Achieving global sustainability is a worldwide issue because most environmental aspects that influence humanity, like climate change, are global and linked across several spatial levels. The term global sustainability refers to the conditions under which human beings, societies, the biosphere, and other aspects of nature co-exist in ways that are stable, harmonious, productive, and resilient in order to meet the needs of the current and future generations. Sustainability enhances the quality of life, shields the ecosystem, and conserves natural resources for generations to come. The issue of sustainability is also beneficial for businesses. For many businesses, global sustainability issues such as climate change and the development of eco-friendly business activities are expected to affect the availability of necessities such as energy, food security, and freshwater ( Hild é n et al., 2017) . While efforts to address these climate issues through planetary boundary framing and sustainable development goals have taken shape in the global agenda, current research illustrates a strong relationship between climate and sustainable development of cities. Therefore, it is important to address the impacts of climate change in the development of smart cities and other manufacturing resources across the globe. The study focuses on the issue of climate change across the globe as one of the current global sustainability issues. Since 1901, the global annual surface air temperature has escalated by approximately 1.8°F. In addition, other components of the global climate have changed significantly over the years. For example, since 1900, the average sea level has increased by an estimated seven inches. Besides, atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased substantially, and it accounts for approximately two0-thirds of the energy imbalances that have caused an increased temperature rise globally. As illustrated in figure 1, carbon dioxide levels have increased at an alarming rate, thus a need for sustainability. According to NASA, the earth’s climate has changed throughout history (Bhati et al., 2017). For the past 600,000 years, the earth has experienced over six cycles of glacial retreat and advanced with an abrupt end of the last ice age over 11,000 years ago, marking the beginning of human civilization (Hildén et al., 2017). Often called the modern climate era, human civilization exhibited unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide emission through the industrial revolution and constant deforestation. These human activities have continuously warmed the atmosphere, land, and oceans leading to widespread changes in the biosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and atmosphere. While the graph in Fig. 1 indicates the level of carbon dioxide emission over the past millennium, other evidence of rapid climate change includes the global rise of temperature, shrinking ice sheets, glacial retreats, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and extreme events such as tsunamis and earthquakes.
Since climate change will seriously affect cities and countries in the coming decades around the globe, identifying ways to address these climate changes locally through new initiatives is critical (Bhati et al., 2017). Therefore, I propose the development of smart grids and devices to help save energy. Smart grid technologies are leading-edge, innovative solutions with long-term goals of environmental protection by reducing energy costs. The initiative can be addressed locally through education of community-based programs on the importance of solar energy and other renewable sources of energy. Other local initiatives could include funding local research on the sustainable program and promoting the adoption of energy-saving products. The outcomes of the proposal would be a more efficient transmission of electricity, reduction of operation costs, and quicker restoration of electricity after power failures. Therefore, I anticipate the proposal to be transformative, innovative, and scalable to different businesses based on their needs.
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The use of smart grids in cities involves the integration of the internet of things into traditional grid systems to help minimize energy consumption. According to the United Nations, over 70% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas and cities by 2050, an indicator that energy usage will continue to accelerate (Gil et al., 2019). Since the results of high consumptions of energy will accelerate climate change, it is critical to develop eco-friendly buildings, water disposal facilities, and urban transport networks through smart grids. The incorporation of smart technologies such as the internet of things to help exchange data will help improve the quality of life for local citizens and their overall safety. According to the 2020 Smart City Index report, Singapore, Zurich, and Helsinki are the world’s smartest cities that have integrated smart grids to help improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact (Hildén et al., 2017).
Singapore
Under the Paris agreement in 2015, Singapore pledged to reduce over 35% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. At the center of this pledge was smart systems powered by IoT devices and smart grids to help the impact of climate change that has led to temperature rises from 26.6 to 27.7 degrees Celsius and an annual rise in sea levels of 1.2 to 1.6mm. Given the global environmental concerns of climate change, the use of smart technologies to increase the efficient consumption of energy was necessary. According to reports by the Energy Market Authority, households in Singapore accounted for 15% of total electric consumption in 2015, which led to the implementation of the Energy Conservation Act that required mandatory labeling of energy-consuming products such as air conditioners and refrigerators. The success of implementing smart grid systems was measured by the amount of energy saved by these devices. Therefore, most homes were integrated with appliances, sensors, and devices communicated with each other. The devices could also be controlled remotely to provide consumers with flexibility in monitoring electricity consumption. In Singapore, the role of smart grids to enhance energy efficiency in homes is vital. Smart homes in Singapore are equipped with linked devices and sensors that can exchange information between them. In addition, these appliances can be controlled remotely. The functions help residents to monitor their energy consumption and make the necessary changes to save energy. Smart metering, devices, and automation appliances are some of the smart grid technologies that Singapore has adopted in order to achieve its energy consumption goals. One of the best practices implemented in Singapore is the formulation and passing of the national policy energy framework in 2007 (Bhati et al., 2017). The aim of the framework is to emphasize the need to achieve energy security and ensure environmental sustainability while at the same time retaining a balance for economic growth. The present focus is on methods and policies that align with the residential areas to enhance energy efficiency. In addition, the framework is an indication of the administration’s commitment to enhance innovativeness and competition within the energy market by privatizing companies. The purpose of liberalizing the industry is to promote efficiency partly due to better corporate governance required by different investors (Bhati et al., 2017). In the electricity industry, consumers ate divided into non-contestable and contestable groups, depending on consummation levels (Bhati et al., 2017). Contestable customers can select different power packages from their preferred electricity retailers, such as Seraya energy and Senoko. Because of liberalization, Singapore set a contestable limit of 2000kWh per month (Bhati et al., 2017). The government continues to liberalize the market, especially for households, so that clients can decide whether they will purchase electricity from controlled tariffs or retailers. Another best practice identified from Singapore’s plan is the creation of the national environmental agency. This is a collaboration of different agencies as stakeholders, including the economic development board and BCA, to create and implement a holistic energy efficiency framework for Singapore (Bhati et al., 2017). The plan is referred to as E-Singapore, and it addresses energy efficiency in different sectors, including the transport industry, industries, and households. The Home Energy Management Systems is another best practice in Singapore. The program was implemented in 2013 and 2014 to enhance energy efficiency in homes. It was a collaboration between different agencies, private and public, including Panasonic, EMA, and EDB. Through the program, Home Energy Management Systems were installed in multiple homes. The aim of the program was to improve the management and control of energy consumption and related expenses at the household level. This was the start of solid collaboration between the government and private organizations to develop energy-efficiency solutions for homes using current technologies. Through the home energy management system, the Energy Market Authority Singapore indicated that energy use reduced by twenty percent (Bhati et al., 2017). The system, as demonstrated in figure 2, it helped reduce energy use in different home areas through the energy management system. In another smarty-metering framework known as SESAME, Singapore also experienced a significant reduction in energy use at the household level. The system is directly incorporated into a home grid. It allows the entire home grid system to switch devices or appliances on and off. It has the ability to identify and interpret signals indicating high or low temperature and humidity or many other sensors. Therefore, devices are regulated based on a set configuration. Some of the devices can be connected to the internet to enable efficient energy utilization in homes. The adoption of smart grid systems and devices to reduce energy use and conserve it through efficient use is a significant step that Singapore has implemented. However, the achievements made so far have not been without challenges that Singapore has had to overcome. Traditional economies assume that individuals make rational or logical decisions in order to optimize utilities (Bhati et al., 2017). However, the truth is that in some cases, consumers fail to make the best or right decisions based on behavioral patterns. As a result, it is vital that policymakers in Singapore implement measures on help consumers apply behavioral insights in order to make the best possible decisions or choices regarding energy consumption. Through the ministry of water and environment, Singapore created a research department to investigate and apply behavioral insights in promoting efficient energy use. The government has been collaborating with other departments such as NEA to use behavioral research outcomes for different environmental policies and frameworks. For example, some findings indicate that individuals are likely to recycle more if it is convenient. Therefore, NEA made recycling boxes to help homes to conveniently set apart recyclable items from the general waste.
Zurich
By 2050, the population of Zurich could increase by 25%, which will present a major challenge in maintaining or improving the quality of life while reducing the consumption of resources (Schrotter & Hürzeler, 2020). To help mitigate these challenges, Zurich’s city council develops ‘Zurich Strategy 2035’, which documents specific expert strategies and many different projects that utilize digitization options in their implementation. Therefore, the strategy was developed to bundle the future needs of communities within cities to promote innovation and the city’s position as a Smart City. In conjunction with experts from within and outside the administration, smart grid systems were developed to offer digital transformation by providing stronger networks that encouraged contact between population and businesses, fostering participation opportunities. At a strategic level, the main challenge of the city of Zurich was to develop answers and intentions to energy, transport, and data issues. The strategy was successful in the development of the ‘2000 Watt Society’ and ‘Open Data Strategies’, which promoted innovation within city administration within which good ideas could be implemented. Zurich anticipates becoming a 2000-watt society, conserving resources, and having sustainable development. The city is applying digital transformation to enhance environmental quality as well as to attain its 2000-watt city target. Zurich’s best practices include alignment with different needs of target populations and challenges within the city, cooperation, and innovation. The city’s governance ensures that it pays attention to the long-term goals of the entire city. AS a result, new technological interventions or solutions are identified and implemented to meet those needs and challenges. The city’s key focus is on user-inclined development and the needs of residents. Through networking and cooperation between different types of organizations (both public and private), residents, and infrastructure, the city can achieve its goals regarding sustainability and climate change (City of Zurich Office for Environmental and Health Protection, 2011). The smart city encourages interaction within and outside its borders between the city’s leading service departments, residents, business, culture, and science. As a result, digital initiatives enhance the involvement of all people and shared infrastructures. Moreover, Zurich supports innovation to improve the city’s sustainability through technological changes. Innovative methods are tested in different open spaces within the city or inside laboratories. The aim is to identify promising solutions to different problems, including climate change, and implement them as early as possible. Although Zurich is still in the process of achieving a 2000-watt society and conserving energy as intended, it has made numerous efforts to ensure that this goal is achieved. The city owns multiple structures, including an estimated 9,000 flats, more than one hundred schools, 960 business parks, and sports centers, among many other structures (City of Zurich Office for Environmental and Health Protection, 2011). Every year, the city completes approximately 100 construction-related projects based on its seven milestones for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient construction (City of Zurich Office for Environmental and Health Protection, 2011). Through this approach, the city implements and promotes reduced energy consumption through different practices such as the installation of smart grids in these structures. The approach is included towards making the city a 2000-watt society where each resident will not use more than 2000 watts a day. In addition, the city’s administration has supported numerous local companies in their efforts to develop smart grids to help the city achieve its energy consumption goals. Companies such as ETH Zurich were supported by the city to research and manufacture smart technologies devices and grids. Although the city is yet to achieve its energy consumption goals, it is one of the leading in low energy consumption. Another strategy applied by the city of Zurich in its smart grids technologies implementation to reduce energy consumption and promote conservation is Eco-Compass for small and medium enterprises to save energy. Apart from saving energy, this initiative also helps businesses in the city of Zurich to save money, thus more profits. Through the initiative, the city intends to reach 10% of all the SMEs in the city (City of Zurich Office for Environmental and Health Protection, 2011). The project helps businesses to adopt environmentally friendly practices, including using smart technologies as a way to reduce energy use. Businesses can consult the program and receive advice on how to reduce energy consumption and optimize its use at no cost. Different stakeholders fund the initiative. These include the city’s administration, local companies in the city, and trade agencies. In addition, the energy company in the city allows residents to borrow its energy tracking devices to help them determine and control their energy use. There are multiple challenges that the city has experienced in its effort to become a 2000-watt society. One of them is changing the resident’s cultures. Some people in the city live in medieval houses, and if the city wants its people to use solar grids on their roofs, they could end up conflicting with the city dwellers who may want to preserve the historic structures. However, the city identified this issue and took it as a socio-political issue to renegotiate. The administration helped the city’s inhabitants see the current technology as a modern way of using their old buildings. Involving city residents into such initiatives as stakeholders is critical.
Helsinki
According to the Smart City Index report, Helsinki ranked second as the world’s smartest city. The Finland capital leveraged technology by joining Singapore and Zurich by developing an innovation and new experiment department that fosters the region’s innovation and business activities. Helsinki used the UN’s sustainable development goals to meet the ambitious targets of sustainable growth based on environmental research and innovation activities. The core principles of sustainable growth were based on economic, environmental, and social resources within which all developments were based. For example, Helsinki’s climate neutrality sustainable development program seeks to develop a carbon-neutral country by 2035. The transition to a low-carbon society required significant changes to current infrastructure and mobility, which led to the development of circular economic solutions and new forms of energy and bio-economic solutions such as ethically produced textile materials. Findings from the research review indicate that smart cities have linked infrastructure that optimizes operations through data gathering and communication between interconnected entities. Therefore, a city that wishes to implement a smart grid system requires different technologies in order to reduce energy use within the target area and monitor as well as collect data from the connected clients, including corporate structures and homes. Applying smart planning as part of smart grid technologies adoption is vital in making an energy-efficient city. They must incorporate the technologies in their urban development to reduce energy consumption. In addition, they can promote the use of smart devices such as automated smart fans. Such devices can be activated based on the pre-set temperatures and humidity levels. Other aspects such as smart lighting are also vital in reducing energy consumption. For a city to become smart and achieve its energy use goals, collaboration is vital. Findings from the three smart cities show that collaboration between public and private sectors as well as individuals is critical in creating a smart city. In addition, cities that desire to become smart must support innovation through different strategies such as funding or providing expertise. Besides, they must be willing to experiment and pilot programs to determine their effectiveness in reducing energy consumption. Based on research findings, smart grid systems and devices can effectively reduce energy consumption, thus reducing adverse effects on climate change. They lead to fewer carbon emissions and energy conservation that are vital in global sustainability. Therefore, it is possible for governments to achieve smart cities through using current technologies and applying research and development practices in their urban planning methods. Zurich, Helsinki, and Singapore indicate that smart cities can address the problem of climate change. Other cities can learn through their best practices, challenges, and solutions to create smart cities.
References
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Gil, J. D., Daioglou, V., van Ittersum, M., Reidsma, P., Doelman, J. C., van Middelaar, C. E., & van Vuuren, D. P. (2019). Reconciling global sustainability targets and local action for food production and climate change mitigation. Global Environmental Change , 59 , 101983.
Battista, G., Evangelisti, L., Guattari, C., Basilicata, C., & De Lieto Vollaro, R. (2014). Buildings energy efficiency: Interventions analysis under a smart cities approach. Sustainability, 6(8), 4694-4705. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6084694
City of Zurich Office for Environmental and Health Protection. (2011, April). On The Way To The 2000-Watt Society. Startseite Portal der Stadt Zürich - Stadt Zürich. https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/dam/stzh/gud/Deutsch/UGZ/umwelt-energie/2000-watt-gesellschaft/%3E%20Dokumente%20und%20Publikationen/On-The-Way-To-The-2000-Watt%20Society.pdf
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Schrotter, G., & H ürzeler, C. (2020). The digital twin of the city of Zurich for urban planning. PFG –Journal of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science , 88 (1), 99-112.
