AMBASSADOR GARBER’S REMARKS AT THE LOGICOM SMART CITIES CONFERENCE
JUNE 30, 2022
Source: https://cy.usembassy.gov/ambassador-garbers-remarks-at-the-logicom-smart-cities-conference/
GLOSSARY
2020 UN Development Programme | 유엔개발계획 |
SCRIPT (526 words)
Ladies and gentlemen, we are at a crucial transition phase in Smart City history. Over 4.2 billion people now live in cities and urban areas across the globe– a trend that accelerates every year. The policies and decisions leaders make today will indelibly affect the future of our neighborhoods, our cities, and our countries for decades to come. As we seek to ensure the prosperity of our communities, it is vital we always act with an eye to the future.
Although the theory of a Smart City is not new, technology is rapidly transforming new ideas into reality. Right now, Smart City systems are helping local and national governments improve public safety, modernize urban infrastructure, promote economic growth and ultimately provide a better quality of life for citizens worldwide. As government and business leaders, we must provide the vision. What kind of city do we want? What benefits and services do our people need and want?
As we continue to grapple with the consequences of climate change, Smart Cities offer tremendous potential towards building a cleaner, greener world. According to a 2020 UN Development Programme report, over 70 percent of all emissions come from cities – be it from energy production, transportation, heating, or other sources.
With Smart City technology we can expand our use of renewables while simultaneously reducing our energy demand. Using integrated electricity metering with energy storage, it is possible to shift power on-demand throughout the grid. Chicago is using a Smart Lighting system, combining LED lights with a wireless control system to operate them remotely as needed – improving energy efficiency and public safety.
As a New Yorker, I love boasting about my city. But one of its challenges is waste management. New York installed smart trash cans that use solar powered-trash compactors to hold five times more waste and include sensors to detect when they need pickup. This allows the city to schedule pick-up routes more efficiently, and reduces costs and emissions while keeping the city cleaner.
To improve the flow of vehicles and reduce transportation emissions, Smart Traffic management incorporates predicted and actual traffic patterns into real-time traffic operations. In San Francisco, Smart Parking directs drivers quickly and efficiently to the closest available spot, reducing emissions and traffic jams. Distributed electric vehicle charging networks increase convenience for drivers of electric or hybrid vehicles, further incentivizing a shift away from high-emission transport.
For governments across the globe, the advantages of these Smart systems are tangible and cost-effective. Upgrading to Smart Technologies reduces costs for electricity, water, waste management, road maintenance, and even provision of government services, allowing leaders to redirect savings to improve education, health, and other services for their citizens.
Ultimately, this is the underlying purpose of a government — the heart of the social contract – – to responsibly steward public funds to provide the best quality of life to citizens. Smart Cities are an investment into the prosperity of people, but those decisions must happen now.
Today’s emerging technology will be the backbone of our Smart Cities. As the demand for interconnected watches, phones, traffic monitors, electricity meters, and other devices continues to rise, so too does the need for increased data and bandwidth.