Speakers
Description
This presentation focuses on how digital tools can support cities in achieving carbon neutrality by providing smarter decision-making frameworks. Using examples from the UP2030 project in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district, it highlights tools like “Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) and Urban Building Transport Energy Modeling (UBTEM): AI-based Digital Decisionmaking Tool for Decarbonization”. These tools use AI, GIS, and optimization techniques to make urban systems including buildings and transport more energy-efficient, reduce emissions, and improve overall comfort.
A critical aspect of achieving meaningful, sustainable strategies is the development of digital tools that can support urban decision-making processes by analyzing the impact of decarbonization strategies on cities. These tools should be designed to integrate climate change considerations into strategic planning and provide decision-makers with a means to evaluate the effects of different mitigation and adaptation measures considering different aspects, including energy consumption, related CO2 emissions, and economic considerations. Moreover, the integration of digital tools with decision-making processes should be strengthened, ensuring that they are developed with interdisciplinary research findings that bring together expertise from various fields to support urban governance.
In addition to digital solutions, the implementation of tangible urban interventions—such as renewable-energy integrated urban furniture—can serve as a means to raise awareness and foster engagement with decarbonization strategies at the local level as a platform of digital tools. These integrated approaches not only enhance climate governance but also contribute to embedding climate action within the urban fabric in a way that is both visible and actionable.
We’ll discuss all of these while also addressing social dimensions such as equity and governance. Insights from a recent workshop in Istanbul will highlight how community engagement, practical awareness campaigns, and policy incentives can empower local residents to adopt sustainable practices.
The aim is to demonstrate how cities can integrate technology with community-driven approaches, ensuring that decarbonization efforts are not only data-informed but also socially inclusive and contextually relevant. This work bridges technical innovation with local needs, offering a holistic perspective on urban decarbonization.
| Keywords | decarbonization; climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies; UBEM; AI; decisionmaking |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
