Digitalization, Centralization and Sustainable City

Over half of global population lives in cities, and this ratio is continually increasing. In the context of achieving carbon neutral in the middle of 21th, cities are both an important cause for and solution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To make our cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, conventional centralization strategies attempt to solve the problems through input more resources. With the increase of city sectors, the transaction cost of coordination among sectors increases dramatically under traditional centralization strategies. Digitalization can help to create sustainable cities by providing real-time data on energy use, water consumption, and other key metrics.

Decentralization is described as a multi-dimensional concept to transfer powers and responsibilities from the centralization core to the sector levels. However, decentralization is currently only limited on political, administrative, and fiscal dimensions, not really dealing with economics-efficiency allocation that should be the key feature of decentralization on city management.

Decentralization, digitalization, and sustainable cities are three interlinked concepts that are shaping the future of our urban landscapes. The costs of implementing sustainable solutions can be high, including investment in new infrastructure, changing existing policies and regulations, and potential resistance from stakeholders who may be resistant to change.

Hence, the first aim of this collection will be to investigate the theories & practices digitalization and centralization could enhance the efficiency, equity, and economic resilience of cities. Data driven techniques will be applied into particular space, contexts, urbanists’ behaviors as well as urban solutions. Specific topics potentially related to this aim are listed below:

• Smart city infrastructure: Digitization can help cities create more efficient systems for managing traffic, energy use, and public transportation. This can lead to reduced congestion, lower costs, and an overall more sustainable city.
• Data-driven decision-making: By collecting and analyzing data on energy use, water consumption, and other metrics, cities can make more informed decisions about how to allocate resources and improve sustainability.
• Equitable access to technology: Digitalization can help to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, and can make technology more accessible to underserved communities.
• Centralized management of resources: By integrating different functions such as traffic management, waste disposal, and emergency responses into a central system, cities can manage resources more efficiently and effectively, reducing costs and enhancing resilience.
• Green buildings and carbon neutral infrastructures: Cities can use digital technology to create more sustainable buildings and infrastructure, such as green roofs, energy-efficient lighting systems, and smart irrigation systems. This can help reduce energy consumption and mitigate the impact of climate change.
• Cost-benefits of centralization, digitalization, and sustainable cities.
• The challenges of coordination and collaboration in decentralized governance.

The second aim is to examine how digitalization and central system could combine the advantages of centralization and decentralization on smart city management so that stakeholders from the city sector can design tailor made policy tools to maximize the centralized urban system efficiency as well as reduce the negative externalities. Specific topics potentially related to this aim are listed below:

• Hybrid models for city management: Digitalization can allow cities to develop hybrid models that combine the benefits of centralization (efficiency, economies of scale) with the benefits of decentralization (more localized decision-making, greater flexibility).
• Data-driven policy tools: By collecting and analyzing data on energy use, transportation patterns, and other key metrics, cities can design more effective policy tools that maximize the efficiency of the centralized urban system while reducing negative externalities.
• Coordination of public and private sector: A central system can help to coordinate stakeholders from the public and private sectors, allowing them to work together more effectively to design policy tools that benefit the entire city.
• Tailored approaches: Digitalization can allow cities to develop tailored approaches to smart city management that consider the unique needs and characteristics of different neighborhoods and communities.
• Community engagement: By using digital technology to engage with residents and stakeholders, cities can build more collaborative and participatory approaches to smart city management. This can help to build trust and ensure that policy tools are effective and equitable for all members of the community.
• The financial and social costs of sustainable city development - while sustainable solutions may benefit the environment and society in the long-term, there are often significant financial costs associated with implementing new infrastructure, retrofitting existing buildings, and changing urban policies.
• Balancing short-term economic benefits with long-term sustainability goals - the trade-offs associated with each approach.

Hence, it is expected this collection theme of npj Urban Sustainability will help remake cities to be:

• More equal accessibility, mobility as well as livability
• More sustainable transportation, healthcare, education systems
• More digitalized, sustainable and resilient

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 11.