Smart, Green, Sustainable. What do they mean for cities?

Dr. Stefanos Fotiou, @stefanosfotiouUnited Nations Environnement Programme

Executive Summary

Definitions Confusions Needs Opportunities Redefinitions

What is smart?

•More from Oxford dictionary:• Clean, neat, fashionable and upscale (person

or place)• Programmed so as to be capable of some

independent action (device)• In a quick or brisk manner (behaviour)

“Having or showing a

quick-witted intelligence”

Oxford Dictionary

Smart city

• Uncle wiki• A smart city uses digital technologies or information and communication technologies

(ICT) to enhance quality and performance of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption, and to engage more effectively and actively with its citizens.

• European Commission• In Smart Cities, digital technologies translate into better public services for citizens,

better use of resources and less impact on the environment.

• International Telecommunications Union• A smart sustainable city is an innovative city that uses ICTs and other means to

improve the quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects.

Smart city

• Uncle wiki• A smart city uses digital technologies or information and communication technologies

(ICT) to enhance quality and performance of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption, and to engage more effectively and actively with its citizens.

• European Commission• In Smart Cities, digital technologies translate into better public services for citizens,

better use of resources and less impact on the environment.

• International Telecommunications Union• A smart sustainable city is an innovative city that uses ICTs and other means to

improve the quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects.Resource Efficiency

Sustainable Cities

Green city

Cities focusing on reducing environmental impact

Starting points for the building of sustainable development

Cities with big open public green spaces

…………………………………………………………………….

Where is the confusion

• What kind of cities we want?• Smart, Green, Sustainable?

• Is smart equivalent to sustainable or just a part?

Smart Sustainable Green

SmartSustainable

GreenSustainable

Smart

Green

Smart Sustainable

Green

?

What people say?

• Beautiful• Nice• Clean• Wonderful• Does it matter if we call them green, sustainable or smart?

What people want?

• Better daily life• Clean air• Efficient public transport• Opportunities for leisure• Learning experiences• ………………………………..

Destinations and paths

Green, Smart Sustainable

Opportunities for action

• Sustainable Development Goals• Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21)• Habitat III

Sustainable Development Goals

All SDGs are relevant to cities!SDG 11 is the one dedicated to them!

Targets are more important• Housing and basic services; upgrade slums• Sustainable transport systems for all • Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization • Protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage• Significantly reduce the deaths and losses caused by disasters• Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special

attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management• Universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces• Strengthening national and regional development planning• Integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and

adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters• sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials

Redefining “smart”: 1

Smart is achieving all

targets of SDG11 by 2030 and

contributing to other SDGs

COP21• Will cities have an increased responsibility and role on implementing

the Paris climate change agreement?

Redefining “smart”: 2

Smart is maximising the climate change

mitigation potential of my

city

Habitat III

• A one to 20 years opportunity!• A new sustainable urban development agenda• Secure renewed political commitment for sustainable urban

development

Redefining “smart”: 3

Smart is to define the future of

sustainable urban development

paths and models

Thank you for your kind attention!

Contact:@stefanosfotiou