Gartner predicts smart cities will meet COP21 targets
According to technology research and advisory firm Gartner, half of smart cities will put climate change, resilience and sustainability as their headline key performance indicators (KPI) by 2020.
The predictions are in line with the targets set out by the Paris climate conference (COP21) agreement decided upon by 195 countries in the French capital at the end of 2015. It endeavours to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions created by cities substantially.
Bettina Tratz-Ryan, research vice-president at Gartner, said: “With the Horizon 2020 goals of energy efficiency, carbon emission reductions and renewable energy in mind, many cities in Europe have launched energy sustainability, resource management, social inclusion and community prosperity initiatives.”
Gartner described how internet of things (IoT)-powered transport systems were helping to keep cities moving, while introducing smarter modes of transport in the hopes of cutting the pollution generated by increasing populations.
It added that initiatives such as ride sharing, the electrification of public transport and support infrastructure for vehicles have been contributing factors, and that, alongside the introduction of congestion charges for cars and other road users, have had a noticeable impact.
Tratz-Ryan said: “All of those examples are driving cleaner air, producing fewer GHG emissions and saving energy, while improving the noise levels and ambience on streets.”
The company predicted that sensors will form the basis of new developments in smart city infrastructure with 380 million connected systems in operation by the end of 2017.
