How Smart Cities Will Bring Us Closer to the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

As the world looks towards broadening sustainability initiatives, one topic is becoming increasingly poignant: Smart Cities. Smart City initiatives and sustainability goals are intrinsically linked. 

At their core, smart cities use information and communication technologies (ICT) to boost operational efficiency, enhance public access to information, and improve government services and citizen well-being. The ideal smart city strikes a balance between cutting-edge technology and sustainable living. 

It’s not just about how much advanced technology a city has, but how effectively it uses it.

The foundations of a smart city include technology-driven infrastructure, forward-thinking urban planning, environmental initiatives, and public transport systems that connect people to the resources they need. 

Despite becoming somewhat of a socio-political ‘buzz-word’ in recent years, sustainability is not a new concept; the concept itself was defined by the UN Brundtland Commission in 1987 as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development builds on this, outlining 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that target everything from eradicating hunger to promoting clean energy.

Smart cities play a pivotal role in achieving these goals. While they align more closely with some SDGs than others, their potential stretches across all 17. Here are some examples:

SDG 1: “No Poverty.” Smart technologies drive economic growth through job creation and improved infrastructure. Affordable housing becomes possible with data-driven urban planning and resource-efficient construction, paving the way for more inclusive cities.

SDG 2, “Zero Hunger,” urban agriculture is a cornerstone. Community gardens, rooftop farms, and controlled-environment agriculture like hydroponics help cities grow food sustainably while fostering community bonds. 

SDG 3, “Good Health and Well-being,” thrives in smart cities thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). Smartwatches and health apps generate vital data, guiding urban planners to adapt spaces, like installing pedestrian routes based on “desire paths.” Medical research also benefits from AI-powered big data, accelerating clinical trials and healthcare breakthroughs. The UAE’s Emirati Genome Programme exemplifies this, mapping DNA to deliver personalised healthcare solutions.

SDG 4, “Quality Education,” smart cities integrate technology into learning through e-classrooms and digital platforms. Singapore leads the charge with its “digital-first” vision, highlighting how technology can reshape education for the future.

SDG 5, “Gender Equality,” depends on inclusivity. Smart cities bridge digital divides by ensuring access to information, digital skills, and literacy. Accounting for marginalized perspectives during planning helps create safer, more equitable cities. Initiatives that highlight women in technology encourage greater participation and visibility in city growth.

SDG 6, “Clean Water and Sanitation,” is where smart cities can shine. IoT connected sensors monitor water usage, detect leaks, and track water quality, reducing waste and improving sanitation. Singapore’s smart water meters are already saving resources and money through demand optimization.

SDG 7, “Affordable and Clean Energy,” aligns naturally with smart grids and energy management systems that promote renewable energy sources. Helsinki, a top-ranking smart city, aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 and to have zero carbon emissions by 2040. They have focused on the development of public transportation, waste recycling and decreasing unnecessary consumption to increase their sustainability.

SDG 8, “Decent Work and Economic Growth,” thrives in the innovation hubs -that smart cities create. On-demand jobs from digital platforms like Uber coexist with opportunities for data scientists, AI experts, and urban planners, fostering ecosystems where startups and tech-driven businesses flourish.

SDG 9, “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure,” smart cities are engines of technological progress. Advanced computer modelling aids decision-making, while resilient, sustainable infrastructure adapts to future challenges. Predictive tools, for example, anticipate weather impacts, ensuring smarter, stronger builds.

SDG 10 is “Reduced Inequalities”. Smart cities enable equitable access to technology. Similarly to Goal 5, the perspectives of marginalized groups need to be taken into account during planning, smart planning can ensure inclusivity.

By reducing the digital divide, all citizens are able to benefit from smart city technologies. Singapore has been combatting the digital divide by electing Smart Nation Ambassadors to help others learn how to use digital tools, as well as to obtain feedback about how they can make adjustments to better their digital government services.

SDG 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” reinforces the big picture. Smart cities promote sustainable urban growth by emphasizing collaboration for future generations. Helsinki stands out again with its expansive green spaces, biodiversity initiatives, and a commitment to electric transport by 2030.

SDG 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production,” smart cities focus on resource and energy efficiency. Retrofit technologies can combat energy insecurity, while circular economy practices encourage recycling and reuse to reduce overconsumption - proving small actions, like carrying a reusable bag, can make a difference.

SDG 13, “Climate Action,” benefits from data monitoring and green technologies. Singapore’s “City in Nature” vision integrates natural landscapes into urban life, while Helsinki addresses tourism-related emissions with sustainable initiatives that raise climate awareness.

SDG 14, “Life Below Water,” sees smart cities applying IoT to monitor marine ecosystems. Data collection empowers governments, businesses, and citizens to prevent pollution and protect marine life.

SDG 15, “Life on Land,” circles back to urban green initiatives. Oslo, Norway’s capital, recognized as the European Green Capital in 2019, preserves its natural spaces with over one million urban trees and a balance of forests, parks, and lakes within city limits. 

Singapore’s Green Plan aims to Expand the Nature Park Network, intensifying nature in gardens and parks and to restore nature into the urban landscape

SDG 16, “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions,” is about public safety and governance. Surveillance systems and digital feedback mechanisms build trust, improve emergency responses, and enhance transparency - turning data into actionable results.

SDG 17, “Partnerships for the Goals,” is embedded in the core of smart cities. Collaboration between governments, private sectors, and communities’ fuels innovation and funding. Global knowledge-sharing, powered by open data, enables countries to create symbiotic partnerships in tackling global challenges.

Smart cities are highly adaptable in their ability to meet sustainability goals. While not without limitations, their evolving technologies will continue to uncover new ways to increase sustainability and redefine urban living for the better. As the world advances, smart cities stand at the forefront, showing us that technology and sustainability can, and must, go hand in hand, and although it may seem like these technological developments will be costly and difficult to implement, making them unattainable for developing countries in the near future, we can assure you this is not the case. 

Software and technology companies around the globe, including Acumen Software, are focusing their efforts on developing and building smart software and technology solutions that connect people and their cities at low costs and with no disruption to large scale infrastructure. With this, smart cities are not science-fiction urban utopias that only our grandchildren will get to experience. The technology is here now, and ready for governments to fully utilise it.