Cities account for more than 50 per cent of the planet’s population and are responsible for more than 70 per cent of global carbon emissions.

 

To combat this, decarbonisation strategies are being employed by cities worldwide.

 

According to the Urban Decarbonisation Strategies and the Role of Smart Cities application analysis report by global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, smart cities technologies will a critical asset for this transformation.

 

“The principles behind smart city technologies, such as increasing efficiency, better data management, and better decision making are also essential for decarbonisation and reaching net-zero goals. Technologies such as digital twins, smart streetlights, micro-grids, computer vision, smart city management platforms, and micro-mobility are all growing in popularity and can help with decarbonisation,” explains Dominique Bonte, Vice-President, End Markets at ABI Research.

 

“The technologies can enhance decarbonisation through more efficient energy use, better project planning, predictive maintenance, greener mobility options (such as e-bikes and e-scooters), and greater urban management through better data management.”

 

There are many examples of cities deploying smart city technologies to enable decarbonisation including London’s recent expansion of the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) which uses a variety of technologies such as ANPR (automatic number plate readers), CCTV cameras, and environmental sensors to assess the impact of the new regulations. Another example is Tengah, Singapore.

 

It is Singapore’s innovation district and uses a variety of technologies to support decarbonisation including a centralised cooling system, smart streetlights, smart waste removal, a mobile app for citizens' smart meters, and mass rapid transport with a car-free city centre.

 

These strategies not only have a direct impact on energy consumption by also encourage and enable citizens to make better choices to help the city decarbonise.

 

“Cities have a great opportunity to influence how we reach net-zero goals through their ability to regulate, purchase, and influence their services. By opting for smarter, more resilient solutions they can reach and maintain their decarbonisation goals to increase the health of their citizens and the wider community,” Bonte concludes. –Tradearabia News Service