Page 3 - ITU Smart Sustainable Cities, March 2021

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Foreword

The global challenges brought on by COVID-19 have made it clear
that embracing digital transformation is no longer an option, but a
necessity.

Cities rely on digital infrastructure to provide critical services,
enable data collection at scale, and inform decision-making.
Businesses are looking to digital transformation to streamline core
operations and stay competitive. And digital transformation is
changing the way we think about social life and education.

This accelerated rate of digital transformation – and associated
opportunities to reimagine urban planning and investment – can
help us to realign urban development with pathways compatible
with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
But this can only be achieved if we come together internationally
to develop a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient future and
take collective action to realize this vision.

This brochure shares insight into how ITU standardization work and Chaesub Lee
supporting collaboration initiatives are enabling shared progress
towards smart sustainable cities and communities. Director
ITU Telecommunication
ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and Standardization Bureau
communication technology (ICT). Policymakers, urban planners,
industry, academia and civil society are working together to
develop ITU standards able to help cities innovate efficiently and
at scale. These standards support the development of master plans
for the transition to smart sustainable cities, interoperability among
city systems, efficient data processing and management, and much
more.

ITU is also a founding member of United for Smart Sustainable
Cities (U4SSC), an initiative supported by 17 United Nations
partners with the aim of achieving SDG11: Make cities inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable. More than 100 cities worldwide
are evaluating their progress towards smart city objectives and
the SDGs using U4SSC Key Performance Indicators for Smart
Sustainable Cities based on ITU standards.

A successful digital transformation will demand broad-based
collaboration to ensure that advances in ICT follow a course aligned
with universal human values. ITU provides a neutral platform to
build this collaboration and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
We welcome you to join our work to create a more sustainable and
resilient future for all.