Only one Australian city has been named among the world's 'smartest cities' based on green spaces and technological advancements.
We hate to break it to you but while Sydney and Melbourne were arguing over who has the better coffee, Canberra was officially named one of the ‘smartest’ cities in the world. The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has recently released its Smart Cities Index studying 142 cities around the world on factors such as economic and technological advancements and sustainability with Zurich topping the list for the fifth year running. It was followed by Oslo in Norway at number 2 and Canberra in the third spot making it the only Aussie city in the top 20.
What is a ‘smart’ city?
Unlike what the name suggests, it doesn’t mean Canberrians are brighter than everyone else. The term implies that it’s at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation in the country.
According to the IMD, a smart city is “an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanization for its citizens.”
The report adds that the top cities have focused on developing green spaces, social opportunities and cultural events and used “innovative strategies to attract and retain talent, foster investment in a selective fashion (e.g. pro-sustainability), and tackle long-standing issues regarding geographical inequalities and inclusion.” The top 10 smart cities for 2024
Three of the top 10 smart cities in the world are in Switzerland, with Geneva taking out the 4th spot on the list and Lausanne ranking seventh. Singapore rounded out the top 5.
Here are the top 10 smartest cities in 2024, according to the 2024 Smart City Index:
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Oslo, Norway
- Canberra, Australia
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Singapore
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Lausanne, Switzerland
- London, England
- Helsinki, Finland
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
In case you were wondering, Sydney was ranked 22nd on the list, with Brisbane ranking 30th.
To read the full report and learn more head here.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Ria Lawrence
Quelle/Source: Secret Sydney, 21.05.2024
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