COP26: 10 guiding principles to be reflected in the final agreement

Ahead of COP26, SmartCitiesWorld has written an open letter to international political leaders consisting of 10 major guiding principles that we believe should be reflected in any final agreement at the conference in Glasgow in November. Here, we break down those principles, addressing the challenges within each and the importance of cities receiving full backing from central governments as they look to a greener future.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile 2024 – City of Madrid

Discover how the city of Madrid is innovating to become a smarter, more sustainable city that’s able to deliver improved services to residents and visitors alike.

Podcasts

Opinions

Rebuilding green: Analysing the Biden infrastructure plan

John Fitzgerald, Project Director, Linesight, explains why major reskilling, outreach work by government and the right messaging will be key to realising benefits.

22-26 June 2026: Find out more

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report 2025: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

OnDemand Panel Discussion (20 Jan): Digital twins and AI as the intelligent operating layer for cities

Webinars

Join us for insights from real-world case studies on the use of digital twins and AI as the present and future of urban management.

Latest Podcast

How cities can own their data and their future with sovereign AI

Podcasts

Tune into the SmartCitiesWorld podcast to understand the world of sovereign AI for cities, featuring PNY Technologies’ Youssef Nadiri as our expert guest.

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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Edinburgh introduces hybrid solar lighting to parks

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Vancouver approves zoning updates for Villages initiative

Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment

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 | Urban Space | Recreational space

Recreational space

The latest news in recreational space on smart city projects and initiatives across the world.

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Planning and redevelopment22 Jan 2026

Europe must take advantage of brownfield development’s potential to address affordable housing needs and reduce carbon emissions, a new report reveals.

Vancouver approves zoning updates for Villages initiative

Vancouver approves zoning updates for Villages initiative

Planning and redevelopment20 Jan 2026

Villages form part of the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan and are centred on existing retail clusters that will transform into vibrant neighbourhoods.

Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment

Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment

Planning and redevelopment16 Jan 2026

Estonian capital’s 2026 budget and master plan aims to create a high-quality living environment with everyday services conveniently accessible to residents.

Sunderland installs sensor-based plaza in city centre

Recreational space02 Dec 2025

Pixel Plaza features 12 LED totems that create an immersive experience and aim to reimagine culture and leisure spaces in the city through technology.

Los Angeles launches free community wifi in Crenshaw Corridor

Los Angeles launches free community wifi in Crenshaw Corridor

Inclusivity24 Oct 2025

Pairing wifi technology with existing city infrastructure unlocks a platform for Los Angeles to further develop smart city assets and public service delivery.

The Ellinikon smart city in Greece nears final stages

The Ellinikon smart city in Greece nears final stages

Planning and redevelopment15 Oct 2025

The Ellinikon, which is being developed on former site of Athens’ international airport, is expected to contribute approximately 2.5 per cent of Greece’s GDP.

Mayor marks Climate Week NYC with “Good Clean Fun” initiative

Mayor marks Climate Week NYC with “Good Clean Fun” initiative

Climate action23 Sep 2025

New guidelines introduced by mayor Eric Adams aims to help event producers cut waste, reduce emissions, and improve environmental impact across the city.

New York City DoT unveils comprehensive Greenway plan

New York City DoT unveils comprehensive Greenway plan

Planning and redevelopment19 Aug 2025

Report details past development of Greenways and identifies potential locations for future expansion as well as opportunities for integrating Greenway projects.

Salt Lake City invites residents to help shape Green Loop

Salt Lake City invites residents to help shape Green Loop

Citizen engagement14 Aug 2025

Residents can share stories and ideas through a memory box installation to help guide early design decisions of a prominent section of the flagship civic block.

Sunderland’s smart playparks top global leaderboard

Sunderland’s smart playparks top global leaderboard

Recreational space07 Aug 2025

Interactive installations are helping families get active, socialise and enjoy the outdoors as well as create connected community spaces with free public wifi.

Most Popular

Sidewalk Labs shuts down Toronto smart city project

Google affiliate blames coronavirus and economic uncertainty for closing controversial and delayed smart city project

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.

AI used to monitor and optimise Swedish road infrastructure

Computer vision and machine learning specialist, Univrses, will work with the Swedish Transport Administration to digitise and manage roadside infrastructure.

Huawei seals smart city deal with Barcelona

They will collaborate on projects relating to 5G, smart city applications and digital transformation.

AI tools for city management launched at Bloomberg CityLab

City AI Connect will be a single destination for local government leaders to ideate, develop, and test new uses for generative AI with peers across cities.

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

The art of the city: how creators may save urban business districts

Artists could reinvigorate cities whose commercial districts have been left moribund by Covid-19, writes WhereiPark’s ...

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report 2025: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

OnDemand Panel Discussion (20 Jan): Digital twins and AI as the intelligent operating layer for cities

Webinars

Join us for insights from real-world case studies on the use of digital twins and AI as the present and future of urban management.

Latest Podcast

How cities can own their data and their future with sovereign AI

Podcasts

Tune into the SmartCitiesWorld podcast to understand the world of sovereign AI for cities, featuring PNY Technologies’ Youssef Nadiri as our expert guest.

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.

BECOME A MEMBER

Build your own Industry Resource Library
Gain access to all SmartCitiesWorld content
Make the most of Industry Webinar Events

Register Login

Most Popular

Edinburgh introduces hybrid solar lighting to parks

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Vancouver approves zoning updates for Villages initiative

Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment

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.

City Profiles

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile 2024 – City of Madrid

Discover how the city of Madrid is innovating to become a smarter, more sustainable city that’s able to deliver improved services to residents and visitors alike.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – San Diego

Delve into this City Profile which focuses on how the City of San Diego is innovating through policy and technology to best serve its communities. Find out how it splits the city’s challenges and matches them to solutions that demonstrate exactly how technology, policy and investment come together to overcome both every-day and long-term issues.