Panel Discussion (30 Jun): Unlocking value in cities from buildings, data and AI

Explore how AI, building data and connected urban infrastructure can help cities improve sustainability, resilience and operational performance.

OnDemand Trend Report Panel Discussion: Operating smarter: using digital twins and AI to reshape urban infrastructure management

Discover how AI-powered digital twins are transforming urban infrastructure and how these innovations can improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: connecting climate action, resilience and urban innovation

As cities confront the combined pressures of climate change, infrastructure resilience and digital transformation, the SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026 will bring together urban leaders and partners during London Climate Action Week to explore how these agendas intersect – and how cities can translate strategy into practical action.

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: going green in the built environment

The SmartCitiesWorld Summit, which takes place 26-27 June, will act as a call to action for cities to make the transformation of the built environment a central part of their climate action strategies.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Shenzhen

SmartCitiesWorld City Profiles explore the city of Shenzhen, designated as China’s first special economic zone and a role model of urban modernisation. Find out more about Shenzhen’s smart city strategy in this 16-page report.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sydney

In 2020, the City of Sydney released a Smart City Strategic Framework to harness the opportunities brought about by digital disruption, to plan for uncertainty and to sustain a global reputation as a leading place to live, work, learn and visit.

Podcasts

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

Podcast: Building resilient cities: trustworthy AI, digital twins, and urban innovation at YII 2025Sponsored by Bentley Systems

SmartCitiesWorld speaks with Bentley Systems leaders about unleashing AI and digital twins to drive innovation, resilience, and people-first progress in the world’s cities.

Opinions

Building smarter cities: scaling sustainability and efficiency with smart city platformsSponsored by ST Engineering

ST Engineering’s Richard Ng explains how integrated smart city platforms can support cities in becoming more sustainable and efficient at the scale that is right for them.

Lessons from Italy: Why smart city projects can bridge the urban development gap

Digital Leaders CEO Giuliano Liguori highlights Italy as an example and warning that pushing ahead with smart city plans should ensure access for the worst off, on an individual and municipal level, as top priority.

22 - 26 June 2026: Find out more

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sunderland

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Sunderland is repositioning itself as a leading smart city – using digital infrastructure and low-carbon innovation to build a resilient, future-focused economy in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: The impact of AI and data on transportation operations and services

Trend Series

Delve into how cities are addressing the challenges of building intelligent transport systems and using AI and data to transform operations and user experience.

Latest Summit Speakers
(22-26 June)

Lord Marvin Rees OBE

Former Mayor

Bristol City Council

Find out more

Julie Foley OBE

Director of Flood Risk Strategy & Adaptation

Environment Agency

Find out more

Sherelle Fairweather

Digital Strategy Lead

Manchester’s Digital Strategy

Find out more

Jaromir Beranek

Deputy Mayor for Transport

City of Prague

Find out more

Liz St Louis

Smart City Director

Sunderland City Council

Find out more

Cllr Susan Aitken

Leader

Glasgow City Council

Find out more

Mark Wheeler

CIO

Montgomery County

Find out more

John Moran

Mayor

Limerick City and County Council

Find out more

Matjaž Rakovec

Mayor

City of Kranj

Find out more

Erin Mendenhall

Mayor

Salt Lake City

Find out more

Julia King

The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS

House of Lords

Find out more

Latest Webinar

Panel Discussion (30 Jun): Unlocking value in cities from buildings, data and AI

Webinars

Explore how AI, building data and connected urban infrastructure can help cities improve sustainability, resilience and operational performance.

Latest Podcast

Cities Thriving on Lighting, Episode 3 – What global cities are learning from smart lighting

Podcasts

Join the final episode of Cities Thriving on Lighting to discover how global cities are approaching smart lighting and the related cybersecurity risks today.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

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Most Popular

Cities in Motion Index ranks the smartest global cities

Cities invited to apply to cycling infrastructure programme

Data tool aims to help developers meet biodiversity metric

Rapper Akon plans to build a new “cypto city” in Senegal

Amman students use Minecraft to redesign their city

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Home | Energy & Environment | Climate action

Climate action

The latest news on climate change concerning smart city projects across the world.

Climate-responsive urban planning model takes centre stage at World Urban Forum

Climate-responsive urban planning model takes centre stage at World Urban Forum

Climate action20 May 2026

The C40 Cities and UN-Habitat Urban Planning Accelerator, endorsed by 33 cities, is recognised as a powerful climate action tool at WUF13 in Baku this week.

Data tool aims to help developers meet biodiversity metric

Data tool aims to help developers meet biodiversity metric

Planning and redevelopment22 Apr 2026

The foundational dataset is designed to help rural and urban developers in England to support the target of providing a 10 per cent Biodiversity Net Gain.

Amman students use Minecraft to redesign their city

Amman students use Minecraft to redesign their city

Planning and redevelopment08 Apr 2026

Students will work in teams to redesign public spaces using the Minecraft Education platform to support a climate-resilient, inclusive, and food-secure future.

Mutirão programme fast-tracks climate action in Brazilian cities

Mutirão programme fast-tracks climate action in Brazilian cities

Climate action25 Mar 2026

First cohort of cities and states will receive support from C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors to deliver implementation-ready climate initiatives by 2027.

Plans announced for London’s floating destination

Plans announced for London’s floating destination

Planning and redevelopment06 Mar 2026

Vision for Royal Victoria Dock West would see a 12-hectare stretch of water within London’s Royal Docks become the capital’s first large-scale floating park.

Kuala Lumpur sets roadmap for decarbonising the built environment

Kuala Lumpur sets roadmap for decarbonising the built environment

Climate action18 Feb 2026

Malaysian capital worked with C40 Cities and the UK on a four-year initiative to integrate inclusive, practical climate action into planning and operations.

New standard speeds up local energy planning in UK

New standard speeds up local energy planning in UK

Planning and redevelopment11 Feb 2026

The standardised Local Authority Common Ask builds on previous cross-sector collaboration and enables local authorities to share granular spatial forecasts.

Plan outlines how Sacramento could adapt to extreme weather

Plan outlines how Sacramento could adapt to extreme weather

Climate action22 Jan 2026

SacAdapt is a joint effort between the City and SRTD to prepare roads, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, bus stops and light rail infrastructure for climate impacts.

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Climate action19 Jan 2026

One of five projects to be approved under the initiative, the building will improve the public realm with landscaping, street trees and pedestrian connections.

Westminster City Council launches ‘retrofit-first’ policy

Westminster City Council launches ‘retrofit-first’ policy

Climate action12 Jan 2026

It requires developers to explore all reasonable options for retrofitting and adapting buildings before seeking permission for demolition and redevelopment.

Most Popular

What is ‘Smart City’ and why do we need them?

Smart city is the framework based on Information and Communication technologies that enable the development of sustainable practices to address the urbanisation challenges. Leveraging the technology is one of the foremost pillars of ‘smart cities’ in order to increase efficiencies and improve the quality of resident’s life and the city’s services.

ST Engineering to provide smart city platform for Lusail City

The company will build and operate a smart city platform with citywide network connectivity for the Qatar city using advanced AI and data-driven technologies.

Solar city goes live

Trina Solar’s PV modules have begun operations in the 10MW Sustainable City in Dubai, which aims to use only clean energy sources

Never fear, Watson is here!

Currently, the average data breach takes organisations an average of 201 days to identify and an average of 70 days to contain

Swedish city on path to smart

Energy company Mälarenergi is working with ABB to develop smart city solutions for the city of Västerås

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Guest Opinions

How AI and biometrics are shaping next-generation mobility paymentsSponsored by ST Engineering

Fuad Alsagoff, Senior Manager, Mobility Payment Systems, Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, explains how mobility ...

How cities can get ahead with AI-enabled traffic managementSponsored by ST Engineering

Dr Chong Chee Chung, Vice President, ITS Architecting, Mobility Road, Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, explains how a ...

Ethical AI, geospatial data and the future of digital transformation

Manish Jethwa, chief technology officer at Ordnance Survey (OS), looks at how AI will impact the world of geospatial ...

Harnessing location intelligence for global resilience and sustainable investments

Donna Lyndsay, strategic market lead for sustainability at Ordnance Survey (OS), looks at the role location ...

Why now is a pivotal moment for urban climate action

Mark Watts, executive director, C40 Cities and Claus Mathisen, CEO, Urban Partners, explain why the 15-minute city ...

Why buses will be the catalyst for electrified public transport

Think Tank: When the sea swallows your cities

In the latest of our opinion pieces from members of our Advisory Board, a grim warning is issued about the risk of ...

Financing city digitisation in a post-pandemic world

Cities are facing a post Covid financial squeeze but there are ways of funding new projects.

Jointly building a smart city helps us all enjoy better urban livesSponsored by Huawei

Closed ecosystems mean limited choices, limited innovation, limited success, writes York Yuekun.

Where's the return on investment?

Delivering a return on investment for smart cities requires three dimensional change, writes Itai Dadon, head of smart ...

Resilient cities are being redefined by the coronavirus

Covid-19 is showing us what resilience in cities actually is, writes Stephen Zoegall, director of global cities and ...

Iskandar shows Malaysia’s smart cities’ promise but only if they keep citizens in mind

Malaysia can show how to build a smart city from scratch but it’s not without its challenges, writes Skymind CEO Shawn ...