Smart cities must be sustainable and inclusive cities

As cities across the globe continue to increase in size, due to the twin phenomenon of population growth and unprecedented urbanisation, the challenges of sustainability and socioeconomic inequality seem to follow exponentially. Such challenges however are surmountable if deliberate attention and efforts are incorporated in the lifecycle of Smart Cities. This calls for a wide scope consultation between different stakeholders, such that a wider scope of solutions that addresses a majority of concerns, especially relating to environmental sustainability, inclusivity, security and privacy and economic dimension can be identified. There are different ways through which smart cities could be fashioned to offer solutions for both sustainable and inclusivity concerns, as proposed in global policy documents such as the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, the NUA and UN-HABITAT III and others. However, the proposal in these documents need to be complemented by spirited and concerted human efforts, especially in view of the urgency need to mitigate the escalation of challenges such as climate change and the impacts of COVID-19, which have already prompted widespread incidences in diverse regions.