Smart Cities Round Up - 7 FEBRUARY 2025
SmartCitiesWorld
Opinions, special reports & news that help to deliver a smarter, more resilient city. Join free www.smartcitesworld.net
As cities work toward decarbonisation, a growing number of initiatives are helping to make urban environments more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable. From policy-driven reports to local pilot projects, city leaders and their partners are taking decisive steps to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment.
A new report, Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible, by the Energy Transitions Commission , outlines how buildings can be decarbonised through a combination of electrification, efficiency improvements, and flexible energy solutions. The report emphasises that there is no universal solution – each city and region must tailor its approach based on local building types, climate conditions, and infrastructure. However, three key priorities remain central: replacing fossil fuels with electrification, drastically improving energy efficiency, and constructing low-carbon buildings that minimise environmental impact. These insights are critical as cities look to shape their policies and investments in sustainable urban development.
On the ground, cities are putting these principles into action. Glasgow City Council , in partnership with the 3Ci (Cities Commission for Climate Investment) , is developing a net-zero neighbourhood in Govanhill. The pilot project aims to create an investment model that attracts private funding while transforming the area into a sustainable community. Govanhill was chosen due to its potential for integrating a district heating network, diverse built environment, and significant retrofit opportunities. The project builds on Glasgow’s broader commitment to attracting green investment and positioning the city as a leader in climate-conscious urban planning.
Beyond the built environment, cities and related service providers are also focusing on enhancing biodiversity and green infrastructure. The Tree Council and Network Rail in the UK have renewed their tree-planting partnership for another five years, committing to planting thousands of trees across hundreds of communities. So far, the initiative has planted more than 350,000 saplings across 180 locations. Network Rail has pledged ￡1.2 million to support tree establishment and care as part of its goal to achieve biodiversity net gain across its land by 2035.
These efforts highlight the diverse strategies cities are using to reduce their carbon footprint. By combining policy leadership, local action, and nature-based solutions, cities and their partners are making meaningful progress toward decarbonising the built environment and creating greener, more resilient urban spaces.
Initiatives like these are pushing meaningful climate action and resilience forward around the world. At SmartCitiesWorld, we've always been focused on sharing ideas that solve urban challenges. With climate and resilience issues now impacting more cities daily, our Cities Climate Action Campaign for 2025 is designed to support cities in overcoming the most urgent and dynamic challenge of our time. To find out more about the Campaign, what we have planned, and how to get involved, click here.
Luke Antoniou , Senior editor, SmartCitiesWorld
领英推荐
Here is a round up of our other News this week:
SPECIAL REPORTS