Page 11 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

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INTRODUCTION

The development of Smart Sustainable Cities is at the heart of our
pursuit of sustainability. Modern cities are responsible for 80 per
cent of global economic output and 70 per cent of global energy
consumption and GHG emissions, and, by year 2050, cities will be
home to 66 per cent of the world’s projected 9 billion inhabitants.

The ITU-T Focus Group on Smart Sustainable Cities was
established as an open platform for smart-city stakeholders –
such as municipalities; academic and research institutes; non-
governmental organizations (NGOs); and ICT organizations,
industry forums and consortia – to exchange knowledge in the
interests of identifying the standardized frameworks needed to
support the integration of ICT services in smart cities.

ITU collaboration with UN Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE), within the framework provided by the ITU-T Focus Group
on Smart Sustainable Cities, led to the international agreement of
a definition of Smart Sustainable Cities:

“A smart sustainable city (SSC) is an innovative city that uses
information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other
means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and
services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the
needs of present and future generations with respect to economic,
social, environmental as well as cultural aspects”.

This compendium of the 21 Technical Reports and Specifications
developed by the Focus Group provides an overview of how ICTs
could be deployed with traditional infrastructures to promote the
coordinated, integrated use of new digital technologies in meeting
21st Century urban-development objectives.

In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly achieved
consensus on a new set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals,
adopting a global sustainable development agenda, applicable to
both developed and developing countries.

ICTs play an important role in this agenda, in particular as part of Goal
9 – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation – which includes a target to
increase access to ICTs and provide universal and affordable access
to the Internet. Addressing urban development more directly, Goal
11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient

ITU-T’s Technical Reports and Specifications 1