Urbanisation and Smart Cities

Urbanisation and Smart Cities is a report published by UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. This report offers a global perspective on smart city initiatives, focusing on how smart urbanisation can tackle various urban challenges across the globe. It emphasizes the need for people-centric approaches that prioritize inclusivity and resilience, particularly in addressing issues faced by both the Global South and the Global North.

By 2050, it is projected that 68% of the world's population will live in urban areas, with urbanisation occurring fastest in regions that lack adequate infrastructure. Cities currently consume over 75% of global energy and produce more than 70% of CO₂ emissions. The report highlights that the quality of urbanisation is as important as its speed, as it determines whether cities can serve as engines of opportunity or become sites of inequality.

The report sheds light on the challenges faced by cities in the Global South. Over 1 billion people live in informal settlements that lack basic services. Smart technologies must be adapted to serve these communities rather than bypass them. Additionally, many cities in these regions face infrastructure gaps, including unreliable electricity, connectivity, and water systems. Climate vulnerability is another pressing issue, with cities in the Global South facing disproportionate risks. Smart technologies can play a crucial role in enhancing early warning systems and flood management.

In contrast, cities in the Global North grapple with their own unique challenges, such as ageing infrastructure that requires modernization. Demographic changes, including an ageing population and migration, alter the demand for housing, healthcare, and mobility services. Climate adaptation is vital in these urban areas as they face increasing instances of extreme weather. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for digital inclusion to ensure that elderly, low-income, and marginalized residents are not excluded from increasingly digital urban services.

A significant argument presented in the report is that smart city technologies must serve people rather than the other way around. Inclusivity should be a priority, with smart city initiatives designed collaboratively with communities. The deployment of technology must aim to address existing inequalities, paying special attention to vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, and informal settlement residents.

Urban technologies are expected to enhance cities' abilities to withstand and recover from various shocks, including climate events and economic crises. However, the report cautions against over-reliance on complex digital systems, which can create additional vulnerabilities. Resilient cities should maintain both digital and analogue pathways for essential services.

The governance of smart cities should be democratic, transparent, and accountable. It is essential to establish data sovereignty and privacy protections, particularly for vulnerable populations. Multi-stakeholder governance models that encompass government, civil society, academia, and the private sector are more likely to yield equitable outcomes.

The report connects smart urbanisation to the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities), and SDG 13 (Climate action).

Key recommendations include prioritizing foundational infrastructure and digital literacy, designing initiatives around the needs of vulnerable populations, investing in locally appropriate solutions, and strengthening municipal capacity for technology governance. It also encourages knowledge exchange between the Global South and North regarding urban technology.

For European audiences, the UN-Habitat perspective presents a counterpoint to technology-focused smart city narratives, challenging practitioners to ensure that their initiatives genuinely serve all residents and contribute to social justice as well as operational efficiency.