LETTERS: It's hot during the day and it rains heavily at night. It's alarming to experience these extreme weather events.
An article on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website said the Earth's temperature increased by 0.08°C on average per decade.
However, since 1981, the rate has accelerated, increasing by 0.18°C on average per decade. The data said 2022 was the sixth warmest year on record.
The main source of 80 per cent of global CO2 emissions is cities, said UN-Habitat.
Rapid urbanisation has caused an increase in carbon emissions and will continue to do so if early intervention is not considered.
A smart city may be the solution. Cities such as Songdo in South Korea, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Helsinki in Finland use technology to achieve sustainable goals.
They implemented smart grids, smart transportation systems, smart water systems and smart waste management systems, which led to lower energy consumption, promoted resource efficiency and created a green infrastructure, all of which resulted in lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A study by the Korean Ministry of Environment found that South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 were 40 per cent lower than in 2010.
The Danish Energy Agency's website states that Denmark's increased usage of renewable energy has lowered the country's emissions by 38 per cent since 1990.
The Finnish Environment Institute's website states that Finland's greenhouse gas emissions were 29 per cent lower in 2020 than they were in 1990.
The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are taking the same action.
By 2025, the worldwide smart city market is anticipated to be worth US$1.3 trillion.
Malaysia too is enthusiastic about smart city initiatives. We have declared a goal of being a smart city nation by 2025.
The government's ambition for smart cities is described in the National Smart City Framework. Sustainability is a key consideration for smart cities, and it demands planning and foresight.
The Institute of Informatics and Computing in Energy at Uniten conducts research that focuses on technology and sustainability in smart city projects.
We invite stakeholders, including government agencies, business leaders, communities and individuals, to join us to create smart cities.
If successful, these efforts will lead to a smarter, greener and more prosperous nation.
DR SARASWATHY SHAMINI GUNASEKARAN
Head of Innovation,
Institute of Informatics and
Computing in Energy,
Universiti Tenaga Nasional
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times