Climate Action 2011-2012

schneider electric
special Feature
Smarter cities – more efficient,
sustainable and liveable
© goochai/SCX
Tomorrow’s smart cities.
The figures are well known but arresting. Cities today cover
two per cent of the earth’s surface, contain 50 per cent of the
world’s population, consume 75 per cent of global energy
and give off 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
And cities are growing: by 2050, they will be home to
70 per cent of the people in the world. This means that over
the next 40 years we need to provide new urban capacity
equivalent to that of the past 4,000 years.
As the world wonders how to meet the challenge of the
growing demand for energy and resources, while drastically
reducing global carbon emissions, one thing is clear: this
challenge will be won, or lost, in the cities. And the word
‘challenge’ suddenly seems inadequate.
Cities today, all over the world, are plagued with
congestion, sprawl, power shortages, lack of water,
unaffordable public services and many other urban ills.
To retain or regain their attractiveness and competitiveness
– to survive – cities need to become smarter: more efficient,
more sustainable, more liveable.
The soluTions exisT
Cities are a complex value chain, involving not just local
governments and inhabitants, but local business, utilities,
real estate developers and managers, as well as investors.
As cities embark on their journey to ‘smart’, whether because
they will play host to a major event, need to expand, want to
relieve pain points or in general plan their future, they need
to bring in all stakeholders, including the private sector, from
the start.
The solutions exist. What is key is having all stakeholders
work together to bring in the best solutions and combine
them, collaborating across sectors, to ensure cost-effectiveness
and compliance and funding over time.
At Schneider Electric, we deliver efficient and sustainable
urban infrastructures.
We provide innovative, expert solutions in smart grid,
smart mobility, smart water, smart buildings and homes,
smart public services.
We tailor our solutions to cities’ unique needs.
We bring recognised integration capabilities.
And we collaborate with other best-in-class players.
We know what it takes. We help make it happen.
Web: www.schneider-electric.com
177 climateactionprogramme.org