Smart Cities Round Up - 13 SEPTEMBER 2024

Cities around the world are intensifying their efforts to improve their resilience to climate change and ensure sustainable urban living through ambitious new commitments and targeted action.

As a recent example, Bangkok has?joined the Breathe Cities initiative , a global network of cities working to curb air pollution by 30 per cent by 2030. As the twelfth city in this cohort, Bangkok aims to reduce emissions, improve public health, and avoid thousands of premature deaths and cases of childhood asthma. The city has been implementing measures to tackle air quality issues since 2010, including enhancing air quality monitoring, mapping pollution sources, and conducting preventive inspections like emission testing. These efforts are expected to significantly lower healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for its citizens by the end of the decade.

In Europe, meanwhile, Berlin has signed the Berlin Urban Nature Pact , an international initiative designed to unite cities in preserving and restoring nature in urban areas. The Pact sets 28 SMART goals across critical areas such as species and habitat conservation, water management, soil health, and food and agriculture. The initiative aims to enhance urban ecosystems, make cities more liveable, and set nature on a path to recovery. Berlin's leadership underscores its commitment to sustainability and urban biodiversity, positioning the city as a model for others to follow.

These are only two examples of how cities are stepping up to meet the climate challenge every day. These commitments not only demonstrate leadership in combatting environmental issues but also reflect a global movement towards healthier, more resilient cities that prioritise public health and sustainable ecosystems.

Luke Antoniou , Senior editor, SmartCitiesWorld

Here is a round up of our other News this week:

1. Collaboration to support EV taxi drivers with charging offers
2. Vaisala to build weather resiliency at Indonesian airports
3. Massachusetts pioneers low-income e-bike programme
4. Council converts 18,000 streetlights to LED in Milton Keynes
5. Berlin to deploy the Candela flying electric ferry
6. Myrtle Beach formally launches smart city initiative
7. Beam trials AI-driven footpath detection for e-scooters in Victoria
8. Ericsson and TDC NET launch first 5G standalone network in Denmark
9. Roosevelt Island Tramway introduces OMNY tap-and-go payments
10. VivaCity data to help Sheffield to tackle air pollution
11. ￡150m Green Future Fellowships launch to scale UK climate tech
12. Bangkok joins Breathe Cities to curb air pollution by 30% by 2030
13. Beryl to deliver Surrey’s first e-bike share scheme
14. Berlin signs Urban Nature Pact to protect biodiversity

SPECIAL REPORTS:

How data, evidence and collaboration power innovation in Phoenix

Skills, technical support and data spaces: redefining openness in smart cities

WEBINAR:

Webinar (25 Sept): How smart city tech is improving public safety for San Diego