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A system thinking approach for harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with United Nations sustainable development goals

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  • Adeeb A. Kutty
  • Galal M. Abdella
  • Murat Kucukvar
  • Nuri C. Onat
  • Melih Bulu

Abstract

Technology has indispensably been a part of the city evolution throughout history. In recent years, there has been a shift in the pattern of development in smart cities, where smart cities attempt to embrace practices of sustainability using Information and Communication Technologies and other smart solutions. Past studies reveal that these smart cities have failed in successfully incorporating sustainable development goals into their smart strategies, where they tend to focus more on achieving smartness goals rather than sustainability goals and targets. This paper presents a multi‐faceted interrogative study on several ongoing smart city initiatives around the globe that supports United Nations Urban Sustainability Agenda. This paper aims to focus on harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals using a systems thinking approach. The study develops conceptual models that support the city transition into being a sustainable smart city. These conceptual models were designed based on the fundamentals of system thinking for a system of several elements under the key catalyzers “Policy and Governance,” “Research & Development,” and “Partnership.” The causalities and interrelationships among elements in developed conceptual models justify the dynamicity and the impact of these elements within a system. The outcome of this research paper would support industry experts, policymakers, and city planners to adopt robust policy interventions and best practices for developing strategies that support the transition of smart cities to the futuristic label of sustainable cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Adeeb A. Kutty & Galal M. Abdella & Murat Kucukvar & Nuri C. Onat & Melih Bulu, 2020. "A system thinking approach for harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with United Nations sustainable development goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1347-1365, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:28:y:2020:i:5:p:1347-1365
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2088
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    3. Fangli Ruan, 2023. "The Driving Role of Food and Cultivated Land Resource in Balancing the Complex Urban System of Socio-Economy and Environment: A Case Study of Shanghai City in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Seunghwan Myeong & Khurram Shahzad, 2021. "Integrating Data-Based Strategies and Advanced Technologies with Efficient Air Pollution Management in Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Aleksandra Plonka & Ewa Heczko-Hylowa & Wojciech Sroka, 2021. "Role of Spatial Planning in the Restitution and Development of Urban Agriculture," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2B), pages 698-711.
    6. Ernesto E. Empig & Ahmet Sivacioğlu & Renato S. Pacaldo & Peter D. Suson & Rabby Q. Lavilles & Maria Rizalia Y. Teves & Maria Cecilia M. Ferolin & Ruben F. Amparado, 2023. "Climate Change, Sustainable Forest Management, ICT Nexus, and the SDG 2030: A Systems Thinking Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Agnieszka Deja & Tygran Dzhuguryan & Lyudmyla Dzhuguryan & Oleg Konradi & Robert Ulewicz, 2021. "Smart Sustainable City Manufacturing and Logistics: A Framework for City Logistics Node 4.0 Operations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    8. Farah Mneimneh & Hasan Ghazzawi & Mohammad Abu Hejjeh & Matteo Manganelli & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2023. "Roadmap to Achieving Sustainable Development via Green Hydrogen," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.

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