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A system thinking approach for harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with United Nations sustainable development goals

Author

Listed:
  • Adeeb A. Kutty
  • Galal M. Abdella
  • Murat Kucukvar
  • Nuri C. Onat
  • Melih Bulu

Abstract

Technology has indispensably been a part of the city evolution throughout history. In recent years, there has been a shift in the pattern of development in smart cities, where smart cities attempt to embrace practices of sustainability using Information and Communication Technologies and other smart solutions. Past studies reveal that these smart cities have failed in successfully incorporating sustainable development goals into their smart strategies, where they tend to focus more on achieving smartness goals rather than sustainability goals and targets. This paper presents a multi‐faceted interrogative study on several ongoing smart city initiatives around the globe that supports United Nations Urban Sustainability Agenda. This paper aims to focus on harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals using a systems thinking approach. The study develops conceptual models that support the city transition into being a sustainable smart city. These conceptual models were designed based on the fundamentals of system thinking for a system of several elements under the key catalyzers “Policy and Governance,” “Research & Development,” and “Partnership.” The causalities and interrelationships among elements in developed conceptual models justify the dynamicity and the impact of these elements within a system. The outcome of this research paper would support industry experts, policymakers, and city planners to adopt robust policy interventions and best practices for developing strategies that support the transition of smart cities to the futuristic label of sustainable cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Adeeb A. Kutty & Galal M. Abdella & Murat Kucukvar & Nuri C. Onat & Melih Bulu, 2020. "A system thinking approach for harmonizing smart and sustainable city initiatives with United Nations sustainable development goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1347-1365, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:28:y:2020:i:5:p:1347-1365
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2088
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    6. Seunghwan Myeong & Khurram Shahzad, 2021. "Integrating Data-Based Strategies and Advanced Technologies with Efficient Air Pollution Management in Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, June.
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    8. Lu Wang & Junling Zhou & Pohsun Wang & Chen Pan & Haibo Li, 2025. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Green Gentrification and Urban Parks: Exploring the Complex Dynamics of Commercial Transformation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 6874-6906, June.
    9. Huilin Ding & Cheng Zhang & Tianyang Zhou & Hao Yun, 2025. "Is it possible to determine an internationally applicable optimal Sustainable Development Goal using a priority-based evaluation," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Valerie Graf-Drasch & Robert Keller & Oliver Meindl & Felix Röhrich, 2023. "The Design of Citizen-Centric Green IS in Sustainable Smart Districts," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 65(5), pages 521-538, October.
    11. Ernesto E. Empig & Ahmet Sivacioğlu & Renato S. Pacaldo & Peter D. Suson & Rabby Q. Lavilles & Maria Rizalia Y. Teves & Maria Cecilia M. Ferolin & Ruben F. Amparado, 2023. "Climate Change, Sustainable Forest Management, ICT Nexus, and the SDG 2030: A Systems Thinking Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-26, April.
    12. Mehmet Ali Köseoglu, 2025. "Leveraging Entrepreneurship for Environmental Sustainability: A Machine Learning Approach to SDG Achievement," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7), pages 7980-8000, November.
    13. Elagouz, Noura & Onat, Nuri C. & Kucukvar, Murat & Kharbeche, Mohamed & Kutty, Adeeb A., 2025. "Sustainable technology transition in bus fleet management: Integrating life cycle sustainability assessment and multi-objective optimization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    14. Farzaneh Mohammadi Jouzdani & Vahid Javidroozi & Hanifa Shah & Monica Mateo Garcia, 2025. "A Systemic Digital Transformation for Smart Net-Zero Cities: A State-of-the-Art Review," J, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-32, March.
    15. Akpınar, Musab Talha & Korkut, Cem, 2024. "The Role of Basic Sciences in Building Sustainable Smart Cities," MPRA Paper 126576, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Agnieszka Deja & Tygran Dzhuguryan & Lyudmyla Dzhuguryan & Oleg Konradi & Robert Ulewicz, 2021. "Smart Sustainable City Manufacturing and Logistics: A Framework for City Logistics Node 4.0 Operations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Aleksandra Plonka & Ewa Heczko-Hylowa & Wojciech Sroka, 2021. "Role of Spatial Planning in the Restitution and Development of Urban Agriculture," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2 - Part ), pages 698-711.
    18. Hiroshi Ito & Kazuhiko Kato, 2025. "Redefining Toyota’s Woven City as a “glocal” innovation ecosystem for integrated sustainable development," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    19. Farah Mneimneh & Hasan Ghazzawi & Mohammad Abu Hejjeh & Matteo Manganelli & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2023. "Roadmap to Achieving Sustainable Development via Green Hydrogen," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.
    20. Shuangshuang Fan & Tomas Balezentis & William Mbanyele & Dalia Streimikiene, 2025. "Unlocking Informatization's Potential: The Impact of Smart City Initiatives on Inclusive Green Growth," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(4), pages 6050-6070, August.
    21. Fangli Ruan, 2023. "The complexity of the urban system: Profiles based on current literature and gaps with Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2137-2154, August.
    22. Dan Yan & Shaoxuan Huang & Guoliang Chen & Huan Tong & Peiyuan Qin, 2025. "Heterogeneous influences of urban compactness on air pollution: evidence from 285 prefecture-level cities in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.

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