Barcelona brings its sustainability commitment to the Smart City

The city presents a series of integrated initiatives at the Smart City Expo World Congress, combining sustainability, technology, and citizen participation, paving the way for a healthier, more livable, and resilient urban future.

At the Smart City Expo 2024, the Barcelona City Council showcases its commitment to the city's green transformation, aligned with the Climate Plan and the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. This effort has been recognized by the European Commission, which has designated Barcelona as a "mission city," highlighting its leadership in sustainability and climate protection.

One of the initiatives presented at the municipal booth this week is the Proximity and Interior Spaces Program (PEPI), which revitalizes underutilized spaces by creating new green areas to improve urban health and foster biodiversity. The program includes over 71 interventions and the creation of 22.3 hectares of green spaces, as well as the implementation of shading structures—one of which is on display at the booth—to combat rising temperatures.

Under the slogan "Breathing Innovation," the municipal booth also features an explanation of how photovoltaic panels are being integrated into buildings and public spaces in Barcelona, with the goal of tripling the city's solar capacity by 2027. Also showcased is the "21st-century pavement" project, which uses recycled materials and innovative installation techniques.

In terms of water management, the Barcelona City Council booth explains how the city is advancing in the reuse of greywater, reducing potable water consumption by 30% for cleaning purposes. Improvements in urban cleaning efficiency are also being achieved with vehicles equipped with advanced technology that optimizes waste collection and street cleaning. Visitors to the booth will have the chance to see one of these vehicles in action.

Mobility is also a strategic area, and Barcelona's proposal at this edition of the Smart City Expo highlights the Bicing service, which promotes sustainability by incorporating new electric bicycles. The city also presents novel initiatives, such as the Rider Dome project, aimed at increasing motorcycle safety with alerts about imminent collisions.

The use of aquatic drones for firefighting services, which facilitate operations in complex environments, and the deployment of 5G technology and connectivity solutions in public spaces are other aspects covered at the booth.

The projects presented at the "Breathing Innovation" booth by the Barcelona City Council are complemented by networking and agora spaces where attendees will have the opportunity to dive deeper into the projects, chat with technical experts, and attend presentations.

You can check the full program here

Location of the City Council booth: Gran Via, Hall 2, Level 0, Street D, Stand 151