SmartCities World Round Up 5th April 2024

Boston mayor backs offshore wind proposal | Tsukuba's new urban air mobility centre | New urban climate action initiatives

In the global pursuit of sustainability, cities and organisations are taking bold steps to reduce carbon emissions, achieve net-zero targets, and protect the urban environment. This is the focus of three new initiatives reported on by SmartCitiesWorld this week, from innovative tools for urban forestry management to pioneering projects in renewable energy and international collaborations, where recent developments showcase the diverse strategies employed to combat climate change and foster sustainable development.

To begin with, Charlotte, North Carolina, has unveiled Canopy, a cutting-edge platform designed to enhance the city's tree canopy and promote sustainable urban forestry. Developed by Charlotte Planning, Design & Development, Canopy empowers residents to explore, plan, and enrich Charlotte's tree canopy through an interactive web map viewer. By providing access to real-time urban tree canopy data and customisable filters, Canopy enables residents to prioritise tree planting efforts and forecast future benefits. This initiative reflects Charlotte's commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement in advancing sustainability goals.?

In the UK, SSE Energy Solutions is spearheading a groundbreaking project to explore the feasibility of supplying the University of Warwick with low-carbon sustainable heat from shallow geothermal sources. By harnessing ground source heat pumps, this initiative aims to reduce reliance on natural gas for heating, aligning with the University's ambitious 2030 net-zero target. Through the drilling of test boreholes and comprehensive feasibility studies, SSE seeks to pave the way for scalable, renewable heating solutions that contribute to decarbonising campus operations and advancing sustainable energy practices.

Meanwhile, Fortaleza, a UNESCO World Heritage City in Brazil, has become the latest member of C40 Cities, reaffirming its commitment to climate action and sustainable development. As the 13th city in Latin America to join C40 Cities, Fortaleza aims to leverage international collaboration to address the climate crisis and implement forward-thinking urban planning policies. With a strong focus on climate resilience and sustainability, Fortaleza aligns its efforts with its climate action plan to mitigate environmental impacts and build a resilient future for its residents.

Through innovation, collaboration, and proactive measures, these efforts underscore the transformative potential of local and global action in combating climate change and building a more sustainable future.

Luke Antoniou

Senior editor

SmartCitiesWorld

[email protected]

Climate Cities Action Summit 2024 News:

Round up of the rest of our news stories this week:

1. New partnership to expand IoT network across North Yorkshire
2. Boston mayor announces support for offshore wind proposal
3. Sunderland to launch immersive smart city screen
4. Japanese city establishes urban air mobility centre
5. Entries invited for 2024 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge
6. Fortaleza joins C40 Cities to accelerate climate action
7. Majority believe living in a smart city would make them happier
8. French local authority contracts Keolis as transit operator
9. Interactive tool helps Charlotte enhance tree canopy
10. New generative AI chatbot seeks to transform public sector
11. UK university explores the use of geothermal heating
12. European Hyperloop Centre opens for testing in Netherlands
13. Viavi unveils 6G city-scale digital twin with native AI
14. Calgary advances green fleet and gets smart with water

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