The spatial distribution of the world’s population continues to change. In 2000, around 47 per cent lived in urban areas. That proportion increased to 55 per cent in 2018. The global share of the urban population is projected to rise further to 60 per cent by 2030. By then, one-third of the world’s people are estimated to be living in cities with at least half a million inhabitants.
Big cities around the world face similar challenges, such as suburban sprawl, slums, economic segregation and pollution. Most of them are fraught with traffic congestion and disparate isolated residential neighbourhoods. According to the United Nations E-Government Survey 2020, most cities are underperforming when it comes to delivering online public services compared to national governments. However, there are exemplary cities transforming into “smart cities” and harnessing technology such as; artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to improve service delivery and streamlining internal workforce management; big data and analytics to design and implement effective local government policies, and optimize urban public resources; use of Internet-of-Things to support smart applications in healthcare, transportation projects, law enforcement, emergency situations; and use of augmented and virtual reality to drastically improve urban navigation, improve driver safety, and support rescue operations; among many other applications. But there are also many other cities that are early on in their “smart” journeys or have not even started yet.
This panel will discuss the importance and lessons learned in creating sustainable smart cities; designating more green areas, sports and entertainment facilities, and Internet hot spots; deploying safe and secure intelligent transport and infrastructure management systems; and developing places that people want to live, work, play, and learn in.
Biena Magbitang is a multi-awarded journalist with over a decade of experience in broadcast and online media. She is currently the Digital Head of the ABS-CBN News Channel and the Asia Manager of Climate Tracker. She is a member of the International Press Institute and the International News Media Association.
Current Post : Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination (International Affairs), MIC (incumbent)
Detailed professional career
1987 Entered the Minitry of Posts and Telecommunications
2007 Director, Fixed Radio Communications Division, Telecommunicationss Bureau
2009 Director, Satellite and Regional Broadcasting Division, Information and Communications Bureau
2011 Director, Broadcasting Policy Division, Information and Communications Bureau
David Jensen is the coordinator of the Digital Transformation Task Force at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
H.E. Aminath Shauna is the Maldives’ Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology. Her portfolio includes, protecting the natural environment and its resources, action and advocacy on climate change, science and technology development, and the implementation of policies and regulations related to the provision of energy, telecommunications, water, and waste management.
Mr. Petr Očko graduated from Information Management and European Integration at the University of Economics in Prague and from Ph.D. studies of Information Economics at the Charles University in Prague. As an expert in the EU economic integration, he has been working at the Ministry of Finance since 2001 on the EU Funds, and since 2004 as an advisor to the Deputy Minister of Finance for the financial market. In 2006 he was appointed by the Government as a National Coordinator for the euro introduction.
Ger Baron is the Chief Technology Officer of the City of Amsterdam. His professional career started at Accenture, where he worked as an analyst in the consulting department. In 2007, he was hired by Amsterdam Innovation Motor (AIM) in the role of project manager, specifically to develop and enhance the role of ICT. Baron was responsible for starting up the Amsterdam ICT-cluster and he initiated several projects in public-private partnership. Among these were a number of projects related to the development of Amsterdam’s Smart City initiative.
Dr. Martha Suarez is President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance and has over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. In her current role at the DSA she advocates for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization, which is essential to addressing key worldwide social and economic challenges. She spent over three years as General Director of the National Spectrum Agency in Colombia, having originally joined the ANE in 2013.