Exploring the World’s Top 10 Smart Cities Leading the Way in Innovation and Sustainability

1. Exploring the World’s Top 10 Smart Cities Leading the Way in Innovation and Sustainability Can we imagine a day without the Internet? Of course, not! It has become an irreplaceable part of not only our professional, but personal lives too. A similar will be the case with smart cities. With the rapid pace with which digital technologies have been capturing the globe, the day is not far from when we will see smart cities operating in full swing. It will be a different scene altogether. Did you ever imagine that you’ll be able to call a loved one sitting miles away just by touching your phone’s screen? Ever imagined a reverse guiding camera when reversing your car? Ever imagined video calling your loved one sitting in another country? Ever imagined going to an unknown place with the help of a Global Positioning System (GPS) map? All the answers are no. Technology can work wonders to empower a city, a nation & its people. Fact Check: Bill Gates is planning to build a smart city in the Arizona desert called Belmont The United States has forecasted that by 2050, a whopping 70% of the world's population will be living in smart cities. The main purpose of establishing these cities, enhance the quality of life & promote global economic development. These cities will optimize city functions by using smart technologies & data analysis. Public safety, transportation, & advanced healthcare with many more components are instantly refined.

2. This article is a sneak peek into the top 10 smart cities in the world, with some interesting facts & stats for you to know. Without further ado, let’s start with it. 10. United Arab Emirates: Smart City Accolade: 2014 Population: 12.5 Million Core Objective: Enhance efficiency, sustainability, & interconnectivity. Initiatives: Smart Dubai 2021, Digital Dubai, Autonomous Transportation Strategy To be a part of smart cities, Dubai aims mainly at technological innovation. Its major corporate partner is Core42, taking many projects at hand like AI applications using healthcare & transportation. It boasts autonomous cars currently that reduce the chances of road mishaps & congestion. It prioritizes renewable energy by targeting the adoption of 75% clean energy by 2050. Masdar City has the privilege of serving as the headquarters for the International Renewable Energy Agency. Fact Check: 30% of traffic congestion happens due to drivers looking for parking space. 9. Helsinki: Smart City Accolade: 2024 Population: 13,47,000 Core Objective: Empowering hydrogen technology, cyber security, & autonomous cars. Initiatives: Recycling centers and flea markets, Green roofs, Wood City. Among the list of smart cities, Helsinki has a target of being carbon neutral by 2035. Back in 2017, the city had a record of diminishing emission rates by 27%. Not only this, it is also very near to

3. lessening traffic emissions by 69% till 2035. The city buses have been transformed to fully electric while also expanding its metro & car charging stations. Heat is the root cause of emissions in Helsinki, the city is focused on exercising energy-efficiency measures during the transformations. 8. London: Smart City Accolade: 2018 Population: 97,48,030 Core Objective: Safety & Security, Sustainability, Connectivity, & Innovation Initiatives: Smarter London Together, Smart Mobility, & Carbon-neutrality Already recognized as one the smartest cities in Europe, London’s green infrastructure & access to outdoor green space or green- certified buildings underpin the efforts of the England capital. The mayor aims to supply 100% of TfL energy from renewable sources ensuring 15% of London’s overall energy supply comes from these sources. Fact Check: In the future, your autonomous car could reserve a parking space for you before you even arrive at your destination. 7. Lausanne: Smart City Accolade: 2024 Population: 4,65,032 Core Objectives: Improve the Quality of Life of Citizens Initiatives: Enhancing operational efficiency, Enhancing Economic Growth, & More Sustainable Environments. In the list of smart cities, Lausanne has the highest number in several aspects. It ranks high in areas like school education, nurturing culture, green spaces, medical facilities, & health & recycling initiatives. Employment generation is also not much of an

4. issue there, the youth are happy with the opportunities available. Initiating public Wi-Fi was the first step towards being in the list of smart cities. 6. Copenhagen: Smart City Accolade: 2014 Population: 1.35 Million Core Objectives: Carbon neutrality, Sustainability, Economic growth Initiatives: Adopting green energy, sustainability & Economic Growth By 2027, Copenhagen strives to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital. The district heating system is an epitome of energy efficiency that recycles waste heat from power plants to impart warmth to homes. Along with this, the city has also partnered with Siemens company to enhance its training system with cutting-edge technology to increase the number of trains maintaining the same speed along with safety. Fact Check: Smart Cities Can Predict Infrastructure Failures 5. Singapore: Smart City Accolade: 2014 Population: 6.04 Million Core Objectives: Enhance economic opportunities, & implement tech to empower people. Initiatives: Via Smart Nation Initiative it aims to harness technology by deploying IoT sensors, & data analytics. Singapore doesn’t deserve to be No. 5 on the list of top smart cities. But our research team says so. The city launched its Smart Nation Initiative as early as 2014, by opening avenues for smart technologies in both, the public & private sectors. Online transactions are openly welcomed to efficiently direct movements & payments for the city’s 7.5 million passengers who commute by public transport daily.

5. 4. Geneva: Smart City Accolade: 2017 Population: 6,38,720 Core Objectives: Sustainability, Infrastructure & Security, Economic Growth. Initiatives: Energy, Digital, Mobility & Waste. Geneva is best placed at No. 4 in the ranking of smart cities. The best results depicted are in mobility, sustainability & infrastructure. This city of Switzerland has focused on infrastructural, digital & mobility sectors to be enhanced on a hyper-fast basis. Within these aspects of a combination of ecological & sustainability stands out as it stands as the main focus. Fact Check: Smart Cities Can Predict Infrastructure Failures 3. Canberra: Smart City Accolade: 2024 Population: 4,78,000 Core Objectives: Economic Growth, Sustainability, & Quality of Life Initiatives: The city continues to focus on transportation, sustainability, & citizen engagement. Running in the race for smart cities, Canberra aims to adopt 100% electrical integration in the city by 2045. The electronic automobile market has been hugely accepted here & has been recognized for the same at times. Cutting-edge technologies like smart grids, promoting energy-efficient buildings, & highlighting infrastructure about EV to support it take up, boosting resource efficiency help in desizing the greenhouse gas impact. 2. Oslo: Smart City Accolade: 2024

6. Population: 11,01,000 Core Objectives: Greenery, Social Inclusivity, Reduce Bias, Adopting Innovation Initiatives: Emission-free by 2030, Adoption of Renewable Energy by 2030. Being the capital city of Norway, the city aims to adopt fully EV automobiles in the entire city. This can be a game changer if we consider its population of 6,70,000. To encourage the same, the Government has already passed ordinances or incentives for zero- emission cars which include facilities like free parking, use of bus lanes, & lesser taxes & prices at toll booths. Another target of net- zero emissions by 2050 is already in action. Fact Check: Urban Farming Is Integrated into Smart Buildings 1. Seoul: Smart City Accolade: 2011 Population: 1,00,05,000 Core Objectives: Increase competitive advantage, respond to digital integration & Improve Quality of Life for citizens. Initiatives: Citizen Engagement Programs, Gaepo Innovation Park, & Digital Think Tanks Seoul has emerged as a global leader in the smart cities realm. Its corporate partner is Samsung SDS aiming at unparalleled digital connectivity & citizen engagement programs. The endless Wi-Fi network of the city covers 100% outdoor spaces, ensuring predominant internet access combined with Samsung’s hyper- intellectual transportation systems that enhance traffic flow using AI. Conclusion All these cities remain drivers for opportunity & prosperity for individuals & countries. By 2050, nearly two-thirds of the global

7. population will be living in a smart city. If you’ve read here, you’ve realized that smart cities need to be more people-oriented. These cities are the key factors in keeping the best foot forward- inviting progress & making it the new normal. The majority of the sectors like banking, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, & many more will have positive & most efficient outcomes. These aspects will make the world overall more livable, inclusive, & will be a ‘smart space’ to live in. Uncover the latest trends and insights with our articles on Visionary Vogues