The BBC speaks to residents in five of the top-ranked cities in the Smart Cities Index 2024 to understand which features are making the most impact to their lives.
With global temperatures rising and environmental changes putting pressure on every country, cities are facing new challenges in their plans for a sustainable future. Some destinations, however, have moved aggressively to implement smart solutions that aim to build a higher long-term quality of life, providing guidance for the rest of the world to follow.
To help chart the progress of these initiatives, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) puts together an annual ranking of the world’s smartest cities, based on the economic and technological strength of each city and how these factors enhance quality of life and provide solutions to societal challenges. Now in its fifth year, the Smart Cities Index 2024 collected data from residents of 142 cities to understand their views on their city’s health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance.
Interestingly, not a single city from North America or Africa cracked the top 20 this year, and all but three cities in the top 20 are located in Europe or Asia. To better understand what exactly made these cities feel “smart”, we spoke to residents in five of the top-ranked places to understand which features are making the most impact to their lives.
Canberra, Australia
Ranking third in the index, and one of the few non-European or Asian cities in the top 20, Australia’s capital scored particularly well for its low air pollution, its number of green spaces and a high sense of inclusion among minority citizens. This doesn’t surprise Bryden and David Campbell, co-founders of Brand Rebellion, a brand and workforce consultancy based in Canberra.
“What truly stands out is the strong sense of community,” said Bryden. “There’s a genuine connectedness and a willingness to help and support others, making it a warm and welcoming place to call home.”
She also mentioned how the city’s proximity to nature informs how the city puts sustainability front and centre. “Canberra is advanced in clean energy and renewable initiatives,” she said. “The city has ambitious targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, and this is evident in the ongoing electrification and adoption of renewable energy sources throughout the area.”
Canberra has also adopted technology to make the city more liveable and more attractive to startup founders and other businesses – something that helps create a virtuous cycle of innovation. “The city’s smart city initiatives, including smart lighting, waste management and traffic management systems, significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of city services,” said David. A robust high-speed internet supports overall connectivity and the growth of remote work, while innovation hubs and co-working spaces like Canberra Innovation Network help foster tech development and entrepreneurship.
The world’s 10 smartest cities
According to the Smart Cities Index 2024, the world’s ten smartest cities are:
- Zurich
- Oslo
- Canberra
- Geneva
- Singapore
- Copenhagen
- Lausanne
- London
- Helsinki
- Abu Dhabi
Living In is a series from BBC Travel that discovers what it’s like to reside in some of the world’s top destinations.
Originally posted on BBC.
