Getting smart about sustainability

The environmental issues facing our region – and our world – today are unprecedented. As the global population continues to experience exponential growth, and as major cities and economies work to keep up with this growth, there has been an increasing focus on sustainable development. Even in the MENA region, developers, city planners, and the general population are becoming more and more aware of the need for a focus on intelligent urbanism. In the UAE, for example, projects like Abu Dhabi’s Al Bahar Towers are garnering international acclaim for their focus on eco-friendly design and sustainability. Meanwhile, ambitious ideas like the one put forth by Jordan’s Hanna Salameh Design for Amman’s Jordan Gate Towers – which reimagines the stalled project as an environmentally sustainable source of renewable energy and food security – are grabbing the attention and enthusiasm of residents like never before.

There’s no doubt that the cities of the future will not be able to thrive without a strong emphasis on sustainable development. But to make this kind of sustainability a reality, you need more than just eco-friendly buildings: you need technological innovation on all levels, along with the engagement and support of both private citizens and the private sector. Here are just a few ways that governments, companies, and individual citizens can work together to ensure that the cities of tomorrow will thrive.

Improved long-term urban planning

With soaring energy prices, increasing concerns about climate change, and rapidly expanding populations, it’s not enough for city planners in major metropolitan areas to simply work to keep up with growth and demand. Streets and public transportation solutions need to have long-term viability; buildings need to be both functional and eco-friendly; and public spaces need to be intelligently allocated and maintained.

One of the biggest challenges in the Middle East will undoubtedly be a focus on eco-friendly air conditioning – particularly as global temperatures continue to break record highs. Fortunately, companies like LG Electronics are already working to develop and implement some of the most energy-efficient, environmentally conscious heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies available – and in a major way. LG’s doesn’t simply approach its HVAC technologies with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy: the company is careful to adapt its products and solutions to meet the specific needs of the local climate and the particular building type and function. From homes to hotels, to large-scale projects like the UAE’s Al Meydan City, LG’s products are being implemented in extraordinarily versatile and effective ways. It’s adaptable solutions like these that will pave the way forward for sustainable development in cities throughout the world.

Smart technology integration

Another key solution to developing sustainable cities is the implementation and integration of smart technology. Today, smart technology is finding its way into homes, offices, and on the streets, working to ensure that the cities of the future are using resources in a more intelligent, intuitive, and eco-friendly manner.

And it’s not just about making cities more environmentally friendly: it’s about making them safer, too. Smart technology can help individuals monitor the safety and security of their homes while they’re out and about, and it can improve traffic and safety on the streets. Numerous companies are investing in and testing self-driving vehicles, with an emphasis on making these cars more efficient and eco-friendly. Google’s electric smart cars, for example, currently run on batteries developed by LG, making them safe for both users and for the environment.

LG’s commitment to sustainable solutions isn’t limited to the developed world either: in 2014, the company donated 20 solar-powered refrigerators to rural communities across Africa and South America, particularly in places where access to electricity is limited or unreliable. In doing so, these communities are able to safely store vital resources like medications, food, and vaccines. As energy costs continue to rise around the world, investments in technologies like these will be vital for the survival and development of communities across the globe.

Collective power and civic pride

Creating sustainable cities is about more than the environment: it’s about ensuring a decent standard of living for residents and citizens, and about helping maintain a good quality of life for these individuals. And ensuring a brighter future for everyone requires a broad commitment, not only from governments and private-sector companies, but from individual citizens as well. With the cooperation and engagement of all these groups and individuals, cities and communities will have the opportunity to thrive far into the future.