Smart City Initiatives: A Catalyst for Urban Green Economic Efficiency

Smart city initiatives have been increasingly recognized as a potential accelerator for improving urban green economic efficiency (GEE), which considers economic growth and environmental pollution. The concept of a smart city combines the dual attributes of information technology and environmental regulation, aiming to enhance economic efficiency and environmental conditions[1].

Research has shown that smart city pilots can indeed improve urban GEE. For instance, a study conducted in China found that the overall GEE showed a rising trend with fluctuations. Interestingly, the GEE of cities implementing smart city pilots improved more significantly after 2012 than those without. This suggests that smart city initiatives can act as an accelerator, simultaneously promoting economic efficiency and enhancing environmental conditions [1].

Another study further suggested that smart city pilots positively affect technological innovations and human capital, promoting urban green total factor productivity (GTFP). This finding underscores the significant role of smart city construction in coordinating the relationship between urban economic development and environmental protection[2].

Examples of smart cities around the world further illustrate this point. Singapore, for instance, consistently tops the list of the world's smartest cities due to its effective use of technology to enhance urban living. Oslo, on the other hand, focuses on creating a sustainable, eco-friendly environment. New York has tested web-based software that uses historical crime data and terrain modeling to predict and respond to crime, resulting in a marked decrease in violent crime. London has set up several smart city initiatives over the past decade, including the Civic Innovation Challenge and Connect London, which aim to provide 5G connectivity and fiber-optic infrastructure[3].

In conclusion, smart city pilots can act as an accelerator for improving urban GEE, promoting economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. As more cities around the world adopt smart city initiatives, we can expect to see further improvements in urban GEE, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future[1][2][3].

Citations:
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195925523002949
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38159186/
[3] https://www.nec.co.nz/market-leadership/publications-media/which-cities-are-smart-cities-5-examples-of-smart-cities-around-the-world/
[4] https://spring.smartcitiesconnect.org/about/who.html
[5] https://urbantide.com/output/5-smart-cities-case-studies
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195925523002949
[7] https://earth.org/top-7-smart-cities-in-the-world/
[8] https://www.thinkers360.com/top-50-global-thought-leaders-and-influencers-on-smart-cities-2022/
[9] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-44061-2
[10] https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/top-10-growing-smart-cities
[11] https://www.smartcitiescouncil.com/resources/abb-smart-city-outlook-both-challenge-and-chance
[12] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2210670723003426
[13] https://www.iotworldtoday.com/smart-cities/the-definitive-list-of-smart-cities-projects-taking-the-world-by-storm
[14] https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/advisory-panel
[15] https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/16005
[16] https://www.hlp.city/smart-city-technology-benefits-and-the-worlds-top-10-smartest-cities/
[17] https://www.smartcityworks.org/innovation-challenges/scc-2022
[18] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1331677X.2023.2181840
[19] https://stateofgreen.com/en/news/10-examples-of-smart-city-solutions/
[20] https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/special-reports/think-bigger-how-to-scale-smart-city-pilots
[21] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-21681-1
[22] https://www.digi.com/blog/post/smart-cities-in-the-world
[23] https://www.smartcityworks.org/post/accelerate-smart-cities-challenge
[24] https://newsletter.x-mol.com/paper/1717365967418052608
[25] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smart_cities