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Future Earth launches the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office inaugural Smart and Sustainable Cities initiative bringing together 40 European cities to explore cutting edge solutions to decarbonisation challenges.
On behalf of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Future Earth Ltd designed and delivered the inaugural Smart Sustainable Cities Initiative. The aim was to convene share knowledge and match-make cities in need of solutions with private sector innovators working at the cutting edge of smart and sustainable low-carbon energy, transport and digital IOT technology solutions.
Context
Context
While no city is alike, many of the problems faced by cities across Europe have commonalities e.g., traffic congestion bringing increased pollution at certain times of the day; tourist influxes increasing pressure on water and waste facilities at certain times of the year and so on. By sharing knowledge of successful and not so successful approaches, city planners and sustainability teams can view, share experiences and work together to find appropriate solutions more rapidly.
Approach
Approach
Future Earth’s team convened selected participants from over 50 European cities for two 3-day on-site experiential exchange visits with leading government and technical experts in their fields. We covered six key sustainable development topics in depth in a programme of over 80 sessions:
eV transport
energy efficiency in buildings
smart grids & renewable energy
circular economy
data management
internet of things and e-ticketing
As well as moderating all sessions across the 3-day visits, we developed an online platform for information exchange and to build the network of support beyond the end of the site visits.
Outcome
Outcome
Mayors, their technical aides, sector experts and private sector representatives travelled across London and Bristol by air, bus, train and boat visiting the latest technology hubs, experiencing first hand the innovations being developed to solve city decarbonisation problems and hearing from expert speakers along the way both in plenary discussions as well as walking about the cities together. Information was exchanged, capacities built and deals forged.
This inaugural initiative kick-started strong city-to-city connections and offered an ongoing platform for exchange of innovations, knowledge and experience.
"Everybody says they've really learnt a huge amount... we've had cities from A - Athens to Z - Zagreb here... we're really delighted to see it's been so productive and are looking forward to taking it further" says Caroline Wilson, FCO Europe Director
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