The Smart City Expo World Congress opened Nov. 5 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, starting with a moment of silence to honor victims of recent floods in Spain’s Valencia region. This year’s theme, “Live Better,” calls for urgent action on climate resilience and sustainability as cities around the world face the growing impacts of climate change.
Maria Tsavachidis, CEO of EIT Urban Mobility, opened the event with a call to address the immediate effects of climate change. “Experts predict that in five years, global warming will temporarily surpass the 1.5-degree threshold,” Tsavachidis said, noting that extreme weather events are a “clear signal that no action is not an option.” She emphasized that existing technologies could reduce emissions by 21% by 2030 but stressed that strong policies and ongoing research are essential. “Let’s make no mistake. We are not waiting for a perfect solution—because there is no silver bullet,” she said, urging swift action even with imperfect solutions.
Laia Bonet, vice mayor of Barcelona, reinforced this message, linking recent European droughts and floods to the congress’s focus. “The smartness of a city is not defined by how much data or technology it deploys,” Bonet said. “It is defined by how it uses data, technology, and knowledge to manage and prevent extreme climate events.” She highlighted the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, which uses simulations and artificial intelligence to forecast and manage natural disasters across Europe. “Being smart doesn’t only mean predicting and tackling disasters. One of the smartest things we can do is to adapt and mitigate the effects of the climate emergency in the long run,” she said, stressing that resilience must be built into cities’ infrastructure.
This year’s congress attracted more than 25,300 attendees from 140 countries, a 30% increase in exhibition space compared to previous years. The event brings together 1,100 exhibitors, 850 city representatives, and more than 600 experts focused on ethical and sustainable urban development.
South Korea is represented by several institutions, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, which leads the “Korea Pavilion,” featuring contributions from Busan City, Pohang City, Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water), and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). Other South Korean entities, such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Development Corporation (GH), and Seongnam City, also have dedicated pavilions. Seongnam’s mayor, Shin Sang-jin, will address the congress, sharing his city’s experiences with ethical digital innovation in the session “Shaping the Digital Future Ethically.”
Prominent speakers at the congress include Majora Carter, an advocate for urban revitalization and reducing brain drain in underserved communities; Ruha Benjamin, a Princeton professor focused on technology, race, and social justice; and Melati Wijsen, an environmental activist and founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags, who leads sustainability initiatives in urban environments.
The SCEWC 2024 also features the World Smart City Awards, recognizing leading projects in urban transformation. With 429 entries from 64 countries, Seongnam is a finalist in the Innovation category, marking the first time a South Korean city has reached the finals. Winners will be announced at a special gala Nov. 6.
