Page 9 - Guide for smart and sustainable city leaders: Envisioning sustainable digital transformation

UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre

The recent IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report stated that urban systems have a critical role to
play in the decarbonisation of energy and transport systems and in advancing climate-resilient
development. But there will be no energy or transport sector transitions without a digital
transformation too. Smart technologies will have to be part of the solution if cities are to get on
a credible net-zero emissions pathway. From energy management systems in buildings to traffic
management or air pollution monitoring, the introduction of digital technologies opens the
possibilities for faster adoption of sustainability practices. The integration of climate and energy
policies, the adoption of renewable energy technologies, combined with the electrification of
more and more energy uses is creating the opportunity for the adoption of digital solutions
to support quicker and more bold action. Digital transformation is also a strong ally to energy
efficiency at the city level. Energy efficiency is generally the quickest and cheapest option
for reducing GHG and other emissions and there are many opportunities to adopt digital
technologies to enhance energy efficiency practices in the urban context.

Although smart cities will be key to a more sustainable future, this does not come without
challenges. Adopting too few technologies may limit the development in an area, while adopting
too many at once may create confusion and be difficult to manage. The right balance and pace
need to be found, together with the right local stakeholder engagement. In addition, a digital
transformation will depend on skilled professionals for its design and installation, so training
and capacity building will be of the essence. Finally, finance and data privacy are matters that
also currently constrain digital transformation.

An extra aspect of the digital transformation is that it can provide new opportunities for enhanced
transparency of actions, as it comes with the possibility to access and treat large amounts of
data, therefore providing new abilities to verify the implementation effectiveness, accountability
and correct pathways if needed.

The above issues and concerns form the basis for this Guide, aiming not only to support an
informed sustainable transition at the city level but also at paving the way to the creation of
standards for best-in-class cities. This Guide is a must-read for planners and politicians at the
city level as a quick but comprehensive introduction to what it takes to excel in a sustainable
digital transformation at the city level.

John Christensen
Director
UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre

x