Track: Energy & Environment

In this session we will explore Poland’s booming urban tech sector - with over 230 Polish companies founded in recent years that are developing solutions for smarter, greener cities. We will share unique insights from a recently launched Polish Urban Tech Landscape report, followed by an engaging panel between the Polish national development fund PFR and their Urban Tech Hub, Urban Impact who wrote the study and its partners, BABLE and the bau ventures. We will dig into the sector’s rapid 20% annual growth, €200M in capital raised to date, and key opportunities in energy, mobility, and circular economy.

This session brings together four leading EU-funded initiatives – EU City Facility, InEExS, and GINNGER, streamSAVE+ and ATELIER – to showcase innovative and practical solutions that support the energy transition in cities and communities. The panel will highlight how these initiatives address common barriers to energy efficiency and sustainable energy services, offering replicable models that bridge the gap between strategy and practice.

Europe’s cities lead the just and green transition with their exemplary action. This session will explore how cities can lead the way in sustainable development by integrating clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive policies. It will also highlight the roles of urban initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors, the Green City Accord, the Smart Cities Marketplace, and the Horizon Europe Missions in advancing urban transformation.

This session showcases how cities are leveraging space data and GEO tools for climate resilience and smarter infrastructure planning. Join city leaders, space industry experts, and GEO-AI practitioners as we explore real-world case studies and discuss turning data into actionable strategies for resilient urban growth. We'll delve into risk assessment, scenario modeling, and the vital role of technology for better urban planning.

Join us in celebrating the most innovative and impactful initiatives shaping the future of urban living. The World Smart City Awards recognize pioneering projects, visionary leaders, and transformative strategies that are driving progress in cities around the globe. This ceremony is a tribute to excellence, creativity, and collaboration in building smarter, more sustainable urban environments.

How can the building sector drive climate action and align with city sustainability goals? By embracing energy efficiency and zero-emission designs, the built environment becomes a powerful tool for mitigating climate change. This session explores how green buildings are not just structures but vital contributors to healthier, more sustainable urban futures.

Discover a smart buildings platform that utilizes integrated AI solutions and advanced analytics to drive real decarbonization. We will explore the innovation behind smart asset management, how it improves interoperability between modules, and maximizes energy efficiency. Ultimately, this framework provides a clear path to zero-emission building operation and measurable climate impact.

How is the building sector aligning its practices with the sustainability initiatives of cities? In what ways can the built environment play a role in mitigating climate change?

As cities strive toward decarbonization, the energy revolution use is reshaping urban life. What role do decentralized energy models, smart grids and renewables play in meeting rising power demands while enhancing energy efficiency? From energy sources to storage, this session will introduce what innovative energy systems cities are adopting to meet cities’ needs and power a more sustainable urban future.

Stockholm has set very ambitious goals - to become climate positive by 2030 and fossil-free by 2040. The city’s energy transition has been steadily advancing since 1990. Achieving these targets requires phasing out all fossil fuels and developing innovative ways to capture carbon from the atmosphere. One major initiative is the development of a full-scale Bio-Carbon Capture and Storage system. In parallel, Stockholm is contributing to the ASCEND project, creating Positive Clean Energy Districts that combine energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, decarbonized mobility, and active citizen engagement.

What role do new energy models play in shaping the urban fabric and dynamics of cities as they strive toward decarbonization? What alternative energy sources are real clean solutions for the increasing power demand?

How is the convergence of enabling technologies with sustainability bringing new depth to the green transformation of our cities? This session will explore how smart solutions, such as IoT, AI, renewable energy systems, and cleantech, are redefining what the future of resilient urban living can look like. As cities strive to become more sustainable, tech innovators are stepping up to accelerate the transition toward a more resilient and environmentally responsible future.

With just five years left to meet the Paris Agreement goals, the climate crisis continues to intensify. TheCOP29’s global stocktake reveals uneven progress. Cities play a pivotal role in advancing climate action by bridging global governance, climate finance and mitigation priorities. This session will discuss the progress made thus far and explore the remaining steps needed for urban strategies to transform climate commitments into concrete results.

Cities are facing the realities of climate change, and the 2030 Agenda offers a shared framework for action and accountability. This session explores how urban leaders translate global goals into local strategies, integrating climate resilience, innovation, and inclusive planning. It will highlight how governance, collaboration, and long-term vision turn sustainability commitments into measurable urban transformation.

AI's rapid growth creates unprecedented challenges: data centers face significant challenges related to water and energy resources, creating opportunities for infrastructure innovation. Veolia addresses this through strategic collaborations—providing sustainable solutions to tech leaders while leveraging their AI capabilities to optimize Veolia’s environmental services. This drives regional resilience and sustainable digital transformation.

Five years remain to achieve the Paris Agreement goals—what progress has been made, and what still needs to be done? Following the global stocktake at COP29, how are cities planning mid- and long-term strategies to advance climate action?

A relaxed moment to have a drink and mingle with other attendees at the venue’s main entrance after the World Smart City Awards gala.

This session explores how pioneering cities are turning ambition into action anchored by the Climate City Contract (CCC), the Mission’s flagship instrument for aligning governance, finance, delivery, and public legitimacy.