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Volume 40, Issue 1 (2025)
GeoRes 2025, 40(1): 53-61 |
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Received: 2024/11/12 | Accepted: 2025/03/15 | Published: 2025/03/29
Received: 2024/11/12 | Accepted: 2025/03/15 | Published: 2025/03/29
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Behzadfar M, Shirani Z. Conceptual Analysis of Climate-Smart Cities and Their Indicators; A Systematic Review. GeoRes 2025; 40 (1) :53-61
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Authors
M. Behzadfar *1, Z. Shirani1
1- Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
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Background
Climate change, as one of the global challenges, especially in urban environments, has caused widespread impacts such as warming, flooding, and storms. At the same time, cities themselves are among the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, modern urban planning, with a focus on technology, sustainability, and policymaking, can play a key role in mitigating the effects of this phenomenon.
Previous Studies
Previous studies have explored various aspects of the impact of climate change on cities and the role of urban planning in mitigating these effects. For example, Kim (2017) and Bulkeley et al. (2014) highlighted the role of cities in addressing climate change through physical, social, and economic interventions. Stone et al. (2014) and Kamel Boulos & Al-Shorbaji (2014) examined how urban structures contribute to the increase in extreme heat events. Frantzeskaki et al. (2017) and Broto & Bulkeley (2013) introduced concepts such as the transition to urban sustainability and urban experimentation as approaches for developing climate solutions. In the realm of technology, Thornbush & Golubchikov (2021) and Kutty et al. (2022) emphasized the importance of integrating smart features into sustainable cities. Furthermore, practical examples such as the city of Malmö (Parks, 2020) underscore the role of global experiences in shaping the concept of the climate-smart city.
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to examine the indicators of climate-smart cities through a systematic analysis of the existing literature on this topic.
Research Type
This review study was conducted using a systematic approach based on content analysis, following the PRISMA guidelines.
Research Society, Place, and Time
The study focuses on a collection of scholarly texts, including 11 selected papers in the field of climate-smart cities, which were chosen from an initial pool of 25 identified articles after screening and quality assessment. It concentrates on articles published in international scientific databases such as Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The time frame for searching and analyzing the articles was set from 2000 to 2024.
Sampling Method and Number
The sampling method was purposive and based on predefined criteria. This study used a purposeful sampling approach. Out of the 25 initially identified articles, 11 papers were selected as final samples for content analysis after screening and thorough review (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Selection of the articles through PRISMA
Used Devices & Materials
In this review study, digital resources and tools were used to collect and analyze data. The search for relevant articles was conducted through two reputable databases, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. To achieve comprehensive coverage of the topic's literature, a combination of keywords such as "Climate-smart city," "Sustainable smart city," and "Urban climate adaptability" was used in the title, abstract, and keywords. Furthermore, data analysis was carried out using a qualitative content analysis method, consisting of three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding.
Findings by Text
The attention to the concept of "climate-smart city" has significantly increased in recent years, especially since 2018. According to the extracted data, the peak in scientific production in this field occurred in 2018 and 2023, with each year accounting for 21.43% of the total number of articles. In contrast, 2019 and 2024 had the lowest scientific output, each with a share of 7.14% (Figure 2). This trend reflects the growing global awareness of the importance of cities' adaptation to climate change.
Figure 2. Frequency of studies on smart cities during the study period (2000–2024)
In terms of content, 63.63% of the articles focused on carbon reduction in smart cities, which indicates the primary focus of the research. Following that, climate governance ranks second with 36.36%. Other topics include sustainable transportation, natural resource management, and environmental policymaking.
The content analysis of the selected articles (Table 1) led to the identification of 9 key components for defining a climate-smart city, including: resilience and sustainability, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, low-carbon transportation, smart governance, social and digital participation, public awareness, technology and data-driven approaches, and monitoring and evaluation. Among these, the "smart infrastructure" indicator had the highest frequency with 11 mentions (Table 2). These indicators often act synergistically, playing a significant role in optimizing resources, reducing pollutants, and increasing urban efficiency. Therefore, the main focus of studies is on sustainable development, the use of innovative technologies, and improving urban management in the face of climate challenges.
Table 1. Climate-smart city indicators based on content analysis of authors’ views
Table 2. Frequency of climate-smart city indicators extracted from the reviewed articles
Main Comparisons to Similar Studies
This research shows considerable alignment with the findings of researchers such as Bibri & Krogstie (2017), who have emphasized the importance of integrating smart technologies with sustainable policies to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Additionally, the analysis of the role of smart infrastructure in urban climate resilience is consistent with the results of Rosenzweig et al. (2010), who have highlighted the impact of innovative technologies in increasing urban resilience against natural disasters. Similar to the findings of Christidis et al. (2023), this study also considers smart and low-carbon transportation systems as effective in improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gases. This study is also in line with the research of Pee & Pan (2022) and Pfau-Weller & Nell (2020), who have identified the synergy between resilience and sustainability in smart cities as a key factor for addressing climate change. The use of renewable energy is also presented as an effective strategy for the development of low-carbon cities, in accordance with the findings of Thellufsen et al. (2020) and Mukome et al. (2022).
Suggestions
Given the novelty of the concept of climate-smart cities and the shortage of scientific and practical resources in this field, the present study faced certain limitations. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that the development of climate-smart infrastructures can play a significant role in enhancing urban resilience and mitigating the impacts of climate change. It is recommended that future studies place greater emphasis on localizing technologies, actively involving stakeholders, and formulating coherent policies to promote urban sustainability.
Conclusion
Nine key components, including resilience and sustainability, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, low-carbon transportation, smart governance and policymaking, social and digital participation, public awareness and education, technology and data-driven approaches, and monitoring and evaluation, are identified as the emphasized characteristics of smart cities.
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Research Department of the Imam Reza Shrine Library for providing a suitable environment for conducting this study.
Ethical Permission: No ethical issues have been reported by the authors.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Authors’ Contributions: Behzadfar M (First Author): Introduction writer/Methodologist/Supporting Researcher (50%); Shirani Z (Second Author): Principal Researcher/Discussion writer (50%)
Funding: No financial support was reported by the authors
Climate change, as one of the global challenges, especially in urban environments, has caused widespread impacts such as warming, flooding, and storms. At the same time, cities themselves are among the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, modern urban planning, with a focus on technology, sustainability, and policymaking, can play a key role in mitigating the effects of this phenomenon.
Previous Studies
Previous studies have explored various aspects of the impact of climate change on cities and the role of urban planning in mitigating these effects. For example, Kim (2017) and Bulkeley et al. (2014) highlighted the role of cities in addressing climate change through physical, social, and economic interventions. Stone et al. (2014) and Kamel Boulos & Al-Shorbaji (2014) examined how urban structures contribute to the increase in extreme heat events. Frantzeskaki et al. (2017) and Broto & Bulkeley (2013) introduced concepts such as the transition to urban sustainability and urban experimentation as approaches for developing climate solutions. In the realm of technology, Thornbush & Golubchikov (2021) and Kutty et al. (2022) emphasized the importance of integrating smart features into sustainable cities. Furthermore, practical examples such as the city of Malmö (Parks, 2020) underscore the role of global experiences in shaping the concept of the climate-smart city.
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to examine the indicators of climate-smart cities through a systematic analysis of the existing literature on this topic.
Research Type
This review study was conducted using a systematic approach based on content analysis, following the PRISMA guidelines.
Research Society, Place, and Time
The study focuses on a collection of scholarly texts, including 11 selected papers in the field of climate-smart cities, which were chosen from an initial pool of 25 identified articles after screening and quality assessment. It concentrates on articles published in international scientific databases such as Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The time frame for searching and analyzing the articles was set from 2000 to 2024.
Sampling Method and Number
The sampling method was purposive and based on predefined criteria. This study used a purposeful sampling approach. Out of the 25 initially identified articles, 11 papers were selected as final samples for content analysis after screening and thorough review (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Selection of the articles through PRISMA
Used Devices & Materials
In this review study, digital resources and tools were used to collect and analyze data. The search for relevant articles was conducted through two reputable databases, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. To achieve comprehensive coverage of the topic's literature, a combination of keywords such as "Climate-smart city," "Sustainable smart city," and "Urban climate adaptability" was used in the title, abstract, and keywords. Furthermore, data analysis was carried out using a qualitative content analysis method, consisting of three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding.
Findings by Text
The attention to the concept of "climate-smart city" has significantly increased in recent years, especially since 2018. According to the extracted data, the peak in scientific production in this field occurred in 2018 and 2023, with each year accounting for 21.43% of the total number of articles. In contrast, 2019 and 2024 had the lowest scientific output, each with a share of 7.14% (Figure 2). This trend reflects the growing global awareness of the importance of cities' adaptation to climate change.
Figure 2. Frequency of studies on smart cities during the study period (2000–2024)
In terms of content, 63.63% of the articles focused on carbon reduction in smart cities, which indicates the primary focus of the research. Following that, climate governance ranks second with 36.36%. Other topics include sustainable transportation, natural resource management, and environmental policymaking.
The content analysis of the selected articles (Table 1) led to the identification of 9 key components for defining a climate-smart city, including: resilience and sustainability, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, low-carbon transportation, smart governance, social and digital participation, public awareness, technology and data-driven approaches, and monitoring and evaluation. Among these, the "smart infrastructure" indicator had the highest frequency with 11 mentions (Table 2). These indicators often act synergistically, playing a significant role in optimizing resources, reducing pollutants, and increasing urban efficiency. Therefore, the main focus of studies is on sustainable development, the use of innovative technologies, and improving urban management in the face of climate challenges.
Table 1. Climate-smart city indicators based on content analysis of authors’ views
Table 2. Frequency of climate-smart city indicators extracted from the reviewed articles
Main Comparisons to Similar Studies
This research shows considerable alignment with the findings of researchers such as Bibri & Krogstie (2017), who have emphasized the importance of integrating smart technologies with sustainable policies to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Additionally, the analysis of the role of smart infrastructure in urban climate resilience is consistent with the results of Rosenzweig et al. (2010), who have highlighted the impact of innovative technologies in increasing urban resilience against natural disasters. Similar to the findings of Christidis et al. (2023), this study also considers smart and low-carbon transportation systems as effective in improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gases. This study is also in line with the research of Pee & Pan (2022) and Pfau-Weller & Nell (2020), who have identified the synergy between resilience and sustainability in smart cities as a key factor for addressing climate change. The use of renewable energy is also presented as an effective strategy for the development of low-carbon cities, in accordance with the findings of Thellufsen et al. (2020) and Mukome et al. (2022).
Suggestions
Given the novelty of the concept of climate-smart cities and the shortage of scientific and practical resources in this field, the present study faced certain limitations. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that the development of climate-smart infrastructures can play a significant role in enhancing urban resilience and mitigating the impacts of climate change. It is recommended that future studies place greater emphasis on localizing technologies, actively involving stakeholders, and formulating coherent policies to promote urban sustainability.
Conclusion
Nine key components, including resilience and sustainability, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, low-carbon transportation, smart governance and policymaking, social and digital participation, public awareness and education, technology and data-driven approaches, and monitoring and evaluation, are identified as the emphasized characteristics of smart cities.
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Research Department of the Imam Reza Shrine Library for providing a suitable environment for conducting this study.
Ethical Permission: No ethical issues have been reported by the authors.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Authors’ Contributions: Behzadfar M (First Author): Introduction writer/Methodologist/Supporting Researcher (50%); Shirani Z (Second Author): Principal Researcher/Discussion writer (50%)
Funding: No financial support was reported by the authors
Keywords:
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