GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE SMART CITIES: A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY, LAW, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The accelerated rates of urbanization and increased urgency of climate change have turned the question of green and sustainable smart cities into an international priority. This work examines an interdisciplinary paradigm of health, technology, law, and business development to understand how cities may be made sustainable and resilient. The descriptive and comparative design was followed relying on the secondary data in the form of the international reports, policy documents, and case-studies related to the major smart cities in the world such as Copenhagen, Singapore, Barcelona, and Dubai. Findings indicate that those cities that allocate a greater portion of green space and take up smart healthcare, including Copenhagen (35 m 2 per capita green space, AQI 42) or Singapore (telemedicine uptake with 15% hospitalization decrease), show much better public health results. The advantages of technological integration are already measured, and a smart lighting system in Barcelona decreased the energy use by 30% and Singapore smart traffic management decreased the congestion by 25%. The areas with legal and policy frameworks (especially in Europe) enhanced the trust of citizens, and green investments amounted to USD 5.2 billion in Singapore, increasing the contribution of the green sector to GDP. The scores of comparative integration showed that Copenhagen (90/100) and Singapore (88/100) are ahead of Barcelona (80/100) and Dubai (77/100). This paper concludes that smart cities need to be developed in a holistic, cross-disciplinary manner in order to create resilient, inclusive, and prosperous cities.