Track: Energy & Environment

Welcome to the Smart City Expo World Congress! This first session of the event aims to welcome the audience to the SCEWC with an opening speech by the event directors Ugo Valenti and Maria Tsavachidis. It will also count on the participation of high-level representatives who will address how cities are working to transform, innovate, and create to live, move & build better.

Can cities lead the global fight against climate change? Urban centers, heavily impacted by the climate emergency, hold the power to implement specialized policies and actions to address this urgent issue. These initiatives, affecting a significant portion of the world's population, could drive substantial progress in mitigating environmental impacts and promoting a sustainable future. By leveraging their unique position, cities can spearhead global efforts to combat climate change and ensure long-term environmental resilience.

This session will feature the participation of our global partners Veolia Iberia and Latin America

Building resilient and smart cities requires integrating nature into urban ecosystems, with trees playing a pivotal role. Trees enhance air quality and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. Their shade lowers surface temperatures and fosters healthier communities. By prioritizing urban forests, cities can create resilient and liveable environments to face future challenges. This session will discuss Plant-for-the-Planet’s Green Belt project in Granada, a new ecosystem of native species for the city.

Energy communities have a pivotal role in energy transition and they are growing around the EU but they often struggle to take-off. The COMANAGE project aims to tackle and counteract the main governance and management barriers faced by citizen-led and public-participated energy communities’ projects by creating a sustainable governance framework and new resources for public authorities that also could be replicated and upscaled.

Explore how cloud-based technologies can drive sustainable urban transformations with innovative solutions and success stories from global cities to tackle climate change adaptation and mitigation across urban sectors. Discuss new ways to integrate Generative AI to enhance ability of these innovations and strategies for cities to leverage the cloud to reduce emissions, mitigate climate risks, and lead the global charge against the climate crisis.

The effects of the climate emergency are disrupting our urban lifestyles. How can cities integrate environmental considerations into urban development to create more resilient, livable, and sustainable public spaces? How do green spaces in cities contribute to improving the quality of life for residents, fostering community engagement, ensuring accessibility and safety, and enhancing mental and physical well-being?

On January 2018, while serving as an Officer on a 300-meter carrier, 500 miles off the Hawaiian Coast, an extinguisher exploded in my face, resulting in the complete loss of my sight. I was 31 years old. Some years later, with the invaluable collaboration of family, friends and key entities, I sailed again. And I founded Yes We Sail, a project to make nautical experiences accessible to blind individuals. Our tech solution and protocol aim to empower people with visual disabilities and build a legacy beyond blindness.

Data analytics startups are helping cities become more livable by using sensors and real-time data to monitor climate risk, energy use, traffic patterns, pollution, and waste collection, leading to smarter urban planning and resource management. These startups look at the data up close and make it personal.

What is the role of water management and economics in sustaining a sustainable future for cities and regions worldwide? This session will delve into innovative water strategies, focusing on water conservation and circular water-smart systems, along with insights into the economics and financing of water sustainability. Attendees will gain valuable insights into fostering sustainable practices and tackling water scarcity on a global scale.

Increasing environmental pressures are changing the collection of natural resources, and circular practices are an efficient, green solution. These practices provide food security, water management, and waste reduction. What innovative strategies promote circularity in urban resource management? How can this approach address environmental, social, and economic challenges?

Join us for a distinguished dialogue with Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, as he shares insights into the city’s ambitions transformation ahead of the Jubilee celebrations. Discover how new infrastructure projects, soon to be completed, are set to redefine Rome, while cutting-edge technology, like an AI virtual assistant, drives innovation and citizen engagement. Mayor Gualtieri will also discuss his recent partnership with Barcelona to push for European support in social housing, illustrating how major cities are shaping Europe’s social future.

This panel will discuss the impact of sub-national initiatives on the transition to a low-carbon economy in Brazil, highlighting how state and municipal governments can replicate these actions in other regions. It will address the participation of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the process, the challenges faced by local governments and the importance of partnerships to strengthen these initiatives towards COP30 and the green economy.

The session will provide examples of private sector and businesses cooperation with cities, supporting the implementation of climate action plans. Additionally, it will provide insights into how cities can align local needs with business expertise and funding sources. It will also highlight GCoM's initiative, which helps cities accelerate the development of climate projects at the pre-feasibility stage.

EU cities are key to advancing climate mitigation, adaptation, net-zero goals, and competitiveness, while ensuring social inclusion, as acknowledged - among others - by the Covenant of Mayors initiative. This session explores accelerating cities' sustainable and just transformation through Local Green Deals, deploying new net-zero technologies, and creating strategies to make climate neutrality appealing, competitive, accessible, and just.

Cities and the private sector must join forces to develop a zero-carbon, resilient, and inclusive urban regeneration model. What are the strategies that cities can uptake? What is the private sector’s role? This session will showcase best practices and flagship urban regeneration projects including Reinventing Cities - a powerful initiative involving 30 global cities and over 3500 businesses to date.

The successful deployment of zero-emission technologies, both at vehicle and infrastructure level, heavily depend on their adoptions by private and public vehicle fleets. This panel will reflect on the importance of fleets to accelerate the adoption of cleaner forms of mobility and will explore the role of fleets in supporting transformational mobility innovations.

How will public and private vehicle fleets evolve in tomorrow's mobility? What role will they play in the sustainable urban mobility transition?

This session will feature the participation of our global partners Deloitte.

The Innovation and Health Biocluster is the territorial proposal to develop one of the most relevant poles of scientific activity in southern Europe through a public/private alliance to promote the most advanced and personalized medicine and the development of an economy based on innovation and knowledge in a privileged environment that integrates companies, organizations and top-level scientific and health infrastructures.

Melati will share a fresh perspective from the young changemakers who are already reshaping communities through their actions. They envision cities that aim at cleaner air, creating less plastic waste, greener streets and cities that embrace the circular economy. The change needed to make such cities possible starts with education, and Melati will share the inspiring story of how, at the age of 12, she started Bye Bye Plastic Bags at her home island, Bali. Years later, she started the social enterprise Mountain Mamas, creating bags from donated and pre-loved materials. More recently, she has kicked of an e-learning platform with educational program from youth for youth called Youthtopia. Melati is the living proof that true change begins when one turns their passion into their purpose, and ideas into action. As the cities of tomorrow demand the courage to act today, youth should be a crucial part of leading the way.

How are cities leveraging cutting-edge technology to combat the climate crisis? What innovative solutions are innovators proposing to enhance urban sustainability? Cities are at the forefront of using advanced technology to tackle the climate emergency. By integrating the latest innovations, cities are optimizing energy use, reducing waste, and improving air quality to create a more sustainable and resilient future. Join us in learning how disruptive technologies enable the development of future-proof cities.

Cities are increasingly experiencing the direct and indirect consequences of the climate emergency. Simultaneously, they are hubs of innovation that can enhance their resilience and foster healthier, more sustainable environments through sustainable urban planning strategies. By integrating green spaces, eco-friendly infrastructure, and renewable energy, cities are reducing carbon footprints and promoting biodiversity. How can they further leverage these strategies to combat climate change?

This session will feature the participation of our global partners ROSHN, KHNP

We need to include young people’s voices and innovative ideas to create cities of tomorrow. C40’s Youth Reinventing Cities competitions empower young people, from schools to universities, to collaborate with city leaders and share their vision. In dialogue with cities, young leaders, and other partners, the session will unpack solutions that are truly inspiring and changing urban areas into more green and thriving neighbourhoods.

The latest technological advances are revolutionizing our lives. How can we use eco-innovation to make cities more energy-efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly? This session will analyze how cutting-edge technology enhances urban green spaces and explore the challenges and solutions innovators and administrations face in creating more technological and sustainable cities.

‘SMR Smart Net Zero City’ is a city that achieves sustainable development and carbon neutrality by utilizing SMR (Small Modular Reactors) and renewable energy. SMRs and renewable energy supply systems can provide all the energy required by a city, including electricity, heat, and hydrogen, at an economical price. This system not only contributes to economic growth and job creation but also helps the city achieve carbon neutrality.

This session will feature the participation of our global partners KHNP

The rise of photovoltaic systems and high-power charging stations is increasing electrical network complexity. Meanwhile, hydrogen technologies and infrastructure are advancing, vital for a resilient energy system. The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC) is leading these efforts, promoting decarbonizing technologies to support sustainable urban growth. These initiatives aim to meet cities' energy needs while minimizing environmental impact.

Patrick Child, Mission Manager of the EU Cities Mission, will reflect on successful practices of Mission cities in engaging private stakeholders. He will share examples of cities fostering climate-neutral practices and smart innovation among businesses, leading to broader industry participation. The speech will discuss how the Climate City Contract process can help in this engagement and what the implications are for the competitiveness of European clean industries.

Uncover the latest Spanish advancements in smart city solutions, spanning urban mobility, environmental technologies, and urban landscape design. amec urbis companies lead the way in sustainable development, enhancing the well-being and quality of life for citizens globally. Attend this event to gain insights from Spain’s foremost companies as they share their knowledge and experience in promoting responsible, forward-thinking urban growth.

Clean energy sources provide safer, more plentiful, and environmentally friendly solutions for decarbonization. Beyond the latest innovations proposed daily for this transition, it is important to explore how the urban fabric is implementing these measures and the effects they have on the dynamics of cities.

As cities grow and evolve, the need for sustainable and environmentally responsible development becomes increasingly urgent. This session delves into the critical strategies and innovations required to decarbonize the built environment and foster the development of carbon-neutral cities. Experts will share insights into the latest trends in urban sustainability, offering practical solutions for transforming our cities into resilient, eco-friendly spaces that prioritize both the environment and the quality of life for their inhabitants.

This session will feature the participation of our global partners Veloia

The European region Baden-Wuerttemberg – THE LÄND is home to innovative and international key players in science and economy that are continuously developing and testing smart city solutions for energy-efficient building and construction. This session explores the critical role of replication in the context of smart city projects, focusing on the successful transfer of innovations from pilot initiatives to widespread urban application.

How is the building sector adapting to city sustainability initiatives? How can the built environment help mitigate urban climate change impacts? This session delves into new construction practices that align with city-level sustainability goals. Discussions will explore the challenges and opportunities for the building sector in supporting urban sustainability objectives, particularly in combating climate change and achieving decarbonization targets.

Cities are key to aligning economic growth and climate goals. This session explores how mayors from Barcelona, Milan, and Manchester are driving reindustrialisation and proximity planning to build competitive, climate-neutral urban economies. We'll discuss how cities can contribute to the upcoming EU Clean Industrial Deal, foster innovation, create jobs, and ensure their work spearhead national and EU policies for a sustainable future.

Cities are where the impacts of extreme heat events are felt hardest. Extreme heat events have been identified as the most lethal of climate-related disasters, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations including the elderly, economically and socially disadvantaged, and those with disabilities. This session shares lessons from C40 cities on how they act to cool neighborhoods and buildings and protect their residents.

The Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission aims for 100 cities to become climate neutral by 2030, inspiring all other cities to follow suit by 2050. Since the Mission started in 2021, dozens of cities have built innovative climate plans, making bold commitments and rethinking their approach to climate action. Discover their journey!

In this 20-minute session, you will explore the top-performing startups, notable unicorns, key exits, and the best cities and countries for the Energy & Environment startup industry. The presentation will compare regions and sub-industries based on funding, exits, and unicorn creation, while also providing insights into top funding rounds and the overall growth of the sector compared to other industries.

Energy Community Sporenburg is a local, collective clean electricity production, consumption and grid congestion project in Amsterdam, replicated in Girona. Smart technology and community engagement achieve goals with real-time insights and energy control.

Increase:

-local energy ownership

-Self-consumption peer2peer energy sharing

Reduce:

-Demand peaks transformation station

-Costly upgrades transformer station

-Electricity dependence

Dive into the dynamic world of Urban Shark Tank, where innovative companies present bold, climate-smart use cases to a panel of city leaders. The stakes are high as these "sharks" probe deeply, asking tough questions about the replicability of each use case. Can these solutions be successfully implemented across diverse urban landscapes? The most adaptable and scalable cases will earn the sharks' support and win prizes from the audience!

This event addresses the significant challenges climate change poses to water management in cities and regions reliant on water resources. It highlights best practices and strategies for smart water cities using IoT, AI, and data analytics to manage and mitigate climate impacts like droughts and floods. Key objectives include resilient infrastructure, advanced technology implementation, community engagement, and supportive policies.

When it comes to climate change and environmental impact, will Artificial Intelligence solve more problems than it creates? AI's huge energy and water requirements have caused some of the biggest technology companies in the world to miss their climate targets, a problem that will likely only worsen in the near to medium term. Yet AI is also helping to improve productivity, identify efficiencies, and support innovation, all of which we need to achieve our net zero targets. This talk considers current efforts to make AI more sustainable and what this challenge means for smart cities.

The intersection of enabling technologies and sustainability is revolutionizing how environmental challenges are addressed. Innovations such as IoT, AI, and renewable energy systems are enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and making our overall existence more sustainable. As societies become more aware of the urgent need to adopt sustainable practices, tech leaders are pioneering the transition to a greener, more sustainable future for our planet.

This session will feature the participation of our global partners FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente 

Almost 10 years after the Paris Agreement, citizens are increasingly struggling with the effects of a constantly changing climate, experiencing unprecedented high temperatures and an elevated risk of disasters. Despite this, the role cities play in addressing the climate crisis demonstrates how local efforts can drive meaningful results on a global scale. In this session, we will explore the adaptation strategies and best practices cities implement to achieve climate goals.

Uncover the exciting potential of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) as we explore their role in reshaping Europe’s urban landscape. Learn how scaling these models not only enhances sustainability but also elevates quality of life in cities. Join the conversation on the successes and hurdles of this transformative approach!

A climate neutral EU can only be achieved with a strong involvement of cities and regions. Here, we bring together high-level representatives of sub-national authorities sharing their experience with proven scalable innovative planning and financing solutions to give local action the spotlight in the achievement of Europe's energy and climate goals.