Citizens as ambassadors and innovators in smart cities
When we think of cities, we often think of building and traffic. And when we think of smart cities, we often think of technology such as car park sensors or intelligent traffic lights.
But cities are also people and communities. Many now seek to go climate neutral in the coming years. So what role do people - as residents, consumers, children and businesses - play in this drive to preserve the environment?
But cities are also people and communities. Many now seek to go climate neutral in the coming years. So what role do people - as residents, consumers, children and businesses - play in this drive to preserve the environment?
From a natural resistance to change to a vital resistance to climate change
Going smart is about change but people have a natural resistance to it - especially if they aren't given a say over new approaches to urban living, whether they be technological, organisational or social.
"Citizens aren't always involved and their views not considered in new projects," says Florencio Manteca, coordinator of the European Smart Cities project STARDUST. "This leads them to be reluctant about new measures such as energy revnovation of their homes. We need to involve people right from the start, but also by giving them a real say in the whole process."
"Citizens aren't always involved and their views not considered in new projects," says Florencio Manteca, coordinator of the European Smart Cities project STARDUST. "This leads them to be reluctant about new measures such as energy revnovation of their homes. We need to involve people right from the start, but also by giving them a real say in the whole process."
Connecting and engagingAll sectors of society need to embark on the innovation journey in a smart city
A smart and scalable city goes beyond the use of techological resources. It's about adopting a more participatory and iterative approach in deciding and designing new measures and systems.
A combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches can nurture one another. It can be a meeting of minds - those of policy makers and those of local communities.
A combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches can nurture one another. It can be a meeting of minds - those of policy makers and those of local communities.
Climate neutrality as a backdrop
In 2017, the EU-funded project STARDUST set about developing solutions in three cities, serving as testbeds for three other cities in Europe. The former are known as "lighthouse" cities as they show the way, and the latter are known as "follower cities", as they replicate the measures.
These solutions cover mobility, ICT, energy and smart districts/buildings.
All this is undertaken against the backdrop of the EU's drive for climate-neutral cities by 2030 for some, and by 2050 for others.
These solutions cover mobility, ICT, energy and smart districts/buildings.
All this is undertaken against the backdrop of the EU's drive for climate-neutral cities by 2030 for some, and by 2050 for others.
STARDUST presentation video
Purposeful change - a two-way streetSmart cities can seek change by nudging people (top-down) and by encouraging their input (bottom-up)
This bottom-up approach is all about feet-on-the-ground innovation - from entrepreneurial discovery process, citizen awareness campaigns, living labs, hackathons...
This fosters social democracy, raises awareness of climate issues, and drive behaviour change.
As cities attempt to go climate-neutral, they need to take their communities with them. This means providing support and information, but also drawing on the strengths of business communities, innovators and entrepreneurs. Going smart is a two-way street.
This fosters social democracy, raises awareness of climate issues, and drive behaviour change.
As cities attempt to go climate-neutral, they need to take their communities with them. This means providing support and information, but also drawing on the strengths of business communities, innovators and entrepreneurs. Going smart is a two-way street.
Children, change and challenge
Europe's climate milestones are 2030 and 2050. Today's school children are thus key drivers of society's efforts to reduce climate change.
They can act as ambassadors towards their parents and wider community. And for them, there isn't the same resistance to change as for older generations - climate change is already very much part of their reality.
As they are young, children also have a greater stake in the fight to protect the planet.
During STARDUST, lighthouse and follower cities reached out to children at primary and secondary schools.
They can act as ambassadors towards their parents and wider community. And for them, there isn't the same resistance to change as for older generations - climate change is already very much part of their reality.
As they are young, children also have a greater stake in the fight to protect the planet.
During STARDUST, lighthouse and follower cities reached out to children at primary and secondary schools.
Children, change and challenge
In follower city Cluj-Napoca, Romania, some 120 pupils were given a hands-on presentation of STARDUST.
They discussed ecological behaviour, sustainable means of transport and especially the consequences of using non-renewable sources of energy at current rates.
In Kozani, the other follower city in STARDUST, children benefited from measures to revamp their schools, thus raising their awareness of climate-change action and the need for it.
They discussed ecological behaviour, sustainable means of transport and especially the consequences of using non-renewable sources of energy at current rates.
In Kozani, the other follower city in STARDUST, children benefited from measures to revamp their schools, thus raising their awareness of climate-change action and the need for it.
Feet-on-the-ground innovationIn STARDUST, lighthouse and follower cities often met citizens and civil society at ground level to engage with residents, innovators and entrepreneurs
Smart city weeks offer residents a chance to learn about climate-change measures and to give their opinions.
Hackathons are another driver of engagement, taking various forms of team challenges.
Hackathons are another driver of engagement, taking various forms of team challenges.
Nudging to engage
Some cities in STARDUST have experimented with phone apps to nudge people to change how they get about in their daily lives.
The city of Tampere in Finland developed and launched a mobility carbon footprint calculator.
It is a way to inform residents about their very own CO2 emissions.
This information alone may not be sufficient to change hearts and minds, but the app can nudge, if not push, people towards climate-neutral behaviour.
The city of Tampere in Finland developed and launched a mobility carbon footprint calculator.
It is a way to inform residents about their very own CO2 emissions.
This information alone may not be sufficient to change hearts and minds, but the app can nudge, if not push, people towards climate-neutral behaviour.
Scalable and sustainable - the goal of our citiesFrom school children to entrepreneurs, smart cities need to enage with people from across society
This engagement should be to give and to get.
Over six years, STARDUST and its cities have gained insights and experience from different countries as they head for climate neutrality with their residents.
Learn more about the project and visit our
resources section.
Over six years, STARDUST and its cities have gained insights and experience from different countries as they head for climate neutrality with their residents.
Learn more about the project and visit our
resources section.
Credits
Produced for the STARDUST project with:
ICONS
Greenovate!
Visit the STARDUST website:
www.stardustproject.eu
STARDUST has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N°774094
ICONS
Greenovate!
Visit the STARDUST website:
www.stardustproject.eu
STARDUST has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N°774094
Scroll down to continue
Swipe to continue
Swipe to continue
Citizens as ambassadors and innovators in smart cities
From a natural resistance to change to a vital resistance to climate change
Connecting and engaging
Climate neutrality as a backdrop
Purposeful change - a two-way street
Children, change and challenge
Children, change and challenge
Children, change and challenge
Feet-on-the-ground innovation
Nudging to engage
Scalable and sustainable - the goal of our cities
Credits