do so?

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Tackling tourism pressures: How Dubrovnik Became a Smart City Model

Reading Time: 4 minutesOnly a decade ago, visitors were advised to avoid Dubrovnik during peak season due to near-continuous congestion in its narrow UNESCO-protected streets. Today, Dubrovnik stands as an emerging European model for sustainable, people-centred tourism. How can cities combine strategic governance, digital tools and community engagement to protect cultural heritage while ensuring a high quality of life for residents?

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