Smart Cities: Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Climate Action

On November 5-7, 2024, the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the world’s biggest and most influential event for cities and urban innovation, gathered over 25,000 professionals from 130 countries in Barcelona to showcase solutions for our cities’ most pressing challenges. This year, SCEWC highlighted transforming cities into more livable, efficient, and sustainable spaces.

Cities increasingly leverage artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to optimize operations and achieve ambitious climate goals. Barcelona itself stands as a testament to this approach, with its intelligent waste management systems, effective public transport and energy efficient public lighting demonstrating how innovative technologies can directly contribute to reducing urban carbon footprints.

The Congress revealed three key trends that are reshaping our approach to urban sustainability:

• First, we’re seeing a democratization of green technology. Cities of all sizes, as well as individual citizens, are adopting smart solutions for renewable energy integration and storage systems. This isn’t just about installing solar panels anymore—it’s about creating intelligent grids that can optimize energy distribution and consumption in real time.
• Second, the mobility sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Beyond electric vehicles, cities are exploring hydrogen engines and Mobility-as-a-Service solutions. These innovations promise not just cleaner transport, but a fundamental re-imagining of how people move through urban spaces.
• Third, and perhaps most importantly, citizen engagement has moved to the forefront of smart city initiatives. Digital tools are enabling unprecedented levels of community participation in environmental decision-making, ensuring that sustainability measures reflect local needs and priorities.

With the support of the Global Covenant of Mayors, three Covenant of Mayors – East signatories – Balti (Moldova), Mingachevir (Azerbaijan), and Sumy (Ukraine) – participated in the event. Their presence at the congress represents a growing recognition that addressing climate change requires both technological innovation and international collaboration.

This year’s congress was all about the emphasis on practical implementation. Cities weren’t just sharing visions—they were exchanging concrete strategies and forming partnerships to turn sustainable smart city concepts into reality.

As we look to the future, it’s clear that the path to urban sustainability runs through smart city innovations. The technologies showcased in Barcelona—from AI-driven energy management systems to digital platforms for citizen engagement— could make our cities smarter, more sustainable, resilient, and livable for all.

The Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 demonstrated that the tools for urban transformation are already at hand. The challenge now lies in scaling these solutions and ensuring they reach the cities that need them most. As we face the mounting pressures of climate change, smart city technologies aren’t just an option—they’re necessary for creating sustainable urban futures.

Maksym Vereshchak, Deputy Team Lead, CoM East