Research Reveals Urban Models of Sustainability
Which cities could be used as blueprints of replicable models for countries that will have to work hard to accommodate an additional 2.7 billion people in the world's cities by 2050? Technologies for Future Cities: Integrating Efficiency, Sustainability, and Environmental Concerns, a new study by Lux Research, has found that Amsterdam, Stockholm, Colorado's SmartGridCity and Portugal's PlanIT Valley initiative are some of the examples that could inspire policymakers who need to find ways to deliver sustainability to 6.3 billion living in cities by the middle of the century, or 70% of the total. Currently, 3.6 billion people live in cities, or 52% of the total.
"Technology companies need to understand the variety of models under which future cities develop so they can tap the widest channel to market in each case," said Ryan Castilloux, Lux Research Analyst and the lead author of the report. "Cities like Singapore, Stockholm, Masdar, Incheon Free Economic Zone, and PlanIT Valley are structured to ensure integration and interoperability of technologies and systems across the urban value chain." he added.
The research company established a framework of eight urban development models and found that technologies must cost-effectively maximize convenience, connectivity, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability while accommodating rapidly growing urban populations in the decades to come.
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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.
