Smart Cities Round Up - 15 NOVEMBER 2024

With COP29 Azerbaijan underway, and the U20 overlapping, it's a particularly noteworthy week for climate action and sustainable urban development, and how it intersects with information and technology verticals in and around cities - particularly artificial intelligence, which remains a key emerging solution for cities around the world.

ICLEI Europe , a key organisation promoting sustainable development, has received funding from the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund to train public officials in AI skills to bolster local climate action. The project, supported by the Centre for Public Impact , aims to empower city officials across Europe to make data-driven, informed decisions about climate strategies by understanding and leveraging AI tools. This initiative underscores the role of upskilling public officials in effectively navigating the intersection of AI and climate challenges.

At Cop29 in Baku, IBM and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) unveiled two AI-powered platforms designed to support sustainable urban development in developing regions. These tools enable policymakers to map urbanisation patterns, identify energy needs, and improve infrastructure planning, particularly in emerging economies. Through its collaboration with SEforALL, IBM is amplifying the role of AI in driving equitable energy transitions and sustainable urban growth, reaffirming AI's potential to address global climate challenges on a local scale.

Additionally, AI's role in advancing green technology is highlighted in the latest Marks & Clerk AI Report, which shows a 35 per cent increase in patent filings for AI innovations tied to sustainability. These advancements, despite a general slowdown in AI patent growth, signal an accelerating focus on using AI to enhance resilience to climate change and support emissions reductions.

As these technologies continue to evolve, their integration at the local level will be critical in addressing the pressing demands of the global climate crisis.

Luke Antoniou , Senior editor, SmartCitiesWorld

Here is a round up of our other News this week:

1. C40 guide to serve as implementation tool for urban planners
2. Arup and Resilient Cities Network team to provide guidance on extreme shocks
3. UK local authority uses digital twin tech for net zero plans
4. ICLEI Europe set to equip public officials with AI skills
5. Calgary expands tree canopy with $61m funding boost
6. Chicago launches Smart Streets Pilot programme
7. Can digital twins better manage integrated transport networks?
8. EHang completes debut passenger flight over Bangkok
9. Itron and Cielis announce ten-year smart streetlight contract for Paris
10. Majority of Brazilians support city climate action
11. Is this the future for goods travel across our cities?
12. Unified security platform creates a truly smart building
13. How AI is helping to advance green technology
14. Sugar Land explores autonomous elevated cable and rail system
15. Port of Hueneme installs solar electric vehicle chargers
16. Glasgow’s new route map plots its path to net zero
17. Cop29: IBM and SEforALL launch AI platforms for sustainable urban development

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Panel discussion (21 November): Using AI to create value in cities for communities and workforce

OPINION:

How AI can help to transform the water industry

SPECIAL REPORT:

How an electric future was built in Dundee

TREND REPORT:

AI in Utilities Management for Cities Trend Report 2024