Smart Cities

Description of the session The New Urban Agenda references the role and potential of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to advance the goals of and address the challenges posed by urbanization, presenting new opportunities for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. ICT advancements have enabled new approaches, tools and mechanisms for improving the quality of urban life and enhance the prospects of cities (and countries) around the world. Governments and partners have been exploring how best to harness the potential of ICTs not only to increase the efficiencies of city operations, but to advance sustainable urban development overall. There is an increasing role of ICTs in networked urbanization, and ICTs have ushered significant and irrevocable changes in the way people live, boosted social prosperity, and have significant impact on the growth and competitiveness of economies and cities. Smart cities involve the development of digital policies and strategies that are people-centered and tap into technological innovations to build the capacities of stakeholders (smart grids, smart government, smart citizenship, etc.). Key in smart city efforts is the use of ICTs to improve the quality of life of urban communities and build inclusive urban societies, thus efforts include the use of ICTs to enhance equitable access to urban services and opportunities, broaden participation particularly of the poor and marginalized in urban development processes, enable stakeholders’ co-development of solutions, foster accountable and responsive local authorities, as well as increase efficiencies across sectors overall. There is  growing recognition of ICTs’ potential to achieve desired outcomes in urban development: high-quality public spaces, well-connected grids, well-designed density, increased resource efficiency, improved quality of  life,  growth  with  reduced  carbon  emissions,  and knowledge  creation  and management that address emerging needs and risks --- the contours of cities that are smart and sustainable. This Session will explore the innovative policies, approaches and strategies that could assist the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda, with a focus on how a “smart city” advances the Agenda’s goals of inclusion, sustainability and resilience.