Smart and Sustainable? Positioning Adaptation to Climate Change in the European Smart City

Abstract

This article reports on the elements of adaptation to climate change in European Smart City initiatives in order to understand to what extent Smart Cities can be the answer in the fight against climate change. On the grounds of innovative efforts implemented in Barcelona, Rotterdam, and Vienna, we examine the opportunities and obstacles to both Smart Environment (defined as an axis of the Smart City) and adaptation to climate change, linking them together. As it is difficult to estimate the benefits of climate action in the short term due to often costly solutions, Smart City proposals could provide the economic incentive to create adaptive, energy-efficient, and sustainable societies. As the need for adaptive and resilient cities in the global context of climate change rises, the concept of Smart City might need to evolve into that of a Smart Sustainable City, positioning the environment at the core of its development. Results from this analysis suggest that the interaction between technology and nature can be enhanced when a Smart City approach promotes the integration of climate strategies and encourages the participation of citizens, something that is crucial since early adaptation efforts can safeguard smart infrastructure from climate impacts.

Towards a National Harmonized Framework for Urban Plans and Strategies in Romania

“…The content of urban plans is different from that of strategies. Urban planning focuses on its economic and social rationality while strategies may focus more on sustainable, inclusive, and smart components [45]. Through systematic integration, the essential contents of strategies (zoning based on resilience principles, smart projects, etc.)…”

Role of Smart Cities in Optimizing Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Opportunities in Nagpur, India

“…Amongst these six components, Sanseverino et al [41] explained that the Smart Environment dimension is particularly linked with the smart and sustainable urban environment with a wise management of natural resources. Here, the ICT features can be employed to improve the knowledge of environmental services such as water and energy, so as to change people's behaviors, reduce waste and improve the efficient use of resources [4,43].…”

“…Here, the ICT features can be employed to improve the knowledge of environmental services such as water and energy, so as to change people's behaviors, reduce waste and improve the efficient use of resources [4,43].…”

“…The keywords of 'decision making' and 'resource management' have also been recognized in the existing SC research trends on WEF interlinked systems, as seen from the density visualization maps in Figure 6g,h. Since the proposed Nagpur smart city is still in the transformation phase, resource sustainability and multi-stakeholder involvement can play a central role in creating adaptive and resilient cities [4].…”

“…To secure more investments and boost job creation for rapid economic growth, the fast-growing cities continue to bring about notable development transformations. However, it is also important to underline that cities account for a significant share (60-80%) of greenhouse gas emissions, around 50% of global waste, and 75% of natural resource consumption [2][3][4]. The geographically expanding city boundaries, rapid urbanization trends and the growing resource demands, therefore present serious concerns for environmental sustainability.…”