In the next five years, global emissions must be cut by almost half to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – a crucial target to protect our planet for future generations. It’s an ambitious goal that will require radical innovation spanning every facet of our lives – from the technologies we use to how we source energy and make decisions.
We know that people want this change, too. Joint research from McKinsey and NielsenIQ found that consumers are increasingly shifting their spending toward products with claims related to Ethical, Social and Governance (ESG) outcomes, demonstrating the growing business value of sustainable and ethical products. Similarly, PwC reports that global asset managers are expected to increase their ESG-related assets under management to US$33.9 trillion by 2026, up from US$18.4 trillion in 2021.
So, what trends, technologies and innovations are paving the way for sustainable living on a global scale?
Already, we’re seeing that the 21st century will be characterised by remarkable technological transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and innovations in digital networking and renewable energy provide a promising pathway to a sustainable future.
In this article, we’ll explore transformative concepts like smart cities and examine how advancements in architecture, information technology and business are turning these visions into reality.
Sustainable urban planning: a tale of smart cities
Urban areas are responsible for 60% of our greenhouse gas emissions, making them a major contributor to carbon emissions. With more than half of the world’s population living in cities and the population growth of these urban areas accelerating, limiting the carbon cost of cities will play a crucial role in achieving our sustainability goals.
This is where smart cities come into play.
What are smart cities?
Smart cities represent a cutting-edge approach to urban planning, merging digital and physical realms to benefit both citizens and the environment. By leveraging big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) – which connects devices, buildings, vehicles and infrastructure through sensors and networks – smart cities continuously evolve to enhance residents’ quality of life, improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
These cities drive improvements at multiple levels: pre-emptive maintenance strategies reduce long-term costs and enhance reliability, smart building management optimises short-term energy use, and adaptive traffic signals minimise real-time congestion and emissions. As a beacon of hope in the race to reduce global emissions, the smart cities market is thriving, with projected global revenue to reach US$115 billion by 2029.
Singapore leads the way in smart city technology
Cities across Asia are rapidly adopting smart technologies and infrastructure in their cities, with plenty of tech digitising and automating aspects of daily life. The 2024 Smart City Index dubbed Singapore the smartest city in Asia and the fifth smartest city in the world – when you look at their infrastructure, it’s no wonder why.
Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit is among the world’s most advanced, using automatic train control, intelligent signalling, predictive maintenance and real-time scheduling to ensure efficiency and reliability. Beyond transport, the city’s digital healthcare system addresses the needs of its ageing population, while smart grid technologies guarantee a stable power supply. Looking ahead, the ambitious Smart Nation 2.0 initiative aims to enhance AI capabilities and combat scams over the next decade.
The innovation making smart cities possible
Smart cities aren’t built overnight – they demand extensive collaboration between public and private organisations. Innovations in architecture, business and IT are paving the way toward sustainable living and ambitious environmental goals. Key frontiers shaping the future of smart cities include:
These groundbreaking developments are not only revolutionising urban spaces but also propelling humanity beyond the stratosphere, unlocking new possibilities in space commercialisation (more on this later).
Sustainable architecture: the future of urban living
The built environment contributes about 42% of annual global CO2 emissions and 40% of the world’s energy consumption, highlighting the need for sustainable architecture solutions. Architects are now responsible for ensuring their concepts and designs are practical, resilient and energy efficient.
What is sustainable architecture?
Sustainable architecture focuses on designing buildings and structures that achieve environmental, economic and social sustainability. By addressing challenges such as energy efficiency, resource conservation, climate resilience and material recycling, sustainable architecture plays a crucial role in creating a sustainable urban future.
A practical example of sustainable architecture is the use of green roofs, which help mitigate the effects of heat islands – urban areas that experience intense heat due to a lack of natural landscapes. Heat islands not only increase energy consumption as residents rely on cooling systems but also contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Green roofs, which feature extensive greenery on rooftops, provide natural insulation, reduce the need for mechanical cooling, lower energy demand and curb emissions. They also improve stormwater management and enhance urban biodiversity.
With their shared goals of efficiency, resilience and environmental harmony, sustainable architecture and smart cities often go hand in hand – so much so that their overlap might seem more like a perfect circle!
Sustainable architecture in smart cities
When sustainable architecture is integrated into smart cities, our urban areas can enhance efficiency and resilience. Smart buildings and digital twin technology are two examples of innovations at the intersection between sustainable architecture and smart cities.
Smart buildings
Smart or intelligent buildings connect independent sensors, systems and usage information to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of building management and maintenance. Smart buildings can use this information and connection to optimise heating and cooling, electricity usage and other utilities. For instance, one of the world’s smartest buildings, The Edge in Amsterdam, is packed with a whopping 28,000 sensors. The building’s lighting system alone intelligently connects to daylight, temperature, infrared and motion sensors, activating only when needed.
Digital twin technology
A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical asset, such as a building or city. Digital twin technology increases the efficiency of its twin by facilitating predictive planning, performance analysis and monitoring constructions. It’s almost like a video game, where we play out situations before committing to any action, like seeing how infrastructure could hold up in worst-case environmental scenarios. Smart cities use data to create informative digital twins, which use predictive analytics to aid decision making. Virtual Singapore is Singapore’s digital twin that integrates real-time data on infrastructure, populations, environmental factors and more. Right now, this digital twin is identifying opportunities to help the government meet their solar energy targets by 2030.
Innovations in sustainable architecture are reshaping sustainable urban planning and transforming our approach to the cities of tomorrow.
Clean hydrogen: powering the smart cities of tomorrow
Energy is the backbone of smart cities, driving the technologies and innovations that make them pivotal to achieving sustainability goals. However, with fossil fuels still accounting for over 80% of global energy production and being a major contributor to climate change, transitioning to cleaner alternatives is essential.
Clean hydrogen, produced without fossil fuels, offers a promising solution. Through a process called electrolysis, green hydrogen is generated using renewable energy, making it entirely emissions-free. While most hydrogen today is derived from natural gas, innovation is driving a global shift towards greener production methods, with the hydrogen market forecast to reach US$1.4 trillion by 2050.
In smart cities, clean hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in transportation systems with hydrogen-powered buses and trains, reducing urban emissions. It also provides a solution for grid firming, allowing surplus renewable energy to be stored and used during periods of low production.
Despite challenges in storage, transport and infrastructure, groups like Curtin University’s Hydrogen storage research group and international collaborations such as HyGATE are paving the way for widespread adoption. As these breakthroughs continue, clean hydrogen is poised to become a cornerstone of the global energy transition.
Edge computing: upgrading our digital experiences
Unlike traditional cloud computing, which relies on distant, centralised data centres, edge computing is a decentralised approach to data processing that brings computation closer to where data is generated – on devices, sensors or users – reducing latency, overcoming bandwidth limitations and enabling faster, more efficient data analysis.
From smart speakers to wearables, many devices already use edge computing to process data locally, bridging the digital and physical worlds. By processing information where it’s needed most, edge computing ensures future cities are not only smarter but also more efficient, responsive and sustainable.
In smart cities, edge computing delivers real-time solutions for essential services:
Waste management
Automated waste sorting systems use edge computing, IoT and deep learning to classify and manage waste in real time, reducing landfill contributions and improving recycling rates.
Edge energy grids
By processing sensor data at the source, edge-enabled grids adapt to real-time energy demand, redirecting surplus power and predicting outages to minimise waste.
Traffic systems
Tokyo’s Intelligent Transportation System leverages edge computing to analyse traffic flows in real time, easing congestion and cutting emissions.
To Low Earth Orbit and beyond
Excitingly, technological progress in construction, architecture, business, and IT is not only advancing sustainable urban development – it’s also laying the groundwork for innovation in space.
Space commercialisation
Both the private and public sectors are focused on space commercialisation, with goals like space tourism, resource recovery, satellite expansion and solar system exploration. NASA reports the space economy has grown by over 60% in the last decade, valued at around $400 billion. With advances in satellite production, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) economy is set to expand further.
The satellite revolution and the LEO economy
The most common form of space commercialisation today is launching satellites into LEO, located 160 to 1,000 km above Earth. Satellites are now integral to navigation, communication and imaging. Companies like SpaceX’s Starlink are leading the way in satellite internet, with SpaceX expected to generate $11.8 billion in sales by 2025.
Technological symbiosis
Space innovations and sustainability advancements are deeply interconnected. Digital twins and edge computing are driving progress in satellite production and reducing system failures in LEO. At the same time, advancements in satellite technology are improving edge computing capabilities, enhancing bandwidth and reducing latency with 5G.
Sustainable practices in satellite production and disposal are crucial. LEO is increasingly cluttered with space debris, which poses risks to satellites and space exploration. Ethical, social and governance considerations must be managed, requiring global cooperation to address the growing challenge.
As our capabilities grow, we’re witnessing the early stages of a trillion-dollar industry that could redefine economic and technological limits.
Looking forward: the emerging skill landscape
These trends and innovations are driving our shift toward more sustainable, technologically advanced urban living. The transformation ahead is not only remarkable, but it’s also propelled by the talented individuals who will bring these changes to life.
The future will belong to those who can navigate complexity, think interdisciplinarily and recognise technological innovation as part of an interconnected system. As new technologies reshape industries, the next generation of engineers, architects, entrepreneurs and IT experts will need to be adaptable, with broad knowledge and the ability to evolve alongside change.
At Curtin University, we’re committed to equipping our graduates with the knowledge, connections and hands-on experience needed to thrive in this dynamic landscape. Our focus is on preparing students for not just today’s careers … but the jobs of tomorrow.
To learn more about how we’re preparing future-ready graduates, explore our courses.
