Geneva, May 26th, 2016 - “United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC)” is a campaign established by the International Consortium of United Nations Economic Chambers for Global Europe to promote public policy development in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) for smart and sustainable cities. Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals will be addressed by this project. “Making sustainable and inclusive cities”. Industry, academia, and new members are all welcome to participate in the platform.
United Nations bodies including; the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Women UN, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), FI-UNEP, World Health Organization (WHO), World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UNU Graduate Institute (UNU) IAS-UNU, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) announced their intention to join the Global Initiative's Advisory Board.
ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said, "ICTs have taken on a prominent role in nearly all aspects of social and economic activity, making collaboration critical in maximizing ICTs' contribution to sustainable development." ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm Johnson added, "The worldwide effort will bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to ensure a coherent and consistent approach to ICTs' contribution to sustainable development”. Also the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Christian Frisbach commented “we live in a connected world where physical goods, services, and digital technology all mix and flourish together, and Europe is no exception”.
He added, "The digital revolution can help us create smart transportation systems, smart energy systems, achieve resource efficiency and build transparent and open societies. It can help us achieve sustainable development. But, to achieve this, we need trust, predictability and common standards. It is neutral and can be used across borders and technologies”.
The global initiative was launched at the ITU-UNECE Joint Forum on “Designing Smarter and More Sustainable Cities: Pursuing the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals”
The event was held on the 18th and 19th of May in Rome, Italy. “Smart sustainable cities benefit from improved energy efficiency, reduced environmental pollution, and increased social inclusion, offering businesses a better return on investment and providing people with a happier and healthier living environment,” said ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm Johnson, who opened the forum.